Getting from Point A to Point B in your home has never been easier with a home Elevator. Residential elevators are growing in popularity due to the number of issues they solve, as well as their added luxury. 

With the increased demand for home elevators comes the need for awareness about home elevator Safety. While it is rare for home elevators to have serious malfunctions that result in death or injury, their safety depends on your knowledge and adherence to safety codes and regulations. Keep reading to learn how to keep your home elevator safe for use year after year. 

What safety codes do home elevators have in place? 

With home elevators, safety protocols always need to be followed. These national codes are set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and some states also have specific state codes. These codes regulate what a safe weight limit, speed, and travel distance are, as well as what safety features your elevator should be equipped with. Just like with most things, these codes are constantly evolving as potential dangers are uncovered and as new innovative ways to make elevators safer are discovered. What is most important is that you are ensuring that the latest national and state codes are followed.

For more information on Georgia’s up-to-date elevator code and regulations, visit the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire website. 

For more information on Florida’s up-to-date elevator code and regulations, visit the Florida Administrative Code website.

What features make home elevators safer?

Today, elevators are equipped with several types of protection to ensure safety. That’s why safety features are so crucial. So, as you are shopping for a home elevator, make sure the one you choose includes the below safety features to eliminate your worries. 

Safety gates

Safety gates are attached to the elevator cab and will travel with the cab as it goes between floors. Unlike the elevators that you are used to riding in office buildings, hotels, and other multi-rise buildings that have two sets of doors, for a home elevator, the gate takes the place of the inside door. The elevator can tell if the gate is open and/or closed and will not move until the gate is securely closed, keeping passengers safely inside.

Interlocks

Interlocks keep passengers from opening the elevator door while moving, so you never have to worry about opening a door before fully stopping at a floor. The doors will remain locked until you reach a landing zone and will keep you safe, which is especially important with young, curious children or pets. There are also interlocks that elevators are equipped with that prevent the elevator from operating until the cab gate is fully closed. 

Lighting and indicators

You want to be able to always see where you are going, so make sure your elevator has adequate lighting. This will minimize the risk of tripping, slipping, and falling. Take that one step further to make sure that there is emergency lighting if there ever is an emergency, like a power outage in your home. 

Backup power

Since elevators run on electricity, if there is a power outage in your neighborhood or home, your elevator will stop running. Besides emergency lighting for when there is an electrical outage, you’ll want to also have backup battery power to keep your elevator moving safely in case of an unexpected outage. You can also equip your elevator with manual lowering features so that if your backup power isn’t available or operating correctly, you can lower yourself manually to the bottom.

Emergency features

Beyond emergency lighting and backup power, in the event of a crisis, you will want many features to help you contact someone for help. An emergency alarm will alert everyone close by that you need assistance and an emergency stop switch, or button, will stop the elevator altogether. Other emergency features include a landline telephone inside the elevator to call for help, motorized braking that will stop the elevator if it moves too far down or up the shaft, or cable safety devices that are in place in the very, rare event that something should happen. 

Handrails

Sometimes you may not feel stable or steady and may want to hold on while riding the elevator. This may be particularly true with elderly family members. This is a simple, low-cost feature that many elevators are already equipped with because it isn’t high-tech; but always double-check for this feature because it will make the elevator safer for all passengers.

When you buy a home elevator, you want to make sure you are dealing with a trusted company that puts your safety first. Genesis Elevator Company operates with safety at the forefront of all that we do. To receive a free estimate and schedule an in-home consultation, call us at 770-423-1095 or contact us today.

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