If your business relies on elevators to safely transport visitors between floors, an elevator power outage might significantly impact your operations. Creating an emergency safety plan in advance can help you prepare for a planned outage and know the most important steps to take when an unexpected outage occurs.
Preventing Unsafe Elevator Usage During an Outage
The International Building Code (IBC) requires that elevators be equipped with backup power systems to ensure that they can continue operating, at least temporarily, during power outages. If your business loses power, this backup system should allow any occupants currently on the elevator to exit safely.
However, you should still verify that no one is trapped in the elevator. If you are unsure or believe someone may still be in the elevator and you are unable to open the doors due to the outage, call the elevator company or the fire department and reassure the occupant that help is on the way.
Even if your elevator appears to be working during the power outage, you should prevent anyone else from using it until power is restored. Place signage on every floor warning that the elevator is out of order and directing visitors to the stairs.
What To Do During an Elevator Power Outage With Occupants Inside
Elevators in the U.S. are legally required to contain emergency phones that occupants can use to speak with an operator in the event of a power outage or other emergency. It may also help to include an instructional document for what to do if an occupant becomes stuck. This could help reduce panic during an elevator power outage.
The safety tips for being stuck in an elevator should include:
- Don’t panic. Inform the occupant that they are not in danger and that help will arrive soon.
- Use the emergency phone. The occupant can use the elevator emergency communication system to contact a maintenance professional. These systems have operators on call at all hours of the day to assist.
- Do not try to force open the doors or climb out. Doing so could put the occupant at risk of injury. Instead, they should wait for help to arrive.
- Stay away from the doors. Standing or sitting near the back of the elevator car will keep the occupant safe should the elevator shift or the doors open unexpectedly.
Depending on the extent of the elevator power outage, it may take an hour or two for the elevator maintenance professionals to arrive and open the doors. However, while being stuck in an elevator isn’t fun, it is not usually a significant safety risk.
Boost Your Elevator Emergency Preparedness With ELEVATE Monitoring
Preparing for an elevator power outage can help you promote a safe experience for visitors and employees. At ELEVATE Monitoring, we’re setting a new standard for elevator safety with two-way video communication systems and in-person operators. Contact us at 877-990-9191 for more information about our fully integrated technology, then learn about resetting elevator communications failures.
