SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Aug 23: The breaking down of lifts in the Health Department, Namkum and the regular seizing up of lifts in the DC office often remind that in modern-day life, lifts are not only restricted to high-rise buildings. Even a two-storey building has elevators installed for the ease of residents. From being considered a luxury item, lifts are now an integral part of a building.
However, this also reminds of the severe accidents that can happen in lifts that are used regularly like those in public spaces. People have been stuck in lifts for hours before they could be restarted or opened. Despite calling out for people or ringing the alarm bells, it may sometimes take hours before a lift can be opened.
This in turn emphasizes on the importance of emergency services that should be present and functioning in lifts of mostly commercial or public buildings. Talking in this regard, JE Mithun Kumar Dey of the Electrical Inspectorate said, “Every lift has an ARD (Automatic Rescue Device) system. Upon stopping, the system releases the lift to reach the nearest floor so that passengers, if any are stuck inside, can be removed or rescued. Some ARD systems even are battery operated.”
It is usually advisable that an ARD be incorporated in the lift system to bring the lifts to the nearest floor landing and open their door upon power failure. In simple understanding, an ARD is used in elevator applications to stop a lift at the nearest floor when electric power is cut off.
Dey further continued, “In case such a provision is not provided in a lift, generators in such buildings should be automatic so that the lift does not stop, in case of power cuts.”
When asked if other than an emergency bell, other options should be provided as per rules, he said, “Phones can be provided inside lifts in some cases, which may be used to call guards or for any other kind of help in case of a mishap. Lifts such as Otis among others provide this option.”
Other reasons for a lift to stop mid-transport may be overloading. It is the most common form of negligence. Officials have said that every lift has the capacity displayed, which is the number of people and the weight the lift can carry, but people do not take these instructions seriously, especially in public buildings.
The official said, “After the lift starts operating, a yearly inspection is mandatory. Owners should enter into a contract with the lift company for regular maintenance. In the absence of proper care and attention, certain parts like the brake, the wire-rope wear off, increasing the danger of accidents.”
Notably, as per the rules, the electricity department should check lifts every three years and builders need to renew their licenses after the lift has been inspected by the electrical inspector every year. Every lift should have ARD installed as well. In case, the builder does not get the lifts checked every year, they can be fined up to Rs 50000. In case the builder still doesn’t get the lift inspected, they will be fined up to Rs 5000 every day till the inspection is done.
