Can you just randomly stop an elevator like they do on TV?
Pro tip: Leave it to the experts
It turns out that maintenance technicians have to manually operate the emergency brake in order to bring it to a stop. That’s because the emergency brake is there for, well, emergencies. If it were easy to randomly stop the elevator, people could do it all the time and cause many problems.
You might have seen it in movies or TV shows: someone randomly hits the emergency stop button on an elevator and it comes to an abrupt halt. But in real life, that’s not how it works.
Hollywood is lying to you. This is most likely. Elevators ever fall like you see in the movies. In fact, nobody has died from a snapped cable in a modern passenger elevator, so what makes them so safe is that it turns out elevators have a life-saving feature that most of us have forgotten about.
Heights and lack of control in an elevator falling are all of those. So the electric release clamp has to be locked for the outside elevator doors to open for the inside elevator doors to open for example maintenance workers were believed to have turned off the safety chain to do maintenance and then forgotten to turn them back on resulting in catastrophe but this is only a handful of cases out of the millions of elevator rides every day elevators are safer than almost every other form of transportation despite what Hollywood may want you to believe you have nothing to worry about.
Instead, most elevators are equipped with a device called an automatic leveling system. This system ensures that the elevator stops at the correct level, regardless of what button is pressed. The only way to override this system is by maintenance staff, who have a special key. So if you’re ever stuck in an elevator, don’t bother hitting the emergency stop button – it won’t do anything! Instead, wait patiently for an operator to manually operate the brake.
Elevator repairmen are well aware of the elevator emergency stop button’s Hollywood reputation.
In reality, though, pushing the button will usually have no effect – or, worse, it could make the elevator stuck between floors. That’s because it only meant the emergency stop button to be used in case of an actual emergency, such as a fire. If the elevator becomes stuck, the best course of action is to push the “call” button and wait for help to arrive.
Occasionally, a stuck elevator needs troubleshooting. Start by pressing the “door open” button and see if that works, then press the “door close” button. Both can get jammed and stop an elevator. If neither works, try pressing the button for a floor below you. You may laugh, but this quick fix could save you ample time and stress. If these three buttons aren’t working, however, don’t mash them. You might compromise the electronics.
If you’re in the elevator with other people, try to calm them down, too. Use the flashlight to see the elevator buttons and count how many people are in the elevator.
Start by pressing the emergency button and see if that works, then press the door close button. Both can get jammed and stop an elevator. If you successfully connect with a maintenance operator, they will be on their way.
Urban Elevator Service is a large independent elevator company with extensive experience and specialization in rack & pinion and grain lift elevators. Our privately -owned company now serves locations across the country including metro-Chicago, Northwest Indiana, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, California, Wisconsin, & Washington, DC markets. We’ve been in business for over 35 years building a solid foundation to meet your industrial facility needs. Urban Elevator commercial elevator maintenance programs meet and exceed all local requirements in every location that we operate. We at Urban Elevator pride ourselves in always doing what we say we will do, and always giving you and your company personal and expert guidance throughout the process.
If you cannot contact maintenance, ring the bell periodically.
People throughout the building will notice almost immediately that the elevator is not functioning properly and will call for help. If you’ve contacted maintenance or emergency personnel, sit tight. Since sound travels well through an elevator shaft and could alert people throughout the building that you need help. Even if you do none of these steps, you have an excellent chance of escaping the apartment elevator within minutes.
Elevator entrapment calls are taken seriously, and you’ll likely find yourself freed in 30 minutes or less.So, Make an emergency call. To do so, press the emergency call button in the elevator cab for at least three to five seconds. If you are able to talk to someone outside, inform them of the name of the elevator company and location.
- Keep calm and trust in the emergency response system. Even if you feel like it is taking a long time for help to come, do not, under any circumstances, attempt to rescue yourself. If nothing else works Call 9-1-1 with your cell phone if you have service. Otherwise, read on. You’ll be an elevator escape artist in no time. Please follow the instructions given by the emergency services.
- Do not open the door from the inside in between floors and climb out of the elevator that has come to a standstill halfway between floors. Doing that would put your life at risk: The elevator could start moving unexpectedly.
- Try to keep a clear head so you don’t jeopardize your safety. A clear head will also make sound decision-making a lot easier. If you’re in the elevator with other people, try to calm them down, too. Do a breathing exercise or count down from 100—anything to avoid hysteria. Apartment elevators are incredibly safe, and your life is probably not in danger.
Then what?
Be careful not to drain your phone’s battery. Use the flashlight to see the elevator buttons and count how many people are in the elevator.
Use your flashlight to find the “call” button, usually marked with the image of a phone. Pressing it will contact a consultant to come and help you. It will also alert the maintenance staff that there is a problem with the elevator. If you successfully connect with maintenance, they will be on their way.
The alarm button in an elevator is usually hooked up to a bell that rings to alert people that someone is stuck inside and needs help. If you cannot contact maintenance, ring the bell periodically. People in the building are likely to hear the alarm and notify someone who can assist you. Try yelling for help. Although it may be difficult, remember to remain calm while you’re making noise.
Even if you do none of the steps above, you have an excellent chance of escaping the apartment elevator within minutes. People throughout the building will notice almost immediately that the elevator is not functioning properly and will call for help.
If you’ve contacted maintenance or emergency personnel, sit tight. Elevator entrapment calls are taken seriously, and you’ll likely find yourself freed in around 30 minutes.
You're going to be OK.
Elevator repair can be a tricky business, but our team of experts are here to help. If you need elevator repair near me, call us. We’ll be on your way to help you out of any elevator emergency.
Remember, elevator owners have certain responsibilities, including having a maintenance program in place. When any unsafe or potentially unsafe condition exists, an owner must close the elevating device and prevent it from carrying passengers until a provincial safety officer inspects and permits the elevating device to resume operation. Rarely do emergencies like these occur with proper maintenance, inspections, and procedural installation of elevator cabs.
Urban Elevator is rising up across the country. Our family owned business now serves the Chicago-metro, Northwest Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and DC, markets. We provide expert elevator installation, modernization, repair, and maintenance to seven states, and growing.
A non-operating elevator can cause downtime, and can create unsafe conditions for your personnel or tenants. We offer a 24-hour emergency elevator repair service so that your elevators are up and running as quickly as possible.
Our emergency elevator services team comprises expert certified professionals with the industry experience to identify problems and repair your elevators quickly.
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