Interiors and user interfaces are very heavily influenced by the elevator industry regulatory codes. These include how the car will be designed or what components should be used for the car’s interiors. The elevator car details must comply with the codes that apply to them. Due to the large number of codes, there might be overlaps sometimes. This can happen even if one code can align with some of the design needs and other codes cancel it out. Following is a list of commonly used regulatory codes that apply to elevator cars.
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EN81-70 applies is the standard that defines the benchmarks for ensuring safe and independent access and use of elevators. It secures the accessibility rights of especially abled elevator users.
| Type of Elevator | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair Accommodation | One wheelchair user | One wheelchair user and a companion | One wheelchair user with room to maneuver the wheelchair, AND several other elevator users |
| Minimum Load | 450 kg | 630 kg | 1275 kg |
| Minimum Dimensions | Width: 1000 mm Depth: 1250 mm | Width: 1100 mm Depth: 1400 mm | Width: 2000 mm Depth: 1400 mm |
| Minimum Door Clear Opening | 800 mm | 900 mm | 1100 mm |
| Additional features | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Door Safety | Curtain of light |
| In-Car Announcements | Recorded human voice announcer |
| Handrail | – Must be present – Must have ends that are projecting and are closed and turned toward the wall – Must be made of stainless steel for safety and hygiene – Must be easy to clean |
| Mirror | – If the elevator uses EN81-70-compliant handrails, then the mirror must be floor to ceiling in height. If not, partial height mirror can be used. – Mirror must be located on the rear wall or the side wall opposite to the COP. |
| Fixings | – Stainless steel* |
| COP | – If the elevator has centre-opening doors, then COP is placed on the right hand side. – If the elevator has side-opening doors, then the COP is placed on the side toward which the door closes. – The COP must be placed 400 mm away from the front wall. |
| Push Buttons | – Must be made accessible for specially-abled users – Exit floor button must have a high green collar – Alarm button must have a high yellow collar |
| Landing Signals | – Hall lantern** – Feedback signals must be both seen and heard when pushing the landing call button. The visible feedback signal (call registered light) must be a halo ring around the button. – The volume of the audible feedback signal must be 35 – 65 dB(A) and adjustable separately between the main floor and the other floors. – The feedback signal when pushing the landing call button must be audible even if the landing call is already registered |
* Stainless steel is used for mirror and handrail fixings to prevent dust accumulation and allergic reactions.
** For a single elevator, it may be adequate to include a signaling device inside the car that can be seen or heard from the landing when the elevator arrives there.
This code prevents and protects elevators from vandal attacks. It also specifies the car’s expected operation after any attacks of vandalism.
Items like key chains, projectiles, pen, and knives are used by vandals to deface or destroy an elevator car. In order to ensure that this does not happen, code EN81-71 mandates that all part of the car like doors, landing doors, COP, etc. need to be designed using vandal-proof materials. The car design needs to have a position indicator on the COP as well as on the main landing floor.
The surrounding security is also covered by EN81-71. Let us say if the airport of the subway is completely monitored using cameras or other measures, a different vandal code applies to an elevator car than one situated in a location with no documented surveillance.
Under this code, there are two categories of vandal protection. The code category that applies to your elevator car must be decided based on local, county, or area regulations, and your own preferences.
Note: Elevators that are adhering to the EN81-1 and EN81-20 standards are considered to be reasonably secure, and do not need to comply with EN-81-71.
The vandal code category that applies to an elevator depends on its operating environment.
| Category | Operating Environment |
|---|---|
| No vandal code | – Office elevator with controlled entry – Elevator in a building with a reception or security desk. Even if monitoring passengers inside the car is not possible, their access to the elevator is restricted. – A glass elevator or one that is fitted with surveillance equipment |
| Category 1 | An enclosed elevator with where the users are unobserved and are public. For example, in a shopping center. |
| Category 2 | Busy public transit areas, like: – Stadiums – Railway stations – Hospitals – Residential developments, and so on. |
The Category 1 specifications are designed to prevent moderate level vandalism, and occurs in unmonitored elevators. For example, a car park or a departmental store. It may also apply to elevators in limited surveillance areas.
The Category 2 specifications are aimed toward acts of severe vandalism in public transit areas. These are the areas where the passengers cannot be monitored and where there is no surveillance in place; for example, elevators in subway stations or at car parks.
