Round Trip Time (RTT)
Estimate an elevator's round trip time (RTT), RTT = 2·(H ÷ v) + stops × t_stop, from the travel height H (m), the speed v (m/s), the number of probable stops and the average time per stop (s, including deceleration, door opening/closing and boarding). The result, in seconds, is the time of a complete up-and-down cycle with stops — a central parameter of vertical traffic analysis. The higher the RTT, the lower the handling capacity and the longer the interval between cars. Enter the height, the speed, the number of stops and the time per stop.
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Round trip time (RTT)
The round trip time (RTT) is the central parameter of vertical traffic analysis: the time an elevator takes to complete one cycle — travelling up from the lobby while serving the calls, and coming back down. A simplified estimate is RTT = 2·(H ÷ v) + stops × t_stop, adding the travel time (up and down over the height H at speed v) to the time spent at the stops (each stop costs deceleration, door opening and closing, boarding and alighting, and reacceleration — typically 8-15 s in total per stop, simplified here). The real RTT depends on the number of probable stops (derived probabilistically from the passengers and the floors), on the highest floor reached, on the accelerations and on the door delays. RTT is the basis of everything: from it come the handling capacity (how many people per 5 min) and the interval between elevators (waiting time). Cutting the RTT — with higher speed, faster doors, or smart dispatch algorithms that group the calls — is the goal of elevator traffic engineering. Enter the rise, the speed, the number of stops and the time per stop.
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Probable Stops
Calculate the probable number of stops of an elevator, S = N × (1 − (1 − 1/N)^P), from the number of served floors N and the number of passengers P in the car. The result is how many floors, on average, the elevator actually stops at during a trip (probabilistically, two passengers may go to the same floor). It is an essential parameter of the round trip time calculation: more stops raise the RTT. The formula assumes passengers choose destination floors randomly and uniformly. With a full car, S approaches N (stops at almost all). Enter the number of floors and passengers.
Elevator Traffic Interval
Calculate the traffic interval (average waiting time) of an elevator group, INT = RTT ÷ N, dividing the round trip time RTT (s) by the number of elevators N in the group. The result, in seconds, is the average time between elevator arrivals at the main floor — the main service-quality indicator perceived by users (waiting time). Intervals up to 30 s are excellent; above 50-60 s, poor. More elevators in the group reduce the interval. It is the key criterion in sizing the number of elevators. Enter the RTT and the number of elevators.
Number of Elevators Required
Calculate the number of elevators required, N = peak demand ÷ capacity per elevator, dividing the peak transport demand (people in 5 min) by the handling capacity of a single elevator (people in 5 min). The result is the minimum number of elevators in the group to meet peak demand. In practice, round up and also check the resulting traffic interval (waiting quality). Peak demand comes from the building population times the peak percentage (12-15% in offices). Undersizing causes queues and long waits. Enter the peak demand and the capacity per elevator.
Building Population
Estimate a building's population, Pop = (area per floor × number of floors) ÷ density, from the usable area per floor (m²), the number of floors and the occupancy density (m² per person). The result, in people, is the total population to be served by the vertical transport — the starting point of elevator traffic analysis. Occupancy density varies with use: ~10 m²/person in dense offices, ~15-20 m²/person in standard offices, with specific values for hotels and residences. Compared with the elevators' handling capacity, it tells whether the system is adequate. Enter the area per floor, the number of floors and the density.
Handling Capacity (5 min)
Calculate an elevator's handling capacity over 5 minutes, HC = (300 × Q) ÷ RTT, from the car capacity Q (people) and the round trip time RTT (s). The result, in people carried per 5 minutes, is the standard vertical-traffic performance metric (building peak demand is usually measured over 5 min). The factor 300 is the seconds in 5 minutes. Multiplied by the number of elevators and compared with the building population, it tells whether the system meets demand (typically 12-15% of the population in 5 min in offices). Enter the car capacity and the RTT.
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The results provided by this tool are for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute professional, financial, medical, legal, tax or accounting advice. Always confirm important decisions with a qualified professional and official sources.