- Maintenance & Construction
- Jun 8, 2021
Your Elevator Contractor recommends that you take appropriate action prior to a hurricane to protect your elevator equipment investment. Preventing hurricane damage also can help you avoid extended elevator shutdowns.
Elevator Maintenance contracts DO NOT cover hurricane damage to elevator systems. Examine your insurance coverage. Some insurance policies also may not fully cover all hurricane damage.
Storm damage to equipment in an elevator machine room is often caused by water blowing in around ill-fitting win- dows, louvers and doors. Hotel/Engineering Managers should first inspect the elevator machine room’s ventilation openings, windows and doors for possible rain leakage opportunities. It is better to be safe than sorry if there is any possible opportunity for penetration. This also applies to your electrical room where elevator main line disconnects may be installed in lieu of elevator machine room.
Weather stripping around doors should be checked, and replaced or repaired if necessary.
An elevator machine room with louvers can be protected from blowing rain by fastening a sheet of plywood to the inside of the ventilation opening. After the storm, this shield should be removed to provide adequate machine-room ventilation. Also as added protection, installing metal splash guards around ventilation should be considered.
Elevator machine-room windows can be blown out by strong winds. Fastening sheets of heavy plywood over windows can prevent water damage.
Water also can flood into the hoistway, causing damage to wiring and other operating equipment. To help prevent this scenario
Close all vents and openings at the top of the hoistway to prevent water from entering the elevator shaft
All elevator contractors recommends suspending elevator operation during a hurricane even if your building has an emergency generator. This precaution can avoid trapping elevator passengers in the event of a power failure or elevator shutdown. Storm- damaged roads may delay service mechanics attempting to respond to an elevator emergency.
Enclosed Building Elevators - Park all elevators near the center of the hoistway. This will help keep the elevator cars, traveling cables and counterweights from being damaged by water entering the elevator pit.
Elevators/Entrances Exposed to Outdoors: Position elevators to park one floor below the very top floor floor.
Shut down your elevator system at the mainline disconnect in the machine room/or wherever your disconnect may be located. Verify that your elevators are fully off by returning to the lobby level of your elevators and making sure elevator push buttons do not call the elevator.
After the Storm Passes And Given The All Clear To Move About The Hotel:
Check elevator machine room for water damage, be cautious when opening the door and do a visual inspection. DO NOT TURN ON THE MAINLINE DISCONNECT. Although your elevator equipment may have no apparent water damage, be cautious. Unseen structural damage can cause an emergency shutdown if you operate the elevator system before a qualified mechanic inspects it.
Regardless of apparent water damage, DO NOT HESITATE to call your elevator contractor. But even if you can’t phone, your service mechanics will be in touch with you to restore elevator service and make needed repairs as soon as possible.