x

Inclined lifts, the EN 81-22 standard – Part 2

 In Standards

By Giovanni Varisco

Published on Elevatori Magazine Issue 5 Year 2018

Let us resume the discussion dealt with in the previous issue of Elevatori Magazine on the harmonised standard EN 81-22 about inclined lifts.

To intensify our knowledge about this standard, it can be useful and interesting to examine a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the harmonised standard EN 81-22 in the specific section dedicated to this topic taking into consideration the variety of multiple definitions that this standard provides; bearing in mind that the peculiarity and the specificity of inclined lifts require the adoption of nonstandard solutions in vertical lifts.

Let’s recall that the definitions (in a standard or a law or regulation) are always relevant because they allow us to quickly understand the meaning of the terms used in the text to which they refer, even if it may differ from the meaning that everyday language attributes to such terms.

The term “building” is referred to as the different set of construction works necessary to implement the inclined lift.

The angle of inclination of the lift (inclined) is referred to as the inclination of its travel path in respect to a horizontal plane.

An apron is placed below the threshold of the car door or floor with a similar concept to the lift, to ensure the safety of passengers.

By balancing weight, we mean the weight which is suitable to save energy by entirely or partially balancing the weight of the car, while the counterweight is referred to as the element able to maintain its character and its function of ensuring the traction of the ropes.

The shock absorbers for the inclined lifts have the typical characteristics and definitions already well known for lifts, while for the car we intend the vehicle for transporting persons which is part of a vehicle/structure or is supported by a frame.

The car may be divided into different sections separated by walls or handrails per the number of persons to be transported.

Compensation ropes can be used to balance all or part of the weight variations of the suspension ropes during the vehicle journey.

The dynamic envelope of an inclined lift refers to the surface that is formed (enclosed) by the extreme points that can be reached by the various moving elements of the lift (the car, the vehicle,
the ropes, the pulleys, the sprockets and so forth).

Also keeping in mind wear and tear, slackening, the foreseen or foreseeable deformations, of the effects of lateral wind, and so forth. The vehicle must always be kept inside of this dynamic
envelope thanks to rigid guide rails.

The front doors of the car mean those doors which are arranged at 90 ° in respect to the trajectory of the vehicle and therefore of the car.
The side doors of the car mean those doors which are arranged parallel to the vehicle trajectory and therefore of the car.

The safety gears are presented by rediscovering the collective characteristics and the standard working principles for lifts, and this also applies to the overspeed governor.
The definition of laminated glass is identical to that already equated to lifts.

Leveling refers to the set of lift operations that improve leveling accuracy on the floors, to ensure predefined stopping accuracy and within set limits.
For the machinery, the machine room and the machinery space, we find the concepts expressed are those generally found to describe lifts.

The operation foresees the use of a drum type of inclined lift system which is not implemented through the traction ropes but thanks only to a direct suspension.
For the headroom and the pit, the definitions refer to the spaces that are respectively above and below the car.

The use of the PESSRAL rules with the relevant definitions is identical to those characteristics already equated to and developed for lifts.

The pulley room refers to the space inside which the pulleys are located and possibly also the speed limiter.
The contact elements are referred to as elements that ensure contact of the vehicle with the travel path of travel and with the sliding guides.

The travel path is a rigid element along which the vehicle and the counterweight slide.
The reaction time of the lift system is specified by the standard intended as the sum of two values represented by the time between a PESSRAL fault and the subsequent intervention in the lift manoeuvre and the time needed to reach the elevator safety situation.

The travel of an inclined lift refers to the linear distance (not the difference in height as for vertical lifts) between the two final stops served by the system (therefore between the one located at the top and the one at the bottom).

Uncontrolled vehicle movements are defined as movements from the unmanned landings of the vehicle, excluding those due to leveling of the car threshold with that of the floor.
Vehicle refers to the car and its frame or its structure including a working station (a work area) if provided (this is a working area inside or outside the car) on the roof or on a platform – to carry out the necessary maintenance activities of the inclined lift.
Lift shaft refers to the physical space within which the car, the counterweight and the balancing weight travel.
We will continue to deal with the characteristics of the harmonised standard EN 81-22 for inclined elevators in the next issues, entering into the requirements to be complied with in greater detail – according to harmonised standard EN 81-22 – for solutions relating to inclined elevators. However, we will be referring back to the article in the previous issue of the magazine in order to begin evaluating this standard.

Let’s be mindful of the fact that inclined lifts can be used in unusual locations where – due to the unique configuration of the sites or due to landscape and environmental protection – construction of a vertical lift in an open space or a tunnel is not a possibility and as such it is not permitted.

Share