Elevator & Escalator Emergencies Flashcards
Electro-mechanical device used to prevent the elevator from moving when the car is at rest and no power is applied to the hoist motor
Brake
Stops a descending car or counterweight from moving beyond its normal limit by storing or absorbing and dissipating the car or counterweight’s kinetic energy
Buffer
A panel mounted inside the car containing the car operating controls
Car operation station
Balances an elevator car’s load. Hollow, black flexible tubes are filled with solid metal balls and are connected to the elevator car’s load
Compensation chain
A system of regulations pertaining to the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walks
Code
A device or group of devices that control the direction, speed, and safety mechanisms on the elevator
Controller
An enclosed space outside the hoistway that is intended for full-body entry and contains the motor controller
Control room
Can be located inside or outside the hoistway
Control space
A set of weights roped directly to the elevator car in a winding drum installation
Counterweight
In practice, the counterweight equals approximately how much of the car’s weight
70%
A motor-driven device mounted on the top of the car that opens and closes the car and hoistway doors. This motor keeps the doors closed unless power is secured. It is imperative to secure power in order to disengage power from the motor and open the elevator door
Door operator
Any type of mechanical lock designed to prevent a hoistway door from opening on the landing side
Door lock
The cylindrical keyhole on the hoistway door that elevator drop keys pass through to reach the hoistway door locking mechanism
Escutcheon tube
Commonly referred to as elevator door key holes
Escutcheon tube
A piece of steel mounted on the car cab door that runs between the hoistway door’s two rollers as the elevator goes up and down the hoistway
Elevator door vane
Located in the elevator car. When manually operated, it removes electric power from an electric elevator’s driving machine motor and brake or from a hydraulic elevator’s valves or pump motor
Emergency stop switch
Located in the elevator shaft. It prevents the elevator from descending or ascending too low or too high in the shaft. When tripped by the elevator, it cuts power to the elevator motor
Final limit switch
Involve steel T-section with machined guiding surfaces installed vertically in a hoistway to direct the course traveled by an elevator car and elevator counterweights
Guide rails
Small device typically located in the penthouse that applies a brake to the cable moving the elevator car; it serves as a mechanical speed control mechanism
Governor
The wire rope attached to an elevator car frame that drives the governor and, when stopped by the governor, initiates setting the car safety
Governor rope
Control panel on top of an elevator car that, when activated, removes the car from normal service and allows the car to only be run from the car top station at inspection speed
Inspection station (or Inspection controls)
An electro-mechanical device on the hoistway door that locks the hoistway doors
Interlock
The area of the hoistway that extends from a point 18 inches below and 18 inches above the landing
Landing zone
The electrical disconnect usually found inside the machine room near the entrance door
Mainline disconnect
Converts a building’s alternating current to the direct current used by electric traction elevators
Motor generator
Installed in the pressure piping of a hydraulic elevator between the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic jack
Overspeed valve
Designed to interpret input conditions in a prescribed manner after specified conditions are met
Relay
Made of hemp, saturated in lubricant, and wrapped in steel wire
Elevator ropes
Elevator ropes are typically what size
5/8” diameter
Elevator ropes can support the weight of the elevator car plus
10%
Starts, stops, opens, and closes elevator doors at designated hoistways
Selector
A wheel mounted in bearings that has one or more grooves over which a rope or ropes may pass
Sheave
An electric machine through which the friction between the hoist ropes and the machine sheave is used to move the elevator car
Traction machine
Used for power transmission to the elevator car and communication between the controller and the elevator key
Traveling cable
Is usually - if not always - black and hangs from the elevator car
Traveling cable
A platform or enclosed platform that moves vertically or horizontally
Elevator
Elevators became commonplace in the
1850’s
Utilize a powered hoist system and associated operating equipment to raise and lower the elevator car
Modern-day elevators
The most widely recognized and used code for elevator and escalator safety
ANSI A17.1
Four types of hoisting mechanisms associated with elevators
- Hydraulic
- Traction
- Climbing
- Pneumatic
What elevator type of hoisting mechanism is rare in the NOVA region
Climbing & Pneumatic
The power unit that applies the energy necessary to drive a hoisting mechanism is referred to as a
Driving machine
Elevators that have piston support at the bottom that pushes the elevator up as an electric motor forces hydraulic fluid into the piston
Hydraulic elevator
Hydraulic elevators have a maximum travel speed of
200 feet per minute
Hydraulic elevators are typically installed in
Low-rise buildings with two to eight floors
The hydraulic elevator machine room is located
On the lowest level adjacent to the elevator shaft
Hydraulic elevators are divided into three categories
- Holed (conventional)
- Holeless (Often referred to as telescoping)
- Roped hydraulic