We recommend you go over the codes in detail to understand their requirements and rationale. A Schindler associate can share examples of car interiors to which each code applies, along with details on the code compliant materials that Schindler uses to manufacture our cars. They will also share information about signal compliance in Category 2 elevators upon request.
| Feature | EN81-71 Cat. 1 - The following must be considered | EN81-71 Cat. 2 - The following must be considered |
|---|---|---|
| Car body | Additional strengthening compared to standard car | Additional strengthening compared to standard car |
| Materials |
| In addition to the requirements mentioned in Category 1:
|
| Car and landing door, frames and architraves |
| Same as Cat. 1 |
| Ceiling |
| Needs to be vandal code-compliant so as to prevent people from suspending themselves |
| Floor |
| Same as Cat. 1 |
| Signalization |
| In addition to Cat. 1 requirements:
|
| Mirror | Only Stainless steel fixings and handrails, and standard glass/stainless steel mirrors, are allowed | Not permitted |
| Handrail | All standard Schindler accessories have an EN81-71 Cat. 1 compliant option available | Must be attached so that it cannot be opened from inside car |
| Lighting | Must be a minimum rating of 100 lux at floor level | Same as Cat. 1 |
| All car fixings | Buffer rails, walls, car operating panels (COP), landing operating panel (LOP), doors, windows, mirrors, ceiling etc. must be installed such that they can only be removed using specialist tools | Buffer rails, walls, COP, LOPs, doors, windows, mirrors, ceiling etc. must be installed in such a way that the fixings are not visible and no materials are removable. For example, the LOPs must be attached to the wall from the shaft side |
| Wood | Not allowed in any structures, including the strengthening parts that are not visible to passengers | Same as Cat. 1 |
| Doors | Need to be protected and strengthened in several ways | Must be sufficiently durable to withstand a forceful attack and needs to have protection against vandalism. A specialist emergency locking device (ELO) to prevent vandalism must also protect maintenance access. |
| Trapdoors | Only standard trapdoors are allowed |
|
All Schindler car design offerings comply with the safety and regulatory codes that apply to them. However, since all countries do not require elevator manufacturers to comply with a vandal code, it may not be necessary in some markets and car designs can be updated accordingly. In such scenarios, Schindler makes available a whole set of car design offerings from which you can choose.
To help you plan your elevator car’s interior efficiently, Schindler has put together information and examples on code compliant car design components and materials. Contact your local Schindler associate for details and examples. We will be happy to assist you in planning the best compliant elevators. These templates cover both vandal code EN81-71 Category 1 and 2 with solid and window cars. Also example car templates are available for combination of accessibility code EN81-70, fire-fighter code EN81-72 and vandal code EN81-71 Category 1 with clarifications on the contradictions to vandal code Category 2.
Schindler offers you the opportunity to customize the design of your elevator car by selecting add-on components and materials from our offerings catalogue. Our associates will provide you consultation on how you can ensure your custom elevator car is code compliant.
We have a list of available components and materials that are compliant with the EN81-71 (Category 1 and Category 2) codes. Request our associates for the list while designing your car.
It is possible to acquire samples of materials or components to be used in the elevator.
Anti-graffiti coating
Schindler offers an anti-graffiti material coating for elevators installed in public transportation environments. This transparent coating protects the car’s interior surfaces from graffiti and other heavy soiling by preventing adhesion of paints, sprays, and marker inks. Any remaining markings can be easily removed with standard cleaning agents. The coating is resistant to acids and mildly alkaline cleaning products, including strong graffiti-remover solutions.
This invisible coating has no impact on the appearance of the car interior or its flammability properties.
Vandal resistant fixtures
Schindler fixtures are designed specifically for EN81-71 Category 1 and 2 elevators. The durable yet stylish car operating panel (COP) and landing signalization devices are impact, scratch, splash, and burn resistant, as well as being extremely easy to clean. In addition to EN81-71, Schindler intercom and indicator systems is also compliant with the EN81- 70 European accessibility standard and EN81-72 and EN81-73 fire-related standards.
| Public Transportation | Options Availability |
|---|---|
| Antivandal cat. 1 | Yes |
| Antivandal cat. 2 | Yes (reinforced panels, not compliant to EN81-71) |
| Antivandal cat. 1 on glass framed panels | Yes |
| Antivandal cat. 2 on glass framed panels | Yes (custom request) |
| Hidden sill | Yes (custom request) |
| Panels full inox | Yes (custom request) |
| Framed glass panels and thickness of the glass | Yes (std execution Thickness 6+6+0,76) |
| Mechanism with cover plate | Yes (for EN 81-72) |
Multipurpose
This solution is available in a wide range of executions, accessories, options to offer the best solution for any installation situation: residential buildings, public buildings, hotels.
