In a building served by how many elevator cars must they be located in not fewer than 2 separate hoistways?

The requirement for having elevator cars located in not fewer than two separate hoistways is established to ensure accessibility, safety, and operational redundancy in a commercial building. Specifically, when a building has four or more elevator cars, the code mandates that they be distributed across at least two different hoistways. This design helps to maintain elevator service in case one hoistway becomes inoperable due to maintenance issues or mechanical failures.

In addition, it enhances the safety of building occupants during emergencies by providing alternative escape routes and means of transport within the structure. Having multiple hoistways also allows for better traffic handling during peak times, improving the efficiency of the elevators.

For buildings with fewer than four elevator cars, such as one, two, or three, it is generally acceptable to have them all contained within a single hoistway, as the risk of loss of service or congestion is typically lower, and the operational demands can be met without the need for redundancy. Thus, the requirement for at least two hoistways becomes crucial starting with the fourth elevator to safeguard against potential issues that could affect a building's vertical transportation system.