14 common elevator myths you should stop believing in

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Every city dweller has to take an elevator every day. Many people use it several times a day and do not even think about how the elevator works and how safe it is.

1. You can sit in a stuck elevator indefinitely

Fact: in the "Regulations on the system of scheduled preventive maintenance of elevators" it is said that the work on emergency maintenance is carried out during the time interval agreed with the organization-owner of the elevator. In this case, the time for the release of the passenger should not exceed 30 minutes.

In theory, you can get stuck in an elevator for no more than half an hour. But in practice, there are different cases. There is a story about a Chinese woman who died in an elevator. On January 30, the mechanics turned off the elevator, and a month later they removed the dead body from it. However, the likelihood of a quick arrival of rescuers is still much higher.

In most cases, the length of time in the elevator is determined by the human factor. This could be staff negligence or objective problems. For example, there is one mechanic on the site who simultaneously receives a call from several houses.

2. If you jump in an elevator, it will fall

Fact: the elevator holds many metal cables. Everyone can carry more weight than a car. Therefore, even an overloaded elevator will not fall.

3. Elevator doors can open between floors

Fact: the elevator is designed in such a way that it opens as a result of the interaction of the inner door with the external stationary door. He will not be able to open the doors on his own in the wrong place.

4. If the elevator is stuck, you should jump, hit the walls, press all the buttons

Fact: if you are stuck in an elevator, there is only one way to help yourself: calm down and contact the dispatcher. After that, relax and have fun, because the Universe has given you a few minutes of free time.

If the connection with the dispatcher is not established, your mobile phone will help you. If an emergency telephone number is written in the elevator, call it. If not, contact your loved ones.

If the phone does not pick up, draw more air into your lungs and shout loudly. People outside can hear you and help you.

Never try to get out of the elevator yourself - it is deadly.

5. If the elevator is stuck between floors, it may fall

Fact: from the place where the elevator gets stuck, the probability of its fall does not increase, because there is no connection between the technical malfunction and the strength of the metal cable.

6. If the cable breaks, the elevator will fall inevitably

Fact: even if for some reason the cable breaks, the elevator has a speed limiter that activates the brakes when the elevator starts moving too fast.

7. The doors of the elevator, if you leave it, always close automatically

Fact: many freight elevators have a metal flap between the doors. By lifting the lever above it and sliding the leaf, you will lock the lift in the open position.

In addition, the "Cancel" button can open the elevator doors. To prevent the doors from closing, it should be held pressed for 8 to 15 seconds (depending on the elevator model). Therefore, when carrying a lot of things into the cab, it is not necessary to prop up the doors with your foot.

Also, modern elevators are equipped with optical noise sensors. By sealing the sensor with tape, you will prevent the doors from closing.

8. You can prevent the doors from closing by inserting an object between them

Fact: a special noise sensor, which the elevator is equipped with, is responsible for opening the doors. This thing is reliable, but theoretically it can break. Then no object can help prevent the doors from closing.

nine. In elevators with a missing button, to quickly close the doors, you need to be content with the standard speed

Fact: firstly, the button itself does not increase the speed of closing the doors, but only brings the moment of their closing closer. Secondly, in many elevators, you can speed up the closing of doors by pressing the button for the floor you are driving to. Thirdly, in many lifts, this button can only be activated in emergency situations.

10. Most of the accidents in the elevator are due to the fall of the car

Fact: the first ever death caused by a fall of an elevator happened only in 2012 in Thailand. …

People die in elevators for other reasons: a collapsing floor, an attempt to get out of a stuck elevator on their own, the need of a person stuck in an elevator for an ambulance.

The expired service life can cause the doors to malfunction, the elevator's readiness to drive with the doors open, and the inner lining of the elevator will catch fire due to a short circuit. The elevator requires constant inspection and lubrication of the safety components. More than 100 elevators are serviced per worker per month.

11. You can get out of the elevator through the emergency hatch

Fact: in most cases the escape hatches are bolted. And there is no need to do this: no matter what happens to the elevator, it is safest for passengers to stay inside.

12. If you jump in a falling elevator at the moment of contact with the ground, you can survive

Fact: a person is not able to jump as fast as is needed to compensate for the speed of falling. In addition, it is impossible to know the moment of landing. You can increase your chances of survival by hanging from handrails (if any). It is also recommended to lie on the floor with the body weight distributed as wide as possible.

13. You can suffocate in an elevator

Fact: there is ventilation in the elevators. In addition, the boxes of old elevators are leaky, there are many slots in them, which provide additional air flow.

14. Elevators are dangerous

Fact: according to statistics, an elevator is the safest form of transport.