| Primary value | 1 per 60 dwellings ((min 2 in buildings > 15 m)) |
| Applies to | Residential apartment buildings |
| Exceptions | Mandatory lift threshold → Buildings > 15 m height (G+5 typically) |
| Min lifts per building > 15 m → 2 (one acts as fire/stretcher) | |
| 1 stretcher-size lift → Mandatory in tall buildings | |
| Fire Lift Requirement → For buildings > 15 m in height, at least one lift must be designed as a Fire Lift as per NBC Part 4. This is often the same lift designated as the mandatory stretcher lift. | |
| Stretcher Lift Dimensions → The mandatory stretcher lift must have a minimum capacity of 13 persons (884 kg) and specific minimum car dimensions (e.g., 1100 mm x 2100 mm) as per Annex A of NBC Part 8, Section 2A. | |
| Population Calculation Basis → Population for traffic analysis is typically calculated based on the number of bedrooms per dwelling unit (e.g., 5 persons for a 3BHK, 4 for a 2BHK), not a flat per-dwelling count. | |
| Measured as | Total population (people) ÷ design parameters (waiting interval, handling capacity) → lift count and capacity calculation. |
| Source | NBC 2016 — NBC 2016, Part 8, Section 2A, Clauses 4.1, 4.2 & Table 1; Part 4, Clause 5.7.1 ✓ Verified |
Vertical transportation is a critical service in high-rise residential buildings. Inadequate lift capacity leads to long waiting times, especially during morning and evening peak hours, directly impacting resident convenience and safety. NBC 2016 mandates performance criteria to ensure wait times are acceptable and emergency evacuation needs are met.
Designers perform a traffic analysis aiming for a 5-minute handling capacity of 7.5% to 10% of the building's population, with an average waiting interval of 60-80 seconds. This performance-based calculation, not a simple dwelling ratio, determines the final number, speed, and capacity of lifts.