Elevators

Delivering millions of safe trips every year

UBC has over 260 elevators within the core academic campus. UBC Facilities is the first responder to entrapments and helps triage malfunction calls. All adjustments and maintenance of elevators at UBC are performed by licensed elevator contractors governed by the BC Safety Authority. However, even with regular maintenance and care elevators will sometimes breakdown between their scheduled maintenance. UBC Facilities does everything we can to help prevent these breakdowns and need your help in reporting them.

Elevator breakdowns are not just inconvenient, they can create a serious problem for people who use wheelchairs, have temporary mobility impairments, or have health problems that restrict them from using the stairs.

So, what can we all do to help our elevators operate as effectively as possible and what should you do if you find an elevator working improperly?

Safety first: responding to an entrapment

If you find yourself in an elevator that will not move or is not responding appropriately don’t panic:

  1. Stay calm. Find the emergency phone or call button that is located in the elevator.
  2. Follow the instructions located on the phone and an operator from Campus Security will answer momentarily. If you need to be evacuated immediately due to medical reasons you should communicate this to Campus Security over the emergency phone. Campus Security will determine if the local fire department is needed to evacuate the person with the medical condition.
  3. Wait patiently and an elevator technician will release you as soon as possible. Building Operations staff is on call 24 hours a day to free people from entrapments—one of the great services we provide the campus.

Note: If you accidentally press the call button please wait for the operator and let them know it was a mistake.

Reporting breakdowns or malfunctions

If you see an elevator malfunctioning or one that has broken down, please call the UBC Facilities Service Centre at: 604.822.2173.

It is critical that all malfunctions/breakdowns are reported to the Service Centre—even if the elevator returns to normal operation. We are tracking the performance of your elevator through Service Requests so we can identify repeat issues, address root causes proactively, and promptly escalate issues to our contractors.

If you have a disability or are injured and the elevator you require is out of service or not functioning properly, please contact either:

  • UBC Facilities Service Centre 604.822.2173 or
  • Access and Diversity 604.822.5844

How you can prevent elevator malfunctions

Elevators are very sensitive pieces of equipment. Uneven, heavy, or dynamic loads can trip the safety governor putting the elevator out of service. If you are unsure on how to move a heavy load or require independent services for the moving of heavy equipment or furniture, please contact your building administrator or your Facilities Manager. To keep you safe while using the elevators for moving heavy equipment or furniture please:

  1. Do not overload or offset loads in your elevator: Always obey the person limitation and weight restriction signs posted in the elevator. Passenger elevators can only withstand ¼ of the posted maximum weight when transporting small but heavy loads. The elevators are designed for carrying evenly distributed loads; overloading or offsetting loads could result in elevator shutting down or malfunctioning.
    Note: In some UBC building there are specialized freight elevators which are designed for heavier/centralized loads. If you’re in doubt, call the Service Centre for help.
  2. Do not jump or engage in horseplay: The elevator has sensitive seismic detectors. Weight shifting movements like jumping or rocking could be mistaken for an earthquake by these sensors and shut down the elevator.
  3. Do not hold or block the doors: This will cause the elevator to shut down. Elevator doors are equipped with sensors to prevent doors from closing unexpectedly. Should you require