Residential elevators are no longer just a luxury installment, but a necessity for those with disabilities and the elderly. As many as 18 billion elevator trips are taken in the U.S. every year and many of these trips are used to reduce going up and down the stairs for those with mobility impairments.
Residential elevators have also been known to allow the elderly to age in place rather than forcing them to move and change their home. However, those who are new to using residential elevators may be unsure about the safety of elevators in the home.
Are home elevators safe?
Residential elevators are incredibly safe. In fact, elevators, in general, are considered 20-times safer than escalators and yet escalators are used in a variety of commercial areas.
A residential elevator installation comes equipped with a series of features that help to prevent injury. What’s more, the regulations surrounding home elevators cover everything you could be worried about including speed, weight limit, and the elevator shaftway.
Consider the following for a more in-depth look at the safety features incorporated in the installation of home elevators:
Elevator phone. In the event that the elevator has stopped working or you’ve been injured inside it, an elevator phone must be inside the elevator and connected to the landline.
- Safety sensors. Home elevators come equipped with two safety sensors including door sensors and pit sensors. Door sensors use LED or infrared lighting to detect anything between the doors of the elevator, thereby preventing the doors from shutting on an object. Pit sensors detect if something is in the pit of the elevator and prevents the elevator from operating if something is detected.
- Fire alarms. A fire alarm is installed in the shaftway of the elevator and is required for home elevator operation.
- Emergency backup power. In the event of a power outage or a power shortage, your home elevator will be able to operate using an emergency power supply to safely lower you to the first floor and let you out.
Residential elevators are incredibly safe, but only if they receive elevator maintenance and repair as necessary. For this reason, it’s important to contact your local elevator services for regular maintenance at least once every 12 months. For more information on residential elevator repair and maintenance, contact the elevator services of Shaw Elevator today.