Have a sheave that extends below the floor of the elevator pit
Holed hydraulic elevators
The maximum travel distance of a holed hydraulic elevator is approximately
60 feet
Have a piston on either side of the cab
Holeless hydraulic elevator
Holeless hydraulic elevators have 3 distinct types
- Telescopic hydraulic elevator
- Nontelescoping (ie single-stage) hydraulic elevator
- Roped hydraulic elevator
Utilize telescoping pistons fixed to the base of the pit that do not require a sheave or hole below the pit
Telescopic hydraulic elevator
Telescoping pistons allow up to how many feet of travel distance
50 feet
Utilize nontelescoping pistons and only allow about how many feet of travel distance
20 feet
Use a combination of ropes and a piston to move the elevator
Roped hydraulic elevator
Roped hydraulic elevators allow for a travel distance of about
60 feet
Are raised and lowered by rolling steel ropes over a deeply grooved pulley, commonly called a sheave
Traction elevator car
Traction elevators are used for
Mid- and high-rise applications
Traction elevators travel speed versus a hydraulic elevator
Much higher travel speeds
Two types of commonly utilized driving machines in traction elevator installations
- Geared driving machines
- Gearless driving machine
Used in low - and midrise applications. Have a maximum travel speed of 500 feet per minute and can travel approx 250 feet
Geared driving machines
Used in high-rise applications
Gearless driving machines
Have a drive motor and a drive sheave that are connected in line on a common shaft. Have a maximum travel speed of 2,000 feet per minute and can travel to 2,000 feet
Gearless driving machines
The room or space housing the driving machine, controller, and electrical disconnect for a single elevator or group of elevators
Machine room
It is common to find machine rooms for traction elevators
On a building’s rooftop penthouse
It is common to fine machine rooms for hydraulic elevators
Through a mechanical equipment room
Are most often located close to the associated elevators on the ground floor or in the basement
Hydraulic elevator machine room
Are usually located directly above the hoistway of the elevator they serve
Traction elevator machine room
A newer style of traction and hydraulic elevators being installed throughout the Northern Virginia region
Machine-roomless (MRL) elevators
Thyssenkrupp control space is commonly located on
The second floor
Otis typically puts their control space on
The fourth floor
Crews cannot access the manual lowering valve because
The hydraulic reservoir is located at the bottom of the elevator pit
Do not have a dedicated machine room above the elevator shaft
Traction MRL elevators
The control boxes for Traction MRL elevators reside in a control room adjacent to the elevator shaft on the highest landing within approx
150 feet of the machine
Traction MRL elevators have a travel speed of up to
500 feet per minute
Traction MRL elevators have a maximum travel distance up to
250 feet
Most Traction MRL elevator systems incorporate flexible, flat, polyurethane-coated steel belts instead of stiff metal cables. The belts are about
30mm wide (1 inch) and 3 mm (0.1 inch) thick
Due to the polyurethane-coated steel belts the system only requires a machine that is
one-quarter the size of traditional technologies
Designed to move goods and materials throughout a building
Freight elevator
Most common hoisting system for freight elevators is
Traction system
Consists of ERS (Phase 2), an emergency alarm, door controls, floor selection buttons, and fan and light switches
Floor selection control panel
Car doors that slide horizontally to the left or right
Single-sliding car doors
Car doors that slide horizontally to the left or right with one door sliding faster than the other
Two-speed, double-sliding doors
Car doors consisting of two panels that move horizontally away from each other when opening and toward each other when closing
Biparting or center-opening car door
Vertical biparting doors are typically found
On freight elevators
Is an enclosed vertical area through which an elevator car travels to reach multiple building levels
Hoistway
Hoistways are constructed of noncombustible material and should have a
2 hour fire rating
Typically, hoistways are ventilated and accommodate no more than
4 elevator cars
The bottom of the hoistway is known as
The pit
No personnel should enter the pit unless
Power to all elevators in the hoistway have been disconnected
When a portion of a hoistway passes a floor or landing without opening to it, that portion of the hoistway is referred to as a
Hoistway blind (blind shaft)
Hoistway blinds are typically found in
Taller buildings where it is unreasonable for a single elevator to service all floors
Hoistway blinds may also occur in
An express elevator to a rooftop penthouse or restaurant
If an elevator stalls in a hoistway blind and cannot be lowered, departments should request a
Technical rescue response
Are located on each floor and seperate the hoistway from
The rest of the building
Prevents the elevator car from moving until the hoistway door is closed and locked
Interlock mechanism
Provide smoke and draft control
Smoke curtains
System widely used device that utilizes a reinforced, transparent film that unrolls from a housing unit positioned above the elevator opening
Smoke Guard M400
The Smoke Guard M400 system can deploy within
10 seconds of a smoke detector or fire protection system activation
An elevator operating mode that overrides normal service and automatically moves elevator cars to predetermined floors, allowing any passengers to exit
Emergency Recall Service (ERS)
Building fire alarms automatically activate
