Building owners on the East Coast are familiar with battening down the hatches and prepping for hurricanes from early summer to late October, but is there something you might be missing? While most people know to protect exteriors against driving rain and high winds, elevators are often overlooked during storm preparations. As storm after storm churns toward the United States in the early fall, building owners in high-risk areas should prepare a hurricane checklist for their elevators before troubled waters begin to rise.
Elevator Hurricane Checklist
When the weather starts getting rough, be sure to keep your elevator safe and dry. Follow this Hurricane Checklist to help reduce your chances of water damage & other costly repairs to your elevator.
- Prepare for High Water. Park all elevators near the center of the hoist way to prevent potential water damage from accumulation in the pit during rains & possible flooding.
- Check sump pumps, alarms & float switches in your elevator pits. This should be on your regular internal maintenance schedule, but always give your elevators a second check whenever severe weather warnings are issued in your area.
- Close all vents & openings in machine rooms and hoistways. Properly secure all doors and hatches that are exposed to the outdoors.
- Inspect weather stripping. Should your machine room be subject to the elements, check the seals around your doors, windows and vents for wind and water entrance. Replace or repair if necessary.
- Place sandbags on hoistway doors. This is only necessary when elevators are open to the atmosphere – for example, parking garages, pedestrian bridges, or subway stations.
- Reinforce your windows. If your machine room has windows, these can be blown out by strong winds. To prevent water damage, fasten sheets of plywood over the windows.
- Keep it cool. Be conscious that machinery still needs adequate ventilation to prevent overheating. Be sure to keep your elevator's motor room between 45° and 90° degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity not to exceed 85%!
- Test emergency phones. Make sure your elevators have a working emergency phone in case of power outage & guests becoming stuck in the elevator.
- Alternate power supplies. Check that your generators & auxiliary power supplies are properly charged and adequate fuel is available in case of power outage.
Download and Print the Checklist - PDF Link
Power Outage Upgrades
We may have just entered hurricane season, but the chaos from the storms are sure to cause inevitable power fluctuations, resulting in energy disruptions and major equipment malfunctions. When the power goes out don't get stuck in the dark, ensure that your property's elevators are protected with these valuable equipment upgrades!
- Powervator To combat power outages, consider investing in a Powervator. This product improves tenant safety by reducing the possibility of passengers being trapped if building power is lost or interrupted. Learn More
- Auxiliary Power Supply – HAPS/TAPS These Auxiliary Power Supplies provides backup power when commercial power is lost, safely delivering the elevator car to a landing and maintaining door power so passengers can exit. Learn More
Elevator preparation is essential to minimize property damage when a hurricane is on the horizon. Complete these steps to help protect your equipment from powerful winds and flooding and to preserve the life of your equipment.
Link to National Hurricane Center's website for the latest storm notifications. Link
Liberty Elevator's Repair & Maintenance Service
As one of the top elevator companies in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida, Liberty Elevator understands that our customers have unique needs and offers our clients the freedom to choose. Whether choosing a customized elevator maintenance program, installing nonproprietary equipment, or providing a flexible agreement, Liberty Elevator provides knowledgeable recommendations for various models and vintages of elevator equipment.
To make sure your elevator rides the storm out safely, contact Liberty Elevator today!