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URGENT SAFETY NOTICE

Elevators installed with more than 4 inches of “gap space” between the hoistway doors and the elevator car doors can pose a serious safety risk. Children may become entrapped in the space and could be seriously injured or killed. This risk can be reduced with the proper installation of space guards at each floor.

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Are Residential Elevators Safe?

It’s natural to be concerned about the safety of a home elevator, but when adequately installed by experts such as Preferred Elevator, they are very safe.

Having a residential elevator in your home may seem like a foreign concept. A lot of people are familiar with seeing these devices in a fancy apartment building or commercial site, but residential elevators are trending, affordable, and beneficial to the people that utilize them. It’s natural to be concerned about the safety of a home elevator, but when adequately installed by experts such as Preferred Elevator, they are very safe. Regularly scheduled elevator service is also crucial to make sure that your home elevator safely operates. Within the past few years alone, technology has improved to ensure that home elevator accidents are minimal. Keep reading to discover why home elevators are incredibly safe.

National Safety Code Compliance

National safety codes set the guidelines of how a residential elevator installation should go. If your home elevator doesn’t adhere to these guidelines, then it isn’t safe for operation. In 2016, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) enforced new safety codes to make sure that home elevators are safe. Their goal was to decrease the gap between the elevator door and its gate so that accidents and injuries would be less likely to occur.

One way to do so was making sure that distance between the hoistway/exterior door and the inside edge of the doorsill aren’t any more than 3/4″. Another safety code put into place was that any car door should be able to take on 75 pounds without displacing the car door from its track. Primarily, when it comes to gaps, the golden rule is often the 3″x5″ rule. It’s standard that there are no more than five inches between the exterior door and gate. Although a large number of elderly persons use residential elevators, small children came to mind in regards to the 3″x5″ rule. Whether young, old or in between, safety codes ensure that the chance of you getting stuck on an elevator is rare.

Infrared Protection

Infrared protection refers to an elevator being able to detect when something is in its way. The device won’t close unless it’s clear to do so. Therefore, for anyone who decides to enter the home elevator at the last minute, they don’t have to worry about being crushed by a closing door or moving cab.

Back-up Battery

If there happens to be a power outage while you are using the elevator, you’ll be able to exit your elevator still due to a back-up battery. If your back-up battery fails, there are manual lowering devices put in place. Also, there are options to have a phone installed in the elevator so you can always reach someone if you do get stuck.

Preferred Elevator: We’re On the Up and Up!

For 11 years, Preferred Elevator has served residents in Central Maryland, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. You can rely on our experienced home installation team and quality products.

For our commercial elevator clients, we also provide annual inspections of your equipment to adhere to standards established by the state of Maryland. During these inspections, we make sure that your commercial mobility product is functioning correctly and efficiently. We’ll also go over all safety devices and customized features offered within your plan!

Get in touch with us! Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8 am -5 pm. Reach us by phone at 410-238-2555, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 16th, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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    Preferred Elevator

    • 7110 Golden Ring Road
      Suite 102
      Essex, MD 21221
    • Phone: 410-238-2555
    • 24/7 Emergency Service
    • Business Hours:
      Monday–Friday: 8am–5pm
    • MHIC #123888
    • Elevators Contractors License #1186
    • DC License #ELC1300867