After the serious misunderstanding regarding elevator rescue mentioned in Part 1: Elevator rescue – Serious misunderstanding has been debunked, let’s find out more about the regulations regarding elevator rescue. 

III. Technical regulations regarding elevator rescue 

According to Circular No. 42/2019/TT-BLDTBXH Promulgating national technical regulation on safety for lift, an elevator’s design must contain either an automatic rescue device or a manual rescue device, moreover, the manufacturer must provide a suitable rescue process in the event of an incident. 

Specifically, the rules for elevator rescue require equipping elevators with an electrical or hand-operated rescue system for easy interaction during the rescue process when there is an issue with the elevator: 

Manual rescue device: 

– An elevator must be equipped with a manual rescue device (handle, lever, hook…) to move the cabin to the closest stop floor. 

– In case the motion transmission device is inaccessible during the manual rescue process, there must be a mechanism to open the brake in the motion transmission device positioned outside of the elevator shaft in a position that is convenient for the rescuers. 

– The position where the brake opens must have measures to easily determine the cabin’s location (with markings on the cables or observations of the display on the elevator control board…). 

– There must be a mechanism to release the over speed brake outside the shaft, in a position convenient for the rescuers. 

Automatic rescue device: 

An elevator must be equipped with an automatic rescue device meeting the following requirements: 

– Allow control of the cabin’s movement through the elevator control box, which must be put outside the elevator shaft in a position that is convenient for the rescuers, by repeatedly pressing buttons. The movement direction must be clearly indicated. 

– If the control box is installed inside the shaft and is inaccessible, there must be a replacement control device. 

The manufacturer must provide an emergency rescue process, and technical recommendations for elevator usage. Moreover, the cable activation and manual activation of the safety brake must be triggered so that the rescue process could be carried out under any circumstances.

To assist the practical rescue process, manufacturers need to provide an instruction manual, including elevator rescue manual based on motion transmission technology and technical characteristics

Requirements for the emergency exit doors and trap doors: 

– If the trapdoor is installed on the cabin ceiling, then it must have a minimum size of 0.40m x 0.50m. 

– Emergency exit door can be used in the case where the cabins are adjacent, however, the distance between two cabins must not be more than 1m. 

In this case, every cabin must be equipped with an equipment to determine the position of the adjacent cabins used for rescue to bring this cabin to the floor where the rescue will take place.

Regulations for the machine and pulley room: 

– The spaces and areas for maintenance, inspections, and rescues must be suitably protected from the effect of the surrounding environment. 

– There must be notification boards for easy distinction between the power switches and light switches. 

– If there are still parts with electricity running through after shutting down the power switch (due to a connection between the elevator and lighting systems…), there must be a notification to clearly point this out. 

– There must be detailed instructions in the machine rooms, boxes, or on the control panels for emergencies and experiments, to follow in case the elevator is broken, especially instructions on how to use the devices for rescue and the keys to open the landing doors. 

Moreover, an elevator must be equipped with an emergency communication device for the people inside the cabin to contact the people outside or the rescue force in the event there is an elevator accident. The communication system must meet the following requirements: 

– The buttons or devices of the communication device must be placed inside the cabin, in an easy to see, easy to reach, and easy to use location, and are activated when there is an error with the elevator, or an accident happens. 

– The communication system must be based on two-way, voice-based communication that remains uninterrupted throughout the rescue process. 

– The emergency communication system must have a separate power source (batteries or similar components) to help maintain a minimum operation time of 1 hour even in the event the backup power source for the fan and lighting system is cut.  

– For elevators installed in apartment buildings, office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, hotels, factories, public spaces (such as airports, train stations…), the communication system must be connected to the building’s security and must have the contact number for the security and rescue team, or the people responsible for the building’s safety, in an easy to see location, in case needed. 

– The communication system must be regularly inspected during the elevator maintenance and inspection process. 

– The elevator must be equipped with an alarm system to announce the elevator’s state of operation. The alarm device must ensure the announcement is broadcasted until confirmed, even while in maintenance. 

1. Are there a need for regulations on elevator rescue training?

Many countries around the world have elevator rescue training programs for specialized forces, such as the Fire and Rescue Police force, the building’s technical team… 

For example, in Turkey, the Elevator Rescue Skill Training program is held for the instructors of the Fire Brigade Training Unit. The course includes theoretical information on the elevator systems, safety systems, operation principles, emergency policies, and other related matters. The trainees are also able to put into practice the process for being trapped in different types of elevators. Moreover, training and awareness raising programs for public and private sectors and even for citizens are also widely available.

Specialized training programs on rescues related to particular fields such as elevator rescue is commonly being held around the world 

These training programs have demonstrated the necessity of technical training in elevator rescue and other matters related to elevator operation for the operation and rescue managers. 

In Vietnam, there are currently no similar training programs despite elevator safety becoming a pressing problem requiring attention, especially lately, when the number of elevator accidents is on the rise. Therefore, training a rescue force, a building and an elevator technical team… with skills and a correct elevator rescue process that can ensure people’s safety, health, and life, as well as minimize damage to the elevator is an essential and pressing need. 

In recent times, the Vietnam Elevator Association have designed and organized training programs on elevator rescue, along with aiming to establish an Emergency Response Team for nationwide elevator rescue in the near future.