There are certain code requirements that stay in your head because you have seen the same diagram for years...
For hoists during construction, one of those was the old 7-story / 75-foot rule.
If you have been working around NYC construction for a while, you may remember the DOB graphic showing the working deck, the highest accessible floor, and the maximum 75-foot / seven-story distance between them. The graphic was simple. It was easy to understand. And it stuck.
The problem?
That is no longer the rule for current-code construction projects.
When we recently went back through the current NYC Building Code requirements, it was a good reminder that sometimes the regulation we remember perfectly is the regulation from an older code.
That is why we put together a new Canonvex quick-reference graphic based on the current requirements of 2022 NYC Building Code §3303.12.2.1 and §3303.12.2.2.
First: When Does the Hoist Requirement Kick In?
For the construction or enlargement of a building whose height will exceed 75 feet, the initial trigger occurs when the:
Topmost working deck exceeds 75 feet above the lowest level of the ground.
At that point, floors that are closed to the public and located within 40 feet above the lowest level of the ground must be served by the required elevator or hoist.
If that 40-foot measurement falls between floors, the code requires the measurement to be rounded so that the higher floor is served.
This is an important distinction.
The 75 feet establishes the initial trigger.
The 40 feet establishes the initial group of floors that must be served.
But that is only the beginning.
What Happens as the Building Continues to Rise?
This is where the current code differs significantly from the old graphic many people remember.
Once the initial requirement has been met and construction continues upward, BC §3303.12.2.2 requires the elevator or hoist to continue serving qualifying floors based on the location of the topmost working deck.
For typical construction, floors closed to the public that are at least:
4 stories OR 48 feet below the topmost working deck, whichever is less must be served by the elevator or hoist.
The words “whichever is less” matter. You do not simply assume that 48 feet controls.
You have to evaluate both:
- 4 stories; and
- 48 feet.
The smaller vertical limit controls.
What About Structural Steel Buildings?
The code provides a different vertical dimension where the building's primary structural system consists of structural steel. In that condition, the requirement becomes:
4 stories OR 64 feet below the topmost working deck, whichever is less.
The four-story limitation still applies. The difference is that the alternative vertical dimension increases from 48 feet to 64 feet for the structural-steel condition.
There Is Also a Two-Week Requirement
There is another part of §3303.12.2.2 that can easily be overlooked.
No more than two weeks after the topmost working deck becomes a walkable floor, the hoist or elevator must be brought up to serve the remaining floors in the building that are closed to the public.
So the requirement is not just about drawing a vertical dimension from the working deck.
The progression of the hoist also needs to follow the progress of construction.
So What Happened to the Old 7-Story / 75' Rule?
It did exist.
DOB Buildings Bulletin 2010-024 clarified the former elevator-in-readiness requirements and included the well-known diagram showing a maximum 75-foot / seven-story relationship between the working deck and the highest accessible floor.
But the bulletin itself is now marked:
“ONLY FOR PROJECTS FILED BEFORE 12-31-14.”
DOB subsequently issued Buildings Bulletin 2014-023, which prospectively rescinded BB 2010-024 for projects filed under the 2014 Construction Codes.
That explains why the old graphic may still look familiar while no longer representing the requirement applicable to current-code construction.
A Better Way to Remember the Current Requirement
For construction/enlargement under the current code, think of it in stages:
75' → 40' → 4 stories or 48'
75' trigger
Once the topmost working deck exceeds 75 feet above the lowest ground level, the requirement is triggered.
40' initial service
Initially, serve qualifying floors within 40 feet above the lowest level of ground.
4 stories or 48' thereafter
As construction rises, keep the elevator/hoist progressing so required floors are served within the limits established by §3303.12.2.2.
For qualifying structural-steel buildings:
4 stories or 64', whichever is less.
One Important Limitation
This discussion specifically addresses the construction and enlargement provisions of BC §3303.12.2.1 and §3303.12.2.2.
Demolition is different.
Under §3303.12.2.3, during demolition where one or more floors are removed, the code uses a separate 7-story / 75-foot criterion. Alteration work that does not constitute an enlargement or involve removal of floors is separately addressed by §3303.12.2.4.
That distinction is another reason not to apply a single hoist graphic to every project condition.
Why We Created This Reference
This started with a simple question:
“Wasn't the hoist supposed to stay within seven stories or 75 feet of the working deck?”
The old graphic immediately came to mind.
But going back to the current code told a different story.
And that is exactly why code references like this are worth revisiting.
Experience is valuable. Remembering how something has traditionally been done is valuable.
But when a requirement affects construction logistics and life safety, the current code has to remain the source.
We created the Canonvex NYC DOB Hoist Requirement Quick Reference to make the current rule easier to visualize during SSP and construction-logistics planning.
View / Download the Free Canonvex Resource:
NYC DOB Hoist Requirement – BC §3303.12.2 Quick Reference
Code References
2022 NYC Building Code
- §3303.12 — Elevators and Hoists During Construction or Demolition
- §3303.12.2 — Floors Closed to the Public
- §3303.12.2.1 — Initial Installation
- §3303.12.2.2 — Increasing the Height of the Elevator or Hoist
- §3303.12.2.3 — During Demolition
- §3303.12.2.4 — Other Instances
Historical Reference
- DOB Buildings Bulletin 2010-024 — Elevator in Readiness / Temporary Elevator or Hoist
- DOB Buildings Bulletin 2014-023 — Prospective Rescission of Prior Bulletins
For informational purposes only. Refer to the current NYC Building Code, DOB requirements, project-specific conditions, and applicable filings for complete requirements.
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