When talking about elevators, escalators, and automatic building doors it’s sometimes necessary to use technical terms and acronyms, so we’ve created a handy glossary to help you make sense of them. Click on a word or phrase to see the definition.
An arrangement of suspension ropes in which the car speed is one half the rope speed.
Electrical power supply that provides 3-phase alternating voltage.
A device or system that controls access to an elevator or building.
The door on the main entrance side. See also Car-door.
A system that allows car doors to start opening before the car is fully stopped on the landing. Doors start opening when the elevator car is in the door zone and the speed has decreased below the limit allowed by the safety code.
Noise transmitted through the air. In elevators usually generated by the machine, ropes, control panel, doors, guide shoes and other vibrating components.
A bell used to call attention and assistance. Operated by a pushbutton inside the car.May be located in the elevator shaft, on a suitable landing, or on the car roof.
A button for activating the alarm bell. Also activates voice connection if remote monitoring is used. Located in the car, with additional buttons on the car roof and underneath the car.
A floor where the elevator announcer operates.
A safety system for stopping the uncontrolled movement of the ascending car.
Automatically opening and closing doors.
Area of the car measured at a height of 1 m above floor level, disregarding handrails, which is available for passengers or goods during operation of the lift. Any available area in the entrance, when the doors are closed, shall also be taken into account.
The share (in per cent) of the elevator's rated load with which the elevator car and the counterweight are in balance.
A plate under the car sling where the buffer hits.
Lowering of the building as a result of sinking to the ground or shrinkage of the concrete.
Personnel and equipment for supervising technical systems in a building (climatisation, heating, elevators, access control etc.).
The car floor area inclusive door sill area depending on rated load / number of passengers as specified by the safety code.
A device designed to stop a descending car beyond its normal limit of travel by storing or by absorbing and dissipating the kinetic energy of the car.
A device having two related and interdependent functions: (1) to prevent (electrically) the operation of the hoist machine unless the car door is locked in the closed position, (2) to prevent (mechanically) the opening of a car door from the car side unless the elevator car is in the door zone and is either stopped or being stopped.
A battery powered light in the elevator car to serve as emergency light during power failure.
Guide rails used to direct the travel of an elevator car in an elevator shaft.
All visible elements inside the elevator car.
The car interior lighting.
A function which prevents the use of an elevator when the car light voltage supply fails.
The actual load inside the elevator car (passengers and goods). See also rated load.
The user interface for passengers inside the elevator car. Includes car call buttons, alarm button, door open button etc.
A set of devices to detect and inform passengers of an overload in the elevator car.Triggers the car overload indicator.
A device, or group of devices, which serves to control, in a predetermined manner, the apparatus to which it is connected. An elevator controller consists of drive and control functions.
A component which ensures traction between the traction sheave and the suspension ropes and which comprises a set of weights to balance the weight of the car and a proportion of the load in the car often taken as 50 % of the rated load.
The travelling area of the counterweight in the elevator pit, isolated by a counterweight screen.
An emergency system installed on all cars, which comprises of a bell, a pushbutton in the car and an uninterruptible source of power, usually a battery.
An option where one nominated elevator is allowed to be removed from normal group service for firemen's use.
A landing door assembly that does not cover the whole width of the elevator shaft. See also narrow frame type door and front type door.
A landing door assembly that covers the whole width of the elevator shaft raw opening.
An elevator equipped to carry goods, forklift trucks etc.
An elevator mainly intended for the transport of goods, which are generally accompanied by persons.
Steel sections with smooth guiding surfaces. The section profile is usually "T" shaped (machined, cold drawn or roll molded). Guide rails are installed in an elevator shaft to guide and direct the travel of an elevator car and its counterweight.
A hand hold support in an elevator car.
Part of the elevator shaft between the topmost finished floor level and the ceiling of the shaft.
The equipment required to move the elevator car and counterweight. A defined combination of equipment required for a range of loads, rated speeds, acceleration and travel heights.
A door in the opening of an elevator shaft.Provides safe access to the elevator car.
A room where the elevator machine and some electrification and control system components are located.Usually located above the elevator shaft.
The devices that provide power to the elevator.Also known as mains.
A part of the elevator control system, including the user-interface intended for serviceman and switches, fuses and brake release lever.
A device which, when the elevator attains a predeterminated speed, causes the elevator to stop, and if necessary causes the safety gear to be applied.
