With 2N Lift8 – A comprehensive communication system can be delivered for use in a critical evacuation situation.
There are two parts to the communication system:
Lift Car allowing all the following to communicate
Machine Room
Main Elevator Evac. Floor (MEEF) Intercom
Lift car
Lift car roof
Lift pit
Normal elevator call centre through 4G VoLTE, VOIP, or Analog line
Lift Landings allowing all the following to communicate
A landing intercom at each floor
Main Elevator Evac Floor (MEEF) or Control room phone
In the Evacuation mode, 2N Lift8 ensures a reliable communication with the evacuation elevator floors, which is crucial for a safe and rapid evacuation of persons in emergency.
The MEEF Intercom activates a the highest priority call to the lift car, and technicians assisting can also speak across the multi station intercom system to communicate with emergency responders.
The system is controlled by a Central Unit (CU), which provides telecommunication connection of the audio units with an IP phone. Thus, a responsible and duly trained person can communicate with the evacuees on all the floors via an IP phone, ensuring a successful evacuation process. The landings call the MEEF where it can be assured that someone can answer the call. The landing help points do not call directly to the lift car as there may be situations where the lift car is not able to be occupied.
Up to 64 landing units can be connected in a single system using a simple two-wire connection. The first 8 units connect directly to the 2N Lift8 Central Unit, while each additional group of 8 requires a 2N Lift8 Splitter. These units can be installed up to 600 meters away from the Central Unit, making this solution ideal even for high-rise buildings.
The evacuation unit for individual floors is a key component of the comprehensive evacuation communication solution built on the 2N Lift8 products. It ensures reliable and structured voice communication between evacuation floors and the control room – fully compliant with the EN 81-76 standard.
Digital and connected systems are ingrained in our modern industry and in our lifestyles, and there is no exception for vertical transport. Here I look at 5 interesting ways that advanced technology is making a unique impact on lifts and escalators.
1. AI camera safety monitoring of escalators
What if an escalator system could detect a passenger who had fallen, and safely stop an escalator? In a research paper published by Yantai Luo of Mitsubishi Elevator Corporation, Luo describes the risks in places such as the Shanghai Metro which serves more than 30 million passengers per day, and how real-time video analysis can be used to detect and shut down escalators in the event of a passenger falling.
It makes me wonder where this technology could take us. Could we also detect falling suitcases, strollers, young children playing, and other misuse on escalators? With technology rapidly advancing these advanced solutions are a real possibility. With lifts, AI video analysis could detect passengers in a busy elevator lobby approaching in wheelchairs or using visual impairment aids such as a guide dog or cane. The lift system could then apply considerations to the door timings and voice annunciation accommodations.
Read the full paper here, and see the topic presented by Richard Peters on YouTube at the 2020 Lift & Escalator Symposium
Many modern lifts feature internet and Ethernet connectivity as part of their control, monitoring and external communication systems, and with that comes the risk that equipment can be hacked and manipulated by bad actors, causing disruption and potential safety threats. It’s not just new equipment that is affected, often older lifts are retrofitted with modern communication and diagnostic equipment which requires robust security.
In March 2023 the legislator in Germany decided on a new technical rule for operational safety in TRBS 1115-1 requiring elevator operators to submit system specific documentation how their system has been assessed for cybersecurity risks, else risk an annual inspection defect.
This is a diligent and world leading approach, and such a requirement would come as a shock if implemented in many other places in the world. However, the risk of compromised equipment cannot be underestimated.
Many major manufacturers are investing heavily in R&D for Digital Twin systems, so what exactly is it? In short, a Digital Twin is a virtual replica of a real piece of equipment that can receive real time real-world information from sensors on the physical equipment and use this information to simulate its operation.
A virtual replica of the lift systems in a large commercial building could be used to anticipate maintenance requirements, equipment failures, the effects lift availability and building population on traffic performance, and provide insights into past and future energy usage. With machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies applied, this information can be used in ways not previously possible.
A Digital Twin allows these simulations to be far more accurate than using typical desktop modelling software with limited inputs, and I look forward to seeing the advancements that the industry brings to this space.
4. API
As part of the rapid adoption of IoT into the Vertical Transport industry, ways to communicate the increased availability of digital real-time information requires methods for that data to be integrated easily into other platforms.
Application Programming Interfaces (API) allow data points to be shared between systems and equipment, for example allowing a site building management system to incorporate not only the on-site live equipment status, but also data shared by the lift maintenance contractor’s back-end systems such as maintenance and repair schedules, technician dispatch status, and service tickets.
5. PESSRAL
Relying on software and digitally controlled components for critical safety functionality is not as commonly adopted in the lift industry as it is in other areas such as commercial aviation, but more of this equipment is emerging in the industry. Used carefully, these types of devices can offer advantages in safety, cost, and reliability. Traditionally systems such as brakes and safety gear required a primarily mechanical fail-safe activation, and other areas of controls typically employ electro-mechanical safety methods that cannot be compromised by digital equipment and software failures.
PESSRAL, or Programmable Electronic System in Safety Related Applications for Lifts were first allowed in an EN81-1/2 A1:2005 amendment intends to reflect the IEC 61508 standard for functional safety of programmable electronic safety related systems requiring a critical approach to design and implementation.
An example of this is the electronic safety gear shown by OTIS in their newly released Gen360 product, which features no traditional governor rope and mechanical safety system, instead the safety gear would be expected to electronically detect freefall and overspeed to trigger the application of the safety gear, mechanically gripping the rails to bring the lift to a rapid stop.
Let me know your thoughts
These are just some of the ways advanced technologies and integrations can shape the vertical transport industry. I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on the biggest gamechangers, and conversely the things that are big now and will be a passing fad like the 3D TV at home.
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