Elevators not only fall, but also rush to the top! You need to know these self-rescue tips →

Since the 1990s, elevators have become popular in high-rise residential buildings in many cities in my country. According to the "Notice of the State Administration for Market Regulation on the National Safety Status of Special Equipment in 2023", by the end of 2023, the total number of elevators in China will reach 10.6298 million. However, a large number of elevators have entered the "old age" stage, with a service life of more than 20 years, and safety risks have also increased. As an indispensable equipment in daily life, once an elevator fails, it is very likely to cause serious safety accidents.

On the evening of February 18, an elevator in Kunming, Yunnan Province, suddenly malfunctioned and fell from the 17th floor to the second floor below ground, and then rushed to the 33rd floor, resulting in the unfortunate death of the 59-year-old owner, Wei. Will the elevator not only fall, but also rush to the top? What improper behaviors may cause elevator failures? When the elevator is out of control, how can we save ourselves? Today, let us take a deeper look at these issues and protect our elevator safety.

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01Why is the elevator rushing to the top more terrifying than falling?

Elevator top impact refers to the situation where an elevator exceeds its designed highest floor and continues to move upward due to a malfunction or operating error during operation, eventually hitting the top of the elevator shaft. The reason why top impact is more terrifying than falling is the difference in its protective devices.

Let's first understand the three major lines of defense for elevator anti-fall safety protection:

First line of defense: wire rope

In my country, each elevator has at least three steel ropes, and any one of them is sufficient to independently carry the entire rated load of the elevator. When the elevator falls, the steel rope will provide an upward pulling force. If it fails, the second line of defense will come into play.

The second line of defense: speed limiter-safety clamp linkage

If the first line of defense is breached and the elevator continues to fall, the speed limiter will immediately brake and trigger the safety clamp. The safety clamp is similar to the brake device of a car, which will firmly clamp the car on the guide rail to prevent it from falling further.

The third line of defense: buffers

Even if the previous protective measures fail, the buffer device in the elevator pit will still serve as the last line of defense. It is similar to a spring and can absorb part of the kinetic energy of the car and weaken the impact of falling.

In contrast, the elevator top-impact protection device is relatively inadequate. According to the relevant provisions of GB7588-2003 "Safety Specifications for Elevator Manufacturing and Installation", a limit switch should be installed at the top of the elevator shaft, but there is no mandatory requirement to install an upper safety clamp. Most elevators rely on brakes to "fight alone". If the brakes fail, it can only be allowed to run at an overspeed. When the elevator rushes to the top of the shaft, the passengers are overweight. At the moment of hitting the top, the body is thrown up by inertia. Generally speaking, the head will hit the top of the car directly, which may cause fatal injuries. Then it falls heavily to the ground under the action of gravity, and the consequences are disastrous.

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02If the elevator falls rapidly or hits the top, how to save yourself?

If you are falling rapidly, hold the handrails tightly if there are any, keep your back and head close to the inner wall of the elevator, keep your knees slightly bent and your heels raised, and use the strength of your legs to cushion the impact of landing. If there are no handrails, you can hold your head with both hands to prevent being hit by falling objects.

If you are rushing to the top quickly, if there is a handrail, you can grab it from the bottom and squat to stabilize your center of gravity. If there is no handrail, you can lie on your side and curl up, protect your head with both hands, use your shoulders and hips to absorb the impact, increase the force area, and reduce injuries.

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03 Three things to note when riding an elevator safely

1. After the elevator door opens, before entering the elevator, you must first confirm whether the elevator car has reached this floor, that is, you can only step in when the lights in the elevator are on to prevent yourself from stepping into empty space and falling.

2. If you find that the elevator door cannot be closed or is not closed tightly while riding the elevator, you should stop riding the elevator immediately.

3. If any abnormal noise or large vibration occurs during riding the elevator, you should stop riding the elevator immediately.

04 Five Don’ts for Safe Elevator Riding

1. Don’t force your way in when the vehicle is overloaded

Elevators have clear rated loads. Once overloaded, the elevator will activate self-protection mechanisms through alarms, etc. Over time, this may cause the elevator program to become disordered or even malfunction, burying potential accidents.

2. Don’t jump in the elevator

Jumping in an elevator will cause the elevator to shake violently, which may not only increase the local load instantly, but may also trigger the elevator's overload protection device, causing the elevator to stop running or even fall abnormally.

3. Do not lean against or hit the elevator door

The load-bearing capacity of elevator doors is limited and they are not as strong as we think. Leaning against or randomly kicking the elevator door may cause the door to deform, causing the moving car to be squeezed by the equipment in the shaft, causing the elevator to malfunction.

4. Do not throw debris into the well

Some people sweep water into the shaft when cleaning the corridor, or throw cigarette butts, fruit peels and other debris into it at will. These behaviors may seem small, but they may cause the elevator to "strike".

5. Do not block the elevator door from opening and closing for a long time

It is very dangerous to block the elevator door from closing with your hands, feet or by placing obstacles. If the blocking time is long and the elevator fails to open and close the door after repeated detection, the system will judge it as a "fault" and stop working immediately, which will not only affect the operation of the elevator, but also may bring safety hazards.

Warm reminder: When taking the elevator, if you find that the elevator door is stuck, there are abnormal noises or jitters during operation, or the elevator door is not closed tightly, you should stop using it immediately and report the problem to the property or relevant management department in a timely manner so that maintenance can be arranged as soon as possible to ensure the safe operation of the elevator.

Author: Wang Jingqi: Assistant Researcher, Hefei Institute of Public Security, Tsinghua University

Reviewer: Zhang Ying, Director of the China Science Writers Association, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Emergency Science Popularization Committee

Produced by: Science Popularization China