Emergency Recall Service (ERS)
Elevator keys are normally found in a building’s
Emergency key box (Knox box) located at the manager’s desk or in the elevator room
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2007 edition of the ANSI A17.1 codified the FEOK1 service key as a
Universal key
Elevator keys can be used to activate
Phase 1 ERS
If the alarm is activated from the lobby level or a terminal floor, the car will
Go to a predetermined alternate landing with a means of egress
During Phase 1, elevator cars at any landing other than the lobby level will immediately
Close their doors and return nonstop to the lobby
Emergency stop buttons are rendered inoperative in
Phase 1
To utilize an ERS-equipped elevator to access upper floors, personnel should
Leave the lobby control switch in the “on” position and remove the key
For ERS the normal nonemergency operation switch is in the
“off” position
FOR ERS this position allows the car to operate in Phase 2 ERS
“on” position
For ERS this position keeps the elevator car at a landing with the doors opened
“hold” position
Some older installations have a “bypass” position instead of
“hold” position
If the car’s fire helmet icon is flashing, the car has received a
Smoke detector activation from the elevator machine room, hoistway, or pit
Prior to utilizing the elevator for fires on upper floors, crews MUST
Engage all elevator functions (door-open, door-close, floor selection, cancel)
Button that allows the operator to change floor selection or direction of travel prior to reaching the original selected floor
“call cancel” (reset)
When Phase 2 ERS is activated, personnel must
Hold the buttons for opening and closing doors until the desired action is complete
If a member leaves the car before the door has fully opened, the door will automatically close behind them and that will
Isolate the car and place it out of service
The emergency button is rendered inoperative during
Phase 1
The emergency stop button will quickly stop an elevator car while ascending or descending to a selected destination
Phase 2
After reaching the required floor, the last crew member should switch the fire service key to the
“off” position which will place the ERS back into Phase 1 and return the elevator to the main discharge floor
Code requirements for high-rise buildings more than 120 feet high include the installation of
Fire service access elevators (FSAE)
The FSAE system will have standby power capable of running the elevator for
2 hours
Incidents in which passengers are inconvenienced but not injured by their elevator entrapment should be considered
Nonemergency incidents
Upon arrival of an elevator incident the officer should size up the incident by
- obtaining elevator keys if available
- identify the type of elevator involved
- locate the position of the car relative to the hoistway opening
- establish communication with the elevator passengers
- determine passengers’ number and health status
- request additional resources based on size-up and department SOP
Officers should request assistance from a
Qualified elevator mechanic
A mechanic’s name and contact information can typically be found
On the company inspection card in the elevator control room or through on-site maintenance
Common electrical failures in elevators may include
- faulty interlocks on hoistway doors
- blown fuses
- shorted electric cables
- open switches
-breaks in operating circuits
Located in the machine room may indicate the stalled car’s location
Controller
When working near an open hoistway door especially if the door is fully opened and chocked personnel must have
A lifeline attached
Passengers should be advised not to activate this button. If already activated, they should be advised to reset the switch.
Emergency stop switch
After personnel have located the stalled elevator and communicated with passengers to assess their health status, officers should determine if the incident is
Nonemergency or emergency in nature
Personnel can instruct passengers to perform self-rescue techniques. If these fail personnel should
Attempt to move the elevator to while the power remains on
During nonemergency incidents if an elevator car is in motion personnel should await the arrival of
An elevator mechanic before taking any further action
When attempting to perform a hard reset of the system it involves removing power via the mainline disconnect and waiting how long to turn power back onto the system
30-60 seconds
Once power has been removed the disconnect must remain off until
A certified elevator mechanic restores the elevator to proper working order
If no padlock is avail to lock out the power to the elevator then
A member with a radio should remain at the panel until the rescue has been completed
The two power sources for each elevator are
- mainline power
- auxiliary power
Stops the car and removes operating power from the elevator
Mainline power
Delivers power to the car lights, fan, and sound system
Auxiliary power
During elevator rescue this power system should be left on to prevent panic of the occupants
Auxiliary power
May also be used to identify the correct elevator car
Auxiliary power
Departments should consider what in order to facilitate access to the hoistway from above or below
2 sets of elevator keys
Is a hand tool used to open sliding-type elevator hoistway doors
Elevator pick tool
A more involved but also effective method for unlocking an elevator hoistway door
Poling
Full-bodied harnesses and lifelines should be utilized when a fall hazard of
6 feet or more exists
Open hoistways should not be
Left unattended
The three types of poling are
- Polling down
- Polling up
- Polling across
