However, as a crucial facility in buildings responsible for the movement of people, elevator safety has consistently received little attention.
Three major causes of elevator accidents
In summary, elevator accidents in recent years can be categorized into three main aspects:
First, there are issues with elevator design and manufacturing, especially in older elevators, which are prone to malfunctions, insufficient precision, and substandard parts. Second, there are installation problems. Elevator installation should be undertaken by qualified installation teams, but in reality, some projects are subcontracted multiple times, ultimately ending up with unqualified teams, whose installation quality and safety are questionable. Third, there are issues with use and maintenance. Elevator safety facilities typically include fire switches on the outside, in-elevator monitoring, and emergency communication devices. If elevator maintenance is not timely, these devices may become unusable in the event of a circuit malfunction. Furthermore, inadequate elevator maintenance, lack of technical support, and failure of users to replace worn parts in a timely manner are common problems.
Elevator IoT helps solve safety issues
The Internet of Things (IoT) for elevators is a concept proposed to address current elevator safety issues. An elevator IoT monitoring system consists of data acquisition, data transmission, central processing, and application software, enabling relevant organizations to monitor and maintain elevators in real time.
The elevator controller enables 24/7 data monitoring of the elevator, storing the data for extended periods. It also incorporates intelligent fault analysis and prevention systems, recording the on/off status of all monitoring points in real time, automatically identifying and recording all fault types, and reporting any anomalies to the company's IoT monitoring center. Through this platform, staff can monitor elevator operation data in real time, perform remote testing, activate emergency alarms, and promptly detect equipment damage caused by circuit faults.
Of course, ensuring the operation and maintenance of elevators also requires establishing a daily inspection and regular reporting system to promptly identify and address any safety hazards. At the same time, relevant regulations should be formulated for elevator use, such as prohibiting horseplay in elevators and strictly prohibiting the use of elevators to transport dangerous goods.
Enhancing added value ensures sustainable development of the industry
With the support and encouragement of national IoT development policies, many cities are attempting to establish local elevator IoT systems, led by the government and with the participation of relevant departments, by issuing policies and investing financial resources. Currently, pilot projects are underway across the country. Cities such as Hangzhou, Chongqing, Nanjing, and Wuxi have established standards mandating the standard installation of IoT systems in elevators, while cities like Beijing and Fuzhou have also begun pilot programs.
It is worth mentioning that after technological advancements bring about improvements in safety, the added value brought by the Internet of Things in elevators can ensure the sustainable development of the industry and enter a spiral upward channel. Ultimately, this will meet the needs of the public for safe and comfortable elevator rides, the needs of regulatory authorities to strengthen safety supervision, the needs to improve product quality and maintenance quality, and the needs for the healthy development of the entire elevator industry.
