Can the bottom (floorboard) of an elevator come loose and fall?
James Bond movies show the bad guys pushing a button and having the floor drop. I’m talking about an elevator in your average office building – no secret agents.
How many fail-safe mechanisms are there to keep the floor from corroding or disconnecting – just how safe are elevators from simply falling apart?
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I always get the feeling that elevators are pretty safe, as far as means of transportation go. There are always posted an inspection of the elevator, and also a clear limit of number of people. (Of course, they are not talking about how much each of those persons weigh….) But, I think the biggest danger is opening up the doors when no elevator is there, or opening when it is off from the floor somewhat.
Good lord, you’ve given me a new phobia! But seriously, elevators get regular safety inspections, so I think it unlikely.
It’s so unlikely. They’re not exactly held together with duct tape and super glue. Elevator cars are pretty solidly constructed and really, very safe. Here’s some information. Most of the people who are killed in elevator accidents are elevator technicians.
Most elevators have big springs attached to the bottom of the floor, which allows a run-a-way elevator to bounce up one or two floors. This takes the possibility of a dead crash from killing the riders on the elevator.
If you are in this situation, its best to sit on the elevator floor, in order to minimize personal injury.
The top of elevators open, not the bottom, for this reason.
@john65pennington :: Any proof of this claim? I have seen a few shafts and have never seen springs.
My thinking was that there must at least be one set of some sort of crossbars that are screwed (not welded) into the frame someplace. I would hope there are two sets. I’m assuming that the metal is corrosion proof, for obvious reasons.
And of course you have to hope that the assembler did a good job :-)
My father told me a long time ago elevators are the safest mode of transportation. He is a statistics oriented guy, and used to approve and give grants for research, so I assume he is right. I highly doubt the floor of an elevator would ever drop out, but the biggest thing to watch for is before you step through the open doors onto an elevator, make sure the elevator is there. Same as before diving into a pool make sure it is full of water.
Always watch where you are walking, which means you can’t be texting and walking. Just sayin’.
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