ELEVATOR RESCUE OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES

1. Direct a member with a handi-talkie to locate the elevator power shut-off switch, shut off the power to the
stalled elevator, and remain at the location. The member stationed at the shut-off switch must not allow
the switch to be moved without direct orders from the officer in charge.
2. Locate the stalled elevator car by observing the floor indicator in the lobby or program selector indicator in
the elevator machine room or by voice contact with the car occupants.
3. Talk to the passengers either through the elevator door or by the telephone inside the car, if available.
Assure the passengers they are in no immediate danger and will be removed shortly. Find out from the
passengers what direction the car was traveling when it stalled and at which floor the door was last
opened. If the emergency stop switch was activated by the passengers, have them return it to the original
position. This will silence the alarm bell, which often adds to the confusion and discomfort of the trapped
occupants.
4. Call a working elevator car to the level at which rescue personnel are operating and place it on
independent or emergency service to hold it at the location. Examine the door opening mechanisms and
control panel features on this car as they should be identical to the stalled car.
5. Direct the person stationed at the shut-off switch to turn it back on. During the period the power to the
elevator is off, the programming equipment may reset itself and cause the door to open if the car is level
with the floor. If not, instruct a passenger to depress the door open button, many times this will cause the
door to open. If the doors are the center-opening type, controlled by photo-detector devices and the car is
level with the floor, it may be possible to insert a piece of cardboard or a saw blade between the doors,
breaking the light beam and causing the doors to open. If these operations are not successful in opening
the door, send a firefighter to the floor landing where the elevator door was last opened. It is possible
there is a faulty contact switch on the hoistway door at the location and shaking the door may cause the
switch to make contact allowing the car to move. Also, have a passenger shake the elevator car door in
case the problem is in the contact switch. If the car still does not move or the door does not open, send a
firefighter to depress the hall button on the next floor to where the elevator is stalled, in the opposite
direction from which the elevator was traveling. For example, if the elevator was traveling downward, the
hall button on the floor above should be depressed.
6. If the above operations have not caused the elevator car to move to a landing level and opened the door,
the elevator shut-off switch should be returned to the off position. With the power shut off most elevator
doors can be opened from the inside by the passengers pushing the doors in the opening direction. On
most high-rise elevators, if the car floor is within the landing zone (usually 18 inches above or below the
landing floor level), a pick-up vane on the car door will engage the hoistway door and open them. If the car
is not within the landing zone, after the car door is opened, a passenger can manually move the latching
device on the hoistway door.
7. If the doors cannot be opened by any of the methods listed to this point, and it is imperative passengers be
removed quickly, the doors can be forced with pry bars or a porto-power or cut with an acetylene torch.
This should be considered only as a last resort and only for lifesaving operations due to the danger it
presents to passengers and the extensive damage that is done to the doors. Prior to beginning operations
to force or cut the doors, passengers should be informed of what is going to be done and advised to move
to a position in the car away from the doors. Section 202.5b Page 3 of 4 Section 202.5b Page 4 of 4 To force
doors sufficient pressure must be exerted at the top of the hoistway door with pry bars or a porto-power to
break the latch mechanism. Once the hoistway door is opened, the car door can be manually opened by
pushing or prying it in the direction of opening travel. If a cutting torch is used, the hoistway door should be
cut at the top in the area of the latching mechanism. A charged hose line and a dry-chemical extinguisher
 should be in position to extinguish any fire which may be caused by lint and oil on the inner side of the
door.
8. Once elevator doors have been opened, extreme caution is required in removing passengers from the
elevator, especially if the car is not level with the floor landing. Electrical power to the elevator machinery
must remain off to prevent any unexpected movement of the car. On some installations it is possible to
insert pry bars in the elevator drive sheave to prevent movement of the car. Passengers should be
removed, one at a time, as quickly as possible as is consistent with safety, utilizing ladders if the distance
from the floor level to the elevator car requires it. If the car is above the floor landing, any open space
between the bottom of the car and the floor landing must be barricaded as it presents a hazard to
passengers exiting the car and rescue personnel who are assisting them. 10. After the passengers have
been removed, the car and hoist way doors should be closed and the elevator kept out of service until it is
examined by elevator service personnel. This procedure should be followed even if the elevator appears to
return to normal operation after rescue operations have been completed.