Increase Home Elevator Safety

We are seeing this home elevator installation trend in Texas driven by people wanting to age-in-place in their multistory homes and land prices forcing builders to offer 3+ story homes.

While adding independence and mobility for homeowners, elevators installed in a home also increase its value and add luxury appeal.

Another concern that family members have for their aging relatives is the use of stairs being dangerous especially when they have pets or must carry items up and down stairs. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 25% of people aged 65 or older fall every year and that once they fall, they are twice as likely to fall again.

Elevators are a much safe option that reduces the chance of injury.

The ASME ANSI A17.1/CSA B44 – Section 5.3 is the industry standard for home elevators. Most states adopt this national code as local code.

The ASME ANSI code provides for key safety guidance such as limiting the space permitted between the elevator cab door and hoistway landing door to no more than 4 inches. Our residential elevator brands are certified by an accredited third party. Ask your elevator installer for proof that the home elevator you are buying is built to the A17.1 standard and certified by a third party.

All elevators should be installed to the latest standard whether or not it is required by a local jurisdiction. Home elevators installed by Home Elevators of Houston are installed by licensed, bonded, and insured teams following building codes. All home elevator installations are inspected by the local authority.

While elevators naturally add safety to your home, here are some tips to follow to ensure your residential elevator is a safe as possible. Note that some of the tips below do not apply to shaftless elevators or vacuum elevators as they do not have gates and separate landing doors, but mindful operation of any elevator will enhance its safety.

• Follow all safety rules that your installer shares with you and that are in the user guide.
• Help first-time users of your elevator so they understand how to operate it safely.

• Take special care when children are present and educate them about how and when to use your elevator.
• Never overload the elevator’s weight limit with people or cargo.
• Give at least 2 inches between you or an item you are carrying in the cab and the gate and cab walls.
• Do not open the car gate while the elevator is traveling.
• Keep the landing doors closed at all times unless you are entering or exiting the elevator.
• If the gate or landing door are not operating properly, do not use the elevator.
• Never bypass, disable, adjust, or remove any safety features.

• Enter and exit only when the elevator has completely stopped and always step in or out of the cab very carefully.
• Never put your hands, feet, or anything at all through the openings in a scissor-style gate.
• Make a daily habit of consciously operating your elevator checking for things like properly working buttons, doors opening and closing properly, any interior damage, any unusual noises or movements, etc.
• If you hear unusual sounds, experience strange sensations in the ride, or otherwise something does not seem right, do not use your elevator.
• Make repairs as soon as you notice a problem.
• Follow manufacturer recommendations for inspections and maintenance. Traditional elevators require an annual inspection and maintenance. Vacuum elevators only every 15,000 lifts, approximately 5 years. Rest assured, we offer repair, service & maintenance plans for any elevator we install.

Residential elevators have safety built in. So proper operation with an eye and ear open for anything that changes over time will keep the elevator working great and your family and guests safe.