Elevator Emergencies in NYC

05 August 2010

New York City has over 63,000 elevators in use every day. Some may only travel three to four floors while others travel upwards of fifty to sixty floors in one trip. Keeping these elevators safe and in good operating condition is a joint effort of building owners and the New York City Department of Buildings-Elevator Division. In order for an elevator to be installed, it must adhere to the several regulations set by the Buildings Department, including setting the weight and persons limit. After the elevator has been deemed safe by the Buildings Department, its first inspection must be performed by a certified private elevator inspection company hired by the building owner. The private company checks all cables, weight and persons limits, and electronic components to make sure they are in perfect operating condition.

After the initial two inspections, New York City requires five inspections every year; two by a private company and three by the buildings department. At the completion of each inspection, a copy of the inspection form is sent to the New York City Department of Buildings where they house all records for every elevator in the city. The certifications must be updated by the inspectors themselves and displayed in the elevators as well as given to the building’s owner as public record.

Although these precautions are taken, accidents can and do still happen. Common elevator emergencies include malfunction due to too many people in an elevator which exceeds the weight limit, and electrical problems. In case of such emergencies, the New York City Department of Buildings requires that phones be installed in all New York City elevators. These phones connect passengers to a dispatcher who is trained and instructed to contact an elevator maintenance representative or the New York City Fire Department in the event of a severe emergency. If you are ever stuck in an elevator do not panic, call 911 for emergencies or 311 for non-emergencies and asked to be directed to the elevator division. The key is to not panic and wait for the proper authorities. In most cases, service representatives can manually open the elevator on a safe floor but in major emergencies the fire department can open the doors using force.

New York City prides itself on having safe elevators.