Safety in lifts

• The following list describes all the safety components used in

electrical traction elevator safety system:

• Device for locking landing doors (Hoist way Door Interlock).

• Progressive safety gear.
• Over speed governor.
• Buffers.
• Final Limit switches.
• Other safety devices and switches.
Hoist way Door Interlock
It shall not be possible in normal operation to
open the landing door (or any of the panels in
the case of a multi-panel door) unless the car has
stopped, or is on the point of stopping, in the
unlocking zone of the door.

The unlocking zone shall not extend more than

0.2 meter above and below the landing level.

The hoistway door locking mechanism provides a

means to mechanically lock each hoistway door
and the elevator cannot leave a landing unless
the doors are fully closed and secured.
Hoist way Door Interlock
• They are also interconnected electrically to prevent operation of the
elevator if any of the elevator’s hoistway doors are open.

• Each landing door shall be provided with a locking device satisfying

the previous conditions. This device shall be protected against
deliberate misuse.
Hoistway Emergency Door Keys

Hoistway Emergency
Door Keys permit the
unlocking of the
hoistway door interlock.
Escutcheon Tube

The keyhole on the upper portion of a

hoistway door that accepts a hoistway
emergency door key and permits unlocking
of the hoistway door locking mechanism.

These keyholes are usually located at the

bottom and top floors, but may also be on
other selected floors or all floors.
Progressive safety gear

Safety gear is a mechanical device

for stopping the car (or
counterweight) by gripping the
guide rails in the event of car speed
attaining a pre-determined value in
a downward direction of travel,
irrespective what the reason for
the increase in speed may be.
Over speed governor
Over speed governor function is to actuate the safety
gear if the car speed exceeds 115% of its rated value.

Usually a cable is attached to the safeties on the

underside of the car, called the governor rope. This
rope runs down through a pulley at the bottom of the
shaft and back up to the machine room and around the
governor sheave.

When over-speeding is detected, the governor grips

the cable which applies the safeties that wedge against
the guide rails and stops the car.

It is situated either in the machine room or in the head

room.
Buffers

• A Buffer is a device designed to

stop a descending car or
counterweight beyond its normal
limit and to soften the force with
which the elevator runs into the pit
during an emergency. They may be
of polyurethane or oil type in
respect of the rated speed.
Overload device
Final Limit Switches
• Final limit switches shall be set to function as close as possible to the
terminal floors (the highest or lowest landing of lifts), without risk of
accident.
Photo-electric and infrared sensors
• A sensor between the hoist way and car doors that detects objects in
their path and prevents the doors from closing.
Emergency stop switch:
• The red switch inside some cars that cuts off the power to the car
except for the lights, alarm and communication system.
Seismic switch/device
Emergency Alarm Switch:
• It will sound an alarm when activated by a passenger and in most
elevators; an emergency telephone or intercom can serve as a link to
assistance if the car should stall.
Anti-Egress Lock Device
Allows car doors to open
from inside by only 4 inches
unless car is near landing.
Pit Safety Switch
• This device, strategically located at elevator pit entry and exit points,
greatly enhances safety for personnel who work in the elevator pit by
preventing unexpected elevator movement.
Fire Fighter Services Devices/Switches:
A mode of operation activated by a smoke
detector located in an elevator lobby, elevator
machine room, elevator hoist way or by a keyed
recall switch.