Dismantling myths and legends about lifts

They make it easier for us to move around, make our buildings accessible and improve our quality of life. And yes, they are part of our everyday lives. But despite this, there are many myths about them. We are, of course, talking about lifts. Want to discover some of the most widespread myths and legends about lifts, and confirm whether or not they are true?

Here we go!

Are lifts supported by a single cable?

Nothing could be further from the truth! Modern lifts, according to the building regulations, are obliged to have a minimum number of steel ropes/belts which have to comply with safety measures.

As a curiosity, each lift usually incorporates between four and eight cables and, in the unlikely event that any of them should give way, the remaining cables can continue to support the lift without any problem.

In addition, in the event that all the cables break intentionally, there are other devices that hold the cabin in place to stop it from falling. So… you can breathe easy!

Can an overweight lift fail and collapse in free fall?

Wrong! Nowadays, lifts give an alarm if the permitted weight in the cabin is exceeded and block the manoeuvre so that the lift cannot start.

If this happens, the alarm will not stop sounding until the load has been reduced and the set levels are reached.

In other words: it is impossible to collapse because, in case of excess weight, the lift will not move at all!

Can you run out of oxygen in a lift?

Contrary to appearances, neither the cabin nor the doors of a lift are airtight. Lifts have a mechanism that acts as a ventilation circuit, allowing air to circulate constantly inside. In fact, there are specific regulations for manufacturing cabins and ensuring their ventilation.

If there is a blackout, will we be trapped in the dark?

Wrong! Lifts should have a power system to supply an emergency light inside the lift. Thanks to this system, in the event of a power cut, light is available for a certain period of time to make it easier to wait for rescue.

Does pressing the call button several times make the lift arrive faster?

For all legends about lifts and this one in particularity, nothing could be further from the truth! No matter how much of a hurry you are in, you should know that when the button is pressed for the first time, the lift system registers the call, thus ignoring all further presses.

We can even go further: repeatedly pressing the call button will cause it to wear out prematurely, which compromises the preservation of your lift.

Why are there mirrors in lifts?

Mirrors in a lift are not limited to a merely decorative function. They go further, providing up to two additional functionalities:

• In the case of wheelchair users, the installation of mirrors makes it easier to manoeuvre in and out of the lift.
• Mirrors inside a lift have been found to produce an effect of increased spaciousness, which is very useful for users with claustrophobia.
• On the one hand, placing a mirror inside a lift makes it more pleasant for users to wait inside the lift during their journey, as they can apply make-up, comb their hair or even take photos of themselves using these mirrors.

If you have any question about lifts legends, please contact us !