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Gate Functionality

Residential elevators generally use one of two gate systems - accordion style (folding-panel), or a scissor style (collapsible steel).
 

The Elevator Company's research indicates that the accordion gate is the second leading cause of safety issues with residential elevators. The following items contribute to this:

• Manufactured from low quality materials such as vinyl, which can become brittle with varying temperatures, and degrade with age.  This can result in dangerous openings in the gate while the care is in motion.
• Half-hock method of track guidance (one plastic peg, every other panel).  This allows the gate to be spread under pressure.  Even mild impact with an object, such a piece of luggage, can cause these pegs to break, resulting in the gate swinging free within the shaft.
• Gate position is such that the distance between the exterior door and the gate could allow for a small child to be entrapped between the two.  The elevator could still move with the child entrapped.
• Poorly framed opening by framing contractor resulting in increased gaps.
• Installation by poorly trained, or non-specialized individuals
• Manual operation, creating opportunity for the gate to close while the door remains open, allowing potential to put pressure on the gate.

The Elevator Company's research indicates that the scissor gate is the third leading cause of safety issues with residential elevators.  The following items contribute to this:

• Riders are able to reach through the gate, outsied the elevator car, while the car is in motion.
• Gates do not reach the full height of the car, and their fence-like design can allow for children to climb over them while the car is in motion.
• Gates switches, shich indicate whether a gate is fully closed, are inadequately installed.
• Poorly framed opening by framing contractor resulting in increased gaps.
• Installation by poorly trained, or non-specialized individuals
• Manual operation, creating opportunity for the gate to close while the door remains open, allowing potential to put pressure on the gate.

Industry Standard

The Elevator Company Standard

The Elevator Company takes pride in having addressed these problems for each gate style noted above, and in providing the option of an innovative, high-quality child-safe tambour gate.
 

• Manufactured from the highest quality durable materials.  A mix of PVC and neoprene allows for complete flexibility regardless of temperature and age.
• Manufactured using a shielded welded shaft on every panel, reducing gate spread under pressure and added safety measures.  If impact breaks a peg, the gate will not swing free in the shaft.
• Reduced distance between the door and the gate, using an offset hinge system.
• The Elevator Company provides security, in that a highly qualified project manager performs onsite checks for mistakes and framing issues, and helps correct associated problems.
• The Elevator Company and its dealers only employ the most qualified individuals.
• The Elevator Company recommends power operation to be added on all accordion gates.

• The Elevator Company adds a "light curtain" in front of all scissor gates, which stops the elevator if penetration of the gate surface plane is detected.
• The Elevator Company scissor gates extend the full height of the car.
• The Elevator Company and its dealers only employ the most qualified individuals.
• The Elevator Company provides security, in that a highly qualified project manager performs onsite checks for mistakes and framing issues, and helps correct associated problems.
• Manual operation is the only option for scissor gate systems.

By far the safest gate system ever designed, this gate eliminates the possibility of child entrapment.  Please review the Gate Systems page in the Home Elevators section of Our products to find out more about this innovative design:

• Fully automated, removing the opportunity for it to be closed while the door remains open.
• Eliminates potential of entrapment or injury due to flush mount design, placing the gate as close as 3/4" from the face of the hoistway door.
• Auto-reverse obstruction detection.