Can be a very costly approach and may not achieve the desired results
Forcing entry into a hoistway and elevator
The spreading tool must be inserted where to apply more direct force
As high as possible
This approach should be used as a last resort and only under emergency circumstances
Forcing entry
When passengers are removed from a stalled car between floors they should be taken
Up and out of the car
When an elevator car platform is more than how far above a landing is it inadvisable to remove passengers from the car
3 feet
Stalled hydraulic elevator cars can be lowered by manipulating the
Manual lowering valve
If a stalled elevator car platform is positioned within how far above or below the landing level personnel can remove passengers
3 feet
Due to the inherent physical and mechanical hazards of elevator shafts, hoistways, or pits these spaces should be considered
Confined spaces
During general operations utilizing emergency access tactics and engaging in elevator-related confined-space operations all personnel operating in the area should be minimally equipped with
Helmet & gloves
During general operations utilizing emergency access tactics and engaging in elevator-related confined-space operations all personnel operating near open hoistway doors, within a hoistway, or in an elevator pit should be equipped with
Harnesses and be secured by lifelines
Who should release an elevator’s machine brakes
Only a certified elevator mechanic
This elevator system function is designed to provide access to the hoistway and car top for inspection and maintenance purposes
Inspection service function
The four inspection station buttons are
- “up”
- “down”
- “run”
- “stop”
What button must be pulled first to activate inspection station power
Stop
The direction button and the RUN button must be simultaneously depressed and held down to
Move the rescue car in the desired direction
While in inspection mode elevator car travel speed is reduced to
150 feet per minute
While the car is in motion one member should be assigned to watch for
Counterweights
Planks or ladders should be used to bridge gaps between car at least how long
6 feet or longer
To form handrails a member in each car holds the ends of two
8 foot pike poles
No more than how many people can be on the top of a car at the same time
3
It is safer to remove occupants through the hoistway door
On the floor above rather than the floor below
Personnel must use the stairs to access the fire floor for an fire occurring up through the
6th floor
The first-arriving company must evaluate the elevator and ensure it is operating properly and the shaft is free of
Smoke, fire, water
These elevators should not normally be used during emergency operations
Freight elevators
Most modern high-rise building systems alarm the fire floor as well as
The floor above and below it
The activation of any smoke detector in elevator lobbies, machine rooms, hoistways, pits will activate the
Firefighter emergency operating system indicated by “flashing firefighter helmet”
Are typically found in elevator machine rooms and hoistways
Heat detectors
The activation of a heat detector in elevator machine rooms and hoistways will remove power to the elevator before
The sprinkler system activates
An additional feature found in some high-rise buildings prevent smoke entry into the elevator shaft
Elevator pressurization
Given the space and weight restrictions, no more than
Two crews should use an elevator at one time
Once the ERS switch is in the “on” position personnel should then select a floor that is
One or two levels above their current position
After confirming normal operations and control of the elevator, personnel should select a floor where in relation to the anticipated fire floor
2 levels below the fire floor
Once a car has been placed in Phase 2 ERS it will continue in Phase 2 operation
Regardless of the position of the lobby keyed switch
If the Phase 1 emergency recall service was initiated automatically by a fire alarm device, the elevator cannot be returned to normal operation until
The device has been cleared
For occupants to use the elevators while the building is still in alarm the system must be switched to
Bypass in the lobby
Normally fires in the elevator pit are
Small in nature
Hydraulic elevator pit fires involving hydraulic fluid require a
Class B extinguisher or a foam line
In most cases firefighters should be able to extinguish small elevator pit fires from
The lowest hoistway door using a handheld extinguisher
The elevator rope (cable) consists of cold-rolled steel wrapped around lubricant-soaked rope (hemp) and failure can occur at temperatures above
800 degreesF
The hoistway doors offer minimum smoke penetration protection and are typically fire-rated for
2 hours
System is basically a conveyor belt that is chain-driven and rotates treads in an enclosed loop rail
Escalator
Some escalators the same drive-motor powers the handrail but in other installations a
Separate drive-motor powers the handrail
Two types of entrapment emergencies for escalators are
- Body part becomes caught
- Clothes or shoes caught in the treads
The escalator emergency shut-off is located
At the bottom of the escalator under the handrail
To remove an entrapped foot at the landing plate
The screws holding the plate should be removed
Personnel can break cast metal into large pieces by
Hitting the step tread in the middle of the plate
Step treads are made of
die-cast aluminum
The location of the handrail motor is in the same location as
The motors that drive the entire escalator
To remove trapped fingers from the handrail the
Wheel that controls the handrail should be disassembled or loosened
