December 2023
When an elevator door closes, there is protection against it closing on someone in the doorway.
As technology progressed, the strike bar was replaced by a laser two-beam photocell. As technology continued to advance, this was replaced by a full light curtain. Swiping your hand anywhere in front of the closing door, in the open space, would cause a closing elevator door to re-open.
Philip Staite of Quality Allied Elevator describes how elevators are being made safer by changes in the elevator safety code. “Recent changes in the elevator safety code now replace the multibeam light curtain with a 3D beam that extends beyond the door. People standing too close to an elevator door may cause it to remain open until the area is clear. A closing elevator door will reopen if someone steps into the space in front of the door that is covered by the beam.”
This change in the elevator safety code does not require older elevators to be updated. At such time as elevators are replaced, newer equipment will be required to comply with the current elevator safety code.
