If the lifts doors are stuck, passengers are urged to do as little as possible whilst waiting for the engineers to arrive.
Trying to prise the doors open, or repeatedly pressing the buttons on the control panel could make things worse. It’s best to let them know that lift engineers are on their way and will be able to deal with the issue efficiently.
Power Failure
EN81-1 and EN81-2 offer clear guidance on installing a communication line to allow a trapped passenger to call for help in the event of a power cut.
Poor Lubrication
Your lift components need to be lubricated to ensure smooth functioning; clean oil must be used for lubrication.
Oil Contamination
Lift parts are subject to wear and tear over the years, and this can cause small particles to fall away and contaminate the motor oil. This could be the source of ongoing problems for lift function.
You may be alerted to this by the sudden presence of an unpleasant odour which could be from the motor. Alternatively, if the lift is struggling to move up or down, contamination could be the problem.
Lift Misalignment with Floor
When a lift comes to a stop, the floor of the cabin should be level with the floor outside the cabin door. This avoids passengers with impaired mobility from having trouble when entering or exiting the lift.
Incorrect levelling can be the cause of accidents, therefore lift repair engineers will check for: a worn control panel, excess loads carried, loss of pressure (in hydraulic lifts), and poor braking capacity.
Misaligned Motor Drive
A misaligned motor drive can be the cause of a lift breakdown. The shaft alignment plays a vital role to ensure the lift is functioning smoothly. If the alignment is even a little bit off the bearings will be affected.
As a result, the bearings will wear fast and continue to cause problems for the lift.
Loud Clunking or Squealing noises
The sounds that can be heard indicate that a component is loose or worn out.
A potential cause of the unpleasant sounds is a bearing malfunction. Bearings are part of the motor, and they allow it to function frictionlessly. A malfunctioning bearing will create a grinding or screeching sound and can lead to motor failure.
Damaged Sheaves
Excess wear and tear can result in the sheaves becoming worn. The sheave is a vital component that makes sure the lift runs smoothly. However, the shaves can wear away over time, this can negatively affect the functionality of the sheaves.
To prevent a breakdown, it is recommended that you inspect your sheaves regularly. Whenever you notice damage you should repair it as soon as possible, an early repair will prevent damage in the future.
Damaged Consoles
Damage to the lifts console is one of the most common causes of lift breakdowns.
Both frustrated passengers and bored children can damage the console by pushing buttons too hard, too often, pushing too many buttons at the same time or just treating the console more harshly than it can handle.
Motor Failure
Some lift motors use direct current to power their lifts, this means that a motor-generator converts AC to DC before the lift can get to work.
With a number of moving parts, particularly wear-prone carbon brushes, a motor failure is a leading cause of lift breakdowns.
