Traffic Analysis for Office Towers: Interval, HC-5 and Waiting Time
How to size elevator groups for Grade-A office buildings using 5-minute up-peak analysis and destination dispatch simulation.
What the up-peak scenario models
The 5-minute up-peak is the standard elevator sizing scenario: all passengers arrive at the ground lobby and travel to upper floors in the busiest 5 minutes of the morning. Handling Capacity (HC-5) is the percentage of building population the elevator group can move in that window — Grade-A office target is ≥12%, luxury office ≥15%.
Why interval matters
Interval = round-trip-time ÷ number of cars. Grade-A target ≤30 seconds, luxury ≤25 seconds. Longer intervals mean lobby crowding, longer perceived wait and destination-dispatch losing effectiveness. Simulation with Elevate or RTD3 iterates car count, capacity, speed and control until interval and HC-5 are both met.
How Liftech runs the study
Inputs: floor population density (1 person per 8–12 m² NIA), floor-by-floor destination probability, lift-lobby geometry and target service level. Output: number of cars, rated load, rated speed, control strategy (single, group, DCS) and lobby-panel layout. Delivered at civil design stage so the shaft, overhead and pit are sized right the first time.
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