A dedicated enclosed space above or below the hoistway housing the traction machine, control panel, and governor for a conventional elevator.
Full Definition
The machine room is the service space where the primary mechanical and electrical equipment is located — traction machine, main controller, governor, drive unit, and rope terminations. EN 81-20 §6.3 sets minimum headroom (2.0 m), floor load capacity, lighting (200 lux minimum), ventilation (temperature between 5°C and 40°C), and access restrictions (key-only entry by authorised persons). Correctly sized machine rooms reduce heat build-up, simplify maintenance, and allow safe equipment replacement. Machine-room-less (MRL) designs relocate this equipment into the hoistway overhead or pit.
