Elevator Rescue

Standards ASME A17.4 Guide for Emergency Personnel

Florida State Statutes 399
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue SOG # 2021
Indications The Company Officer may be called to rescue people trapped in an elevator. Typically,
the rescue is simple can be accomplished by Fire Rescue personnel.
Limitations - The Company Officer should maintain communications with Dispatch in case elevator
maintenance personnel are needed.

Emergency Elevator Evacuation

x

The Company Officer should send a firefighter with a portable radio to talk to the
occupants in the elevator car. Make verbal contact with the occupants and keep the
occupants informed of what you are doing.

Attempt to operate the elevator normally. Ask the occupants to push another floor
level or to push the door OPEN button. Make sure the stop button (if present) is
in the RUN position and not in the STOP position.

The Company Officer should shut off the power to the elevator at the main or
breaker box. Leave the power off for approximately 5 10 seconds and then restore
the power.

Attempt to operate the elevator normally. Typically, this will reset the elevator and
allow it to operate normally. If not, ask the occupants to push another floor level or
to push the door OPEN button.

If the elevator is still stuck, shut off the power to the elevator at the main or breaker
box. Make sure to lock out/tag out the electrical service to the car. There are usually
two power sources; one for doors, lights and fan and one for the hydraulic motor.

At the lobby elevator, slide the outer door open and block it in the open position.

Slowly close the inner door and then the outer door. Do not let the doors close suddenly.

Turn the pit stop to the STOP position. The pit stop switch is a red switch located on the wall inside
the elevator shaft on the ground floor.
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The Company Officer should look in the hoist way to identify where the stuck elevator car is located.

Take the stairs to the floor closest to the stuck elevator.

Use the appropriate elevator key to open the outer elevator door and block it in the open position, then
slide open the inner elevator door and block it open position.

The Company Officer should attempt to rescue the occupants if the elevator is within 3 of the floor
level. The open hoist way presents an extreme fall hazard and occupants should be protected as they
exit the elevator. Lay a ladder on its side to block the open hoist way.

The Company Officer should wait for the elevator maintenance company if the elevator is NOT within
3 of the floor level.

Throughout the process, contact the elevator company for guidance, if needed.

Elevator Key Operation

x

The Company Officer should locate the correct elevator key (available on
the apparatus and also required to be located on the premises).
NOTE: The elevator key is NOT standardized; each elevator company
manufacturers their own key/keys.
The single/double drop pin style elevator key should be inserted into the
appropriate slot opening. Pull the shaft of the key back until the drop pin
hits the back of the elevator car door. Slowly rotate the shaft in a circular
pattern. This may need to be repeated with the elevator shaft inserted a little
further each time until the drop pin engages against the lever to release the
door. Have someone continually apply pressure to the door so that it will
slide open when the locking lever is released. Do not let go of the elevator
door as it will shut rapidly.
The lunar style elevator key must be inserted in the lunar opening at a downward angle. The Company
Officer must then pull down on the key shaft so it will lift up on the locking lever which will release the
door. Have someone continually apply pressure to the door so that it will slide open when the locking
lever is released. Do not let go of the elevator door as it will shut rapidly.

Emergency Hatch Operations

x

The Company Officer should send a firefighter with a portable radio to talk to the occupants in the
elevator car. Make verbal contact with the occupants and keep the occupants informed of what you are
doing.
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If the elevator car is greater than 3 from the floor, the Company Officer may have to access the
emergency hatch on top of the elevator car to gain access to the people trapped in the elevator.
NOTE: The age, physical ability and size of the passengers must be taken into consideration. The
hatch opening is limited in size and the physical ability needed to climb two ladders and maneuver
across the top of the elevator may not be possible. Although uncomfortable for the occupants in some
cases it is best to wait for elevator maintenance personnel.

To access the top of the elevator car, the Company Officer must shut off the power to the elevator at the
main or breaker box. Make sure to lock out/tag out the electrical service to the car. There are usually two
power sources; one for doors, lights and fan and one for the hydraulic motor.

The Company Officer must use a ladder to gain access from the elevator hoist way to the elevator car.

The hatch on the top of the elevator car should be located at the rear of the elevator. Unlock the
emergency hatch and push out the panel to gain access to the people in the elevator car below.

Pass an attic ladder from the hatch into the elevator car.

The Company Officer should have a firefighter descend down the attic ladder to the elevator car to assist
in people exiting the hatch. For safety reasons, it is recommended to attach a harness and rope to the
occupants as they climb out of the elevator.

Once the rescue operation is completed, the Company Officer should reinstall the emergency hatch,
remove the ladders, and restore the power to the elevator car.

Throughout the process, contact the elevator company for guidance, if needed.

NOTE:

Do not attempt a side-car rescue in an elevator wait for the elevator maintenance personnel as
this procedure requires specialized equipment.

Manual Lowering
x

The Company Officer should send a firefighter with a portable radio to talk to the occupants in the
elevator car. Make verbal contact with the occupants and keep the occupants informed of what you are
doing.

The Company Officer should attempt manual lowering only in an extreme emergency.

The Company Officer should shut off the power to the elevator at the main or breaker box. Make sure to
lock out/tag out the electrical service to the car. There are usually two- one for doors, lights and fan and
one for the hydraulic motor.
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Ensure the elevator doors are completely closed.

In the Equipment Room, the Company Officer should locate the manual lowering valve.

The Company Officer should turn the T handle valve until the sound of hydraulic fluid stops.

The Company Officer should close the valve.

The elevator should now make a slow descent to the lobby. This procedure is very slow with the car
traveling at no more than 15 per minute.

The elevator should be all the way down but may be 3-8 below the landing. Use the appropriate
elevator key to open the outer door and block it open. Manually unlock the inner door and block it open.

The Company Officer should leave the power off and slide doors closed once the people have exited the
elevator.

The elevator maintenance personnel should be called to check the system before continued use is
allowed.

Throughout the process, contact the elevator company for guidance, if needed.

NOTE:

No elevator stops (safety feature) will activate in the manual lowering operation. The elevator
stops control the rate of descent for the elevator car. This procedure should only be used in an
extreme emergency.

Special thanks to District Chief Bruce Young and Lt Curtis Rice

for assisting in the development of this Quick Skill.
Thank you!
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