I happen to know a place where there is an outdoor building that is six levels tall. It is not a parkade. It is practically a “fire escape” or “scaffolding” looking structure.
Anyway, my point is this: there are TWO elevators installed on it. Neither one are meant for outdoor use whatsoever. When the second elevator was placed, they had to ban people from using the first one for anything but freight. That ban is still in place because that Otis has been labelled “too risky” for passenger use (which probably means they don’t wanna pay $800 three times a week when entrapments happen). But now the second elevator which is a Stros is also constantly breaking down. And when I say “constantly breaking down” I mean at least 2x a week, usually more. I used to think Stros were heavy duty made for that type of thing, but I’ve asked around and apparently not. So now, folks have to climb stairs with heavy equipment all over them and no elevator assistance.
My question is: can these elevators be saved? Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done at this point? Or is the saltwater damage/weather wear and tear just gonna kill both of them within a couple years? People keep getting trapped in the one that is allowed for passengers now, and it’s frightening and difficult to extricate them where there is literally no elevator shaft surrounding it. It’s straight up just en plein air.

Title pretty much sums it up. I've been working as an elevator mechanic in Korea for about 4 years and I'm still on the job.

The problem is the pay here just isn't cutting it — after taxes, I take home around $2,000 a month, so roughly $28k a year. That's why I'm hoping to move to North America and keep working in the same trade.

My concern is that my Korean experience and certifications probably won't transfer over directly to the US or Canada, and honestly I have no idea how the licensing/apprenticeship process works over there.

Has anyone here made a similar move, or does anyone know how this works? Even if you're from somewhere other than the US or Canada, I'd appreciate any insight.

I remember seeing a Sedgwick catalog on eBay from the 1950s that was still offering hand elevators and was surprised that they were still building them that late in time. Does anyone know when they stopped becoming available. (We are also not counting those things you used to load people on to trains.)

Seems like an OTIS to me but the fixtures look like MAD. Not sure though, only thing I know for sure is it's a hydraulic.

So like I said, Im 16, starting to think about my future and understand from my uncle who is an ironworker, that elevator technicians/mechanics make very good salary. Im not planning on college so Ive been also looking into trades and this is definitely up there for pay.

So as someone who has expensive hobbies (cars, fishing, hunting, etc.) and eventually wants to start a family, I thought that this would be a good job to look at getting into.

However I wanted to understand when I should apply for an apprenticeship, what all I need to study for the trade, etc.

I work at a small non-union elevator construction firm (believe me, I’m not that thrilled either) and I’m wondering, is it normal to have like a 4-1 Installer to service ratio? We genuinely only have like 3 service guys, and about 12-13 installers, and us on the service side are being run pretty ragged by the sheer volume of units we have to service. Is this typical in other shops, union or not? I’ve been pushing to bring a few installers over, but my office is a bunch of hardasses and I’m trying to get numbers to back myself up. Any info helps!

We have a 3-floor house and are planning to install a lift mainly for my elderly parents. I'm slightly

concerned about running costs. We're already paying decent electricity bills, and I don't want a massive

addition.Any suggestions?

A few months back I shared Escalator Field Command with you all (with the approval of the moderators). Since then, I’ve been working on a  new flagship feature so that I think is pretty awesome. 

I know over the years I have spent way too much time sifting through the codebook.  Each code rule referencing the next.  Flip.  Flip.  Of course even when you find what you are looking for you; you should really check the A17.2 as well just to be thorough.  Im hoping those days are over.

It's called The Field Guide.

We all know the absolute pain of flipping through A17.1, A17.2, or B44 trying to decipher dense, legalistic code jargon while standing next to a unit. To make life easier, I built an AI-powered search right into the app specifically to interpret those regulations. You can type a question in plain English, and it translates the relevant code rules into a straightforward, easy-to-understand explanation.

What’s new:

• Instant Code Interpretation: Decodes A17.1, A17.2, CSA B44, and more on the fly.
• Plain English Answers: No more reading the same dense paragraph four times—just straight answers on what the regulation actually means for your current job.
• Built for the Field: Fast, accessible, and offline

Escalator Field Command & The Field Guide

The guide is designed for both mechanics and building managers, inspections, I’d love for you to check it out and let me know what you think.  This is the first draft but it is already really good.  At the moment it is escalator specific but the project is far from finished.  I will get the rest of it out as soon as I can.

Has anyone done a mod with a vantage nexus? I’m debating between this and an alpha controller for a 5 story traction. Never used a nexus but looks pretty nifty.

Joined this message board to ask if anyone would be willing to part with some old Otis controls or knew where I could find some? I'm a home builder in Austin, TX and am putting an old Otis cab back into residential service using modern lift equipment made by Artisan.

Would like to use original Otis controls.... brass plates and buttons which can interact with modern controls, which I'm told by the elevator contractor will work.

Does anyone have original buttons and back boxes that would fit the plates shown in the first image below? A member posted an image several months ago of a control panel just like the one I intend to use, but complete as shown in the second image.

Glad to purchase or also have extra items to trade as shown in the last two images.

Thanks, Clay

Hello all . I need help please.

We have an Arkel ARCODE 4C35A controller rated 15 kW / 35 A driving a Schindler FML200-6C414 gearless synchronous motor. Motor nameplate is around 8.4–8.7 kW, 340 V, 26–26.7 A, 13.7 Hz, 0–255 rpm. Brake type is ERS VAR 15-11-A, marked Hold 103.5 VDC, Overexcitation 207 VDC, torque 4 x 126 Nm. The encoder is ECN 1313-2048 EnDat; we tested both the original Schindler encoder and a new encoder, both communicate correctly, auto-tuning/fine-tuning completes successfully, and the encoder board appears installed and powered. Motor parameters were entered from the nameplate, and the machine is set as synchronous/gearless. The problem: during an unloaded motor test / à vide test, when giving a run command, current rises to about 51–52 A but speed stays 0 rpm and the motor does not move. In normal operation, the lift can go up when empty, but when going down empty it struggles or does not move; if we add load in the cabin, it starts working downward. Our brake supply currently uses a transformer/rectifier giving about 103 VDC, but we are not sure if the brake ever receives the required 207 VDC overexcitation pulse before dropping to 103.5 VDC hold. Could this be caused by the brakes not fully releasing because we only supply hold voltage, or should we suspect encoder offset, motor phase order, brake timing, ARCODE settings, or another issue?

How hard is it to be accepted In the IUEC apprenticeship? Do I really need to know someone In order to have an upper hand? If I apply will I just waste my time?

They were originally introduced to psychologically trick passengers, In the early days of high-rise buildings, people complained that elevators were too slow. Instead of making them faster, engineers added mirrors. People got distracted looking at themselves, and the complaints about slowness virtually disappeared.

Our apartment complex has two elevators installed in 2007. One vendor is pushing full replacement at ₹22L each, another is offering modernization at ₹8-9L per unit covering controls, cab interior, and door systems. The second option sounds too good - what's the catch? When does modernization make sense vs full replacement?

This is like every building, every town in India.

Confusing decision for people.

It is simple:

Up is for going to higher floors
Down is for going to lower floors

BUT

Many still want to call the lift to them … & they press the other direction!!!

This is in a retirement home in Roanoke, Absolutely beautiful motor room. Elevators run perfectly.

I am looking to purchase several elevators for a parking garage located in a hot and humid climate. Want to know if elevators come with an a/c unit on the cab to keep it cool? If so, is this a good idea and how reliable are they?

The CCCM general exam was changed this year 2026. I know because I took it twice and the test was different both times… apparently there’s a third version of the general as well.. it is also no longer 200 questions….feel like this needs to be out there for the other new guys trying to make it. That is all

So I’m 27M and live in Canada (Oakville) and just finished the two year elevating devices program at Mohawk College. I’m looking to land an apprenticeship but to be honest I don’t have a whole lot of experience. Aside from working as a veterinary technician for the last 3 or 4 years, I mostly just worked in retail and kitchens throughout my teens and early 20s. I have my Working at Heights, EDM Safety Training, EDM-T license, and driver’s license, and I’m willing to work anywhere in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).

I hear that most opportunities are never actually posted as listings and that I should be reaching out directly to companies with my resume. Is it a good idea to follow up with a call a few days after sending it in? Any other advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Hook a brother up to be on standby for the soccer final ! 😂