Sturdy and reliable
Reduced number of components, cataphoresis painting of mechanism to increase corrosion resistance, sealed bearings guarantee the high reliability of this solution, certified by endurance tests combined with load tests and confirmed by more than 1,000,000 installations all over the world.
Simple maintenance
Same wear and tear components for both car door and landing door; sliding guides which can be individually replaced; easy access to each components: This solution’s maintenance intervention are dramatically simple, with a lifecycle in excess of 15 years / 6 million cycles.
Certifications
This solution’s doors are compliant with the European Lift Directive EN 81-20/50 and Technical Regulation TP TC 011/2011. Certifications include EN 81-58, BS 476- 22, DIN 18091, COC, GOST.
Comfort, performance and energy efficiency
High-efficiency brushless motors with VVVF vector control are designed to reduce energy consumption during operation and are equipped with 0 Watt standby mode. These drives are able to move panels of different weight installed in the same elevator thanks to their continuous mass detection features. Rollers of specific material for each kind of application ensure the highest comfort and a reduced operating noise.
Executions and finishes
This solution is available in a wide range of finishes and claddings and can be inserted in any interior design style.
Standard automatic landing door
Automatic landing door with glass panels
Automatic landing door with glass framed panels
Hidden Sill
ST Door Lock
Panoramic doors
The use of panoramic cars and doors can result in a light elevator design which naturally blends with the building environment.
Flush Transom
Flush Transom doors can be used in infrastructures where the metro station or airport lobby merge with commercial spaces.
At Schindler, we have optimized our design processes to ensure that you are able to collaborate with us and contribute to every step of the design and delivery of your elevator car.
For this purpose, we have incorporated a prototype stage in our design process where you can validate the car design before it goes into engineering and production.
Based on your requirements and timelines, we can create:
A design prototype of the interiors: This prototype is for you to audit and sign-off on the design of the custom car that has been built to your specifications.
A functional prototype of the elevator car: This prototype incorporates not just the design but also all the final components of the car. If you opt for a functional prototype, you can request changes to the car design.
Both prototype options add to the delivery timeline of the car. The design prototype will extend the timeline by several weeks, while the functional prototype may extend the delivery date by a minimum of three months. A delivery deadline is set based upon the changes to design or materials that you have requested.
To request a prototype for your elevator car, or on information on the prototype phases, contact your Schindler associate.
Upon request, Schindler can also create prototypes of individual parts and fixtures. The prototype phase is always expedited to ensure the manufacturing and delivery timelines are not impacted.
Schindler has an optimum process framework for the Prototype phase. It comprises:
Gracefull release to next Landing and Anti-mantrap
At Schindler we truly care about safety and the well-being of our customers and final users.
This document specifies the behavior of the Elevator system to release the passenger on an alternative landing in case a door fails to open. The final goal is to prevent passengers entrapment in case a door does not open at the destination floor.
The elevator logic is able to distinguish warnings which are not safety related and enabled to complete the travel to the closest floor to release passengers – the so called anti – mantrap functions.
The passenger travels to a chosen destination, where the car stops, but the elevator door fails to open sufficiently
The elevator attempts to recover the door and repeat the operation. In case the attempt fails, the elevator closes the door and proceeds to an alternative public floor to release the passenger. Then the elevator continues operations while disabling calls to the failed destination.
Restricted Floors
Since there can be restricted floors the system will reach the nearest “public” landing to perform passenger release safely and respecting the “floor restriction” policies of th building.
Floor disabling
The floor with the defected doors will be disabled, until service technicians resolve the issue.
Smart notification
The passenger is informed by an acoustic message to remain in the elevator car and that the system is performing a second attempt to ensure release.
The elevator logic will report a notification to the service technician to ensure the locked / defected floor will be reactivated.