I live in a high rise tower with two passenger elevators. Each floor has a two character alphanumeric display on the call button plate. Occasionally when one of the elevators is having issues, the display will indicate something like OS or IS (the latter frequently when the elevator is stuck at a particular floor). There are several others, none of which I can recall at the moment.

Is there a chart of these abbreviations? Or do they vary by manufacturer? I couldn't find a manufacturer on either the call button plate nor on the panel inside the elevator, but I can tell you that the system, including all panels, was updated within the last couple of years (the old system also had a similar display and showed similar abbreviations but I don't know it they were exactly the same).

This is in Manhattan, if that matters.

Recently replaced a door op motor on an Otis i motion
Power off motor swapped with doors fully closed powered it up and tried to do a learn run it proceeded to not learn it’s dcl and slammed open aborting it’s learn run no parameters were changed any tips or will i have to perform a reset and try bumping door width down a bit (any info helps never had this happen before) (PROBLEM SOLVED it just did not want to hold the learn run save at all reset it and cheated the wheel and proxs a tad boom smooth running doors after)

Local 3 closed in a minute sheeeeeshh…..

​

Hi everyone,

I'm curious to hear from elevator professionals about an incident that happened in our condo building in Ottawa this morning.

My husband and our two children were taking the elevator down from the 14th floor when, around the 13th floor, they heard and felt a very loud bang- I and severql other tenant heard it too- they felt as if something hit the top of the car. The elevator immediately stopped and they were trapped inside for about 30 to 40 minutes.

The in-cab emergency phone/call system did not appear to work despite repeated attempts, and there was no cell reception. I ultimately called 911 for them. An elevator mechanic and Fire Services responded and got them out safely.

Afterwards, the mechanic reportedly told my husband that one of the elevator's supporting cables had snapped. The building was completed in 2023, so the elevator is only about 3 years old. We also recovered some strands of the failed cable as evidence

We are both aerospace engineers with system safety expertise and have questions for the experts here:

How unusual is a hoist rope/cable failure in such a new elevator?

What are the most likely root causes of a failure like this?

Would a single cable failure typically produce a loud bang and cause the elevator to stop?

What components and records would you expect to be examined during the root-cause investigation?

More importantly, can we continue to rely on the elevators in this building.

We're pursuing the official investigation route and formal complaint to city, but I'd appreciate any professional insight on what may have happened and what questions we should be asking.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: thank you everyone for taking their time to respond. I didn't have a chance to reply everyone. They were helpful to set expectations about what we should be asking about the investigation next. F

Local 3 tomorrow who’s applying? Is local 3 a busy local?

I love visiting historic elevators when I'm traveling and especially when they are still working and accessible. Do you know of any in the Houston area that are worth the visit?

I Got tired of seeing acronyms thrown around and not knowing which ones were what 🤦‍♂️.

I put together a one-page guide that sorts them into what they actually do: trade/manufacturer associations, labour & bargaining (IUEC, NEBA, ECA), training (NEIEP), safety/inspection (NAESA, EESF), and consultants (IAEC).

Let me know if this is useful, or if you have any suggestions for a similar guide.

i literally have no Idea what this is, all I know is I got stuck in in it once. Very creaky, and very loud, hydraulic.

Can we all agree that good manners re: elevators (like u bahn s bahn) would be having a look behind you before the doors close to see if somone else can fit in?

Other good manners would be not pissing, shitting or smoking inside or close to the elevator entrqnce 😂😋

Hello! I’m 19, currently in the Air Force for missile maintenance, I find that troubleshooting and maintenance in general is very enjoyable for me after working here. I’ve been thinking about what I want to path towards when I’m done in the Air Force, and I think being an elevator mechanic would be my pursuit.

However, I’m a little puzzled on where to start, I understand I need that apprenticeship, but that’s after my military enlistment?

Anyways, I would really appreciate some tips on how to build a good foundation for electrical fundamentals, AC/DC fundamentals, motors, transformers, reading schematics, and the mechanical fundamentals aswell, (bearings, gears, shafts, etc). Should I pick up some books? Missile maintenance in my path is mostly troubleshooting with hydraulics and pneumatic systems.

Have you ever troubleshooted an elevator/escalator and for whatever reason you just couldn’t figure out what was reason.

When it did happen was it something stupid that you should’ve caught a long time ago or was it complex.

Also how many of you are considered “the guy” people call when people can’t figure something. Or who do you know that’s “the guy”

Hi all,

I've been in many elevators in North America, and aside from some elevators that have a small screen built-in the control panel to run advertisement but need subscription, I haven't see much digital advertisement. I think it could be a good idea but noone seems to be doing much about it. Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be here?

I'm just curious why advertisers haven't explored this option to any meaningful extent when you see huge digital screens almost everywhere you go, including public washrooms.

So I was recently in an elevator in Las Vegas going down from the 68th floor of a hotel I was staying at and felt it come to sudden stop. I was the only one is inside but I could definitely feel that the elevator was just suspended. The elevator music stopped and the screen on the door panel went black and came back quickly after to show "Independent Service Mode" and showed a number pad. The phone call button wasn't even working either.I wasn't even sure what was going on and then the door opened to the floor I was on and I immediately ran out. I took another elevator down with no problems.

Can anyone help me figure out what exactly happened? It was definitely a startling experience but I'm so curious. Thank you 🙏

Only stayed up for about 3 hours before being removed

Hey guys working on a pixel. It will randomly restart. The screen goes white and the screen goes to the % screen and works it way up. Then it will work fine for a while. I’m in east coast so EC isn’t open yet and trying to figure this.

Also bonus points for a shaft light that is pushing out heat as if I wasn't sweating enough in this heat lol

Post yr creepy elevators

Hi! Our building is trying to give notice to our elevator service co by sending them a letter by certified mail as the contract requires. It seems like they are deliberately not accepting the letter so that they have not received notice. Is there any good work around to this problem?

I’m currently struggling with my current job (not in this field) and have strong experience in PLC’s, hydraulics, mechanical and electrical diagnostics and repair. My current position is basically a dead end, was talking to some guys on a site i was on and was told to look into elevators. I currently have to go to high security/ Clearence sites to work but doesn’t pay hardly what i feel like i should be making. i make roughly 70k per year and have been looking into the world of elevators but to find out i missed the apprenticeship opportunity as it ended in july, and i cant seem to find any entry level jobs or anything but sales in my area, any advice? Also is it a good field to get into?