Pool of oil...

Hydraulic oil in the elevator pit. Code violation and dangerous for all personnel working on the elevator equipment. This is also a potential environmental contaminant. This is in violation of ASME A17.1 1206.2a. Hydraulic oil will penetrate concrete, seeping into the ground, requiring an environmental cleanup and removal of all contaminated soils.

For use in emergency!

This is what we found inside the emergency telephone box within this elevator. Imagine being the person stuck in this elevator! The building owners were not aware of liability issues and ADA code compliance. Elevator telephones are required by ADA and may not be greater than 48" above the floor.

Who needs a limit switch anyways?

Notice that the roller is missing on the bottom switch. This could possibly render the limit switch ineffective. The limit switch is a safety device to stop the elevator if it travels beyond the top or bottom landing. This is a code violation, and a safety hazard which should have been repaired during routine elevator maintenance.

Another pool but with water added!

Water and hydraulic oil in the elevator pit. Code violation and dangerous for all personnel working on the elevator equipment. This is also a potential environmental and health concern for the building owners and occupants. This condition is also causing damage to the elevator equipment in the elevator pit.

Want to be left hanging?

The elevator cab is not connected to the platen plate. As the photograph demonstrates, fasteners are not connected properly. Only gravity is keeping the elevator cab assembly on the hydraulic piston. If the cab assembly "binds" on the rails for any reason in the down direction, the elevator cab and hydraulic piston could separate, leaving the cab hanging freely on the rails.

Watch those fingers!

Door gap is not code compliant. Unfortunately, children find curious little places for their hands and fingers. With elevator automatic power doors, small fingers and hands can be pulled into the gap between the door and frame if not kept within code compliance. Elevator code requires this door gap to be less than 3/8 inch.

Trip hazard...

Although the measure indicated here is marginally within code allowance, the elevator cab is not leveling optimally. This is a trip hazard, and the building owner is ultimately held responsible for any liability. Accessibility codes require elevators to automatically level within 1/2 inch. Quality elevator maintenance keeps elevators well within 1/4 inch of level.

Why not faster?

The rated speed for the elevator photographed was posted as 75 FPM (feet per minute). The actual speed as measured by our calibrated test equipment was 173 FPM, and is not code compliant. The safety devices, as manufactured for this elevator, were not designed for this higher speed. This error was due to poor maintenance practices. Each of our inspectors and consultants have calibrated test equipment to detail all speed data for your elevator.

Want to take a trip?

This is an elevator system that penetrates the rooftop of the building. There are two trip hazards which are not code compliant and create serious potential owner liability. The persons making the modifications to the roof did not consider access of the elevator. Walking out of the elevator is a very serious trip hazard. Also, due to the nature of gravity, every time it rains outside, it rains inside the elevator hoistway! Investment in a professional elevator consultant could have saved the building owner substantially due to the cost of necessary renovation. This was a new building, and the elevator had recently passed an acceptance inspection according to the "professional" inspector that was hired.

Damaged equipment...

Here we see damaged elevator equipment caused by improper installation procedures. The elevator hoisting ropes came over the bracket and sliced into the steel plate. Proper installation, maintenance and inspection would have eliminated this from ever occurring. This elevator was a recent installation.

Trip hazard revisited...

Once again, we find an elevator that is not leveling properly. This is not code compliant and is a major safety hazard and potential building owner liability found often during proper inspection. Oftentimes, the building owner is unaware of the problem until someone is hurt.

New use of copper to "save a few pennies"!

We see this situation far too frequently! These are copper wires used to bypass the protective fuses. This is an electrical code violation and dangerous safety issue for all occupants of the building. One must wonder why this occurs when a proper fuse can be purchased for approximately one dollar. Unfortunately, this practice is found in approximately 8-10 percent of the elevators we review and is absolutely unacceptable maintenance procedure!

Creative maintenance!

Note the elevator mechanics' creativity in designing this "replacement part" for the door clutch, instead of purchasing the appropriate inexpensive part. The building owner and maintenance contractor could not understand the frequent service calls and why the elevator was intermittently breaking down.

Electrical genius!

This mechanic intentionally bypasses the heater circuit for the motor starter. This is a common elevator and electrical code violation due to poor maintenance. The heater circuits are a safety circuit designed to protect elevator motors.

Dirt in my eyes!

Notice the dirt and debris on these electric eyes, which are a safety feature to re-open the elevator doors if an object is detected. They must be kept clean in order to function properly. The maintenance contractors' "checklist" on this project noted that these have been cleaned monthly, and amazingly, just a few days prior to our review and photograph! The maintenance contractor and building owners wondered why the elevator would intermittently break down and then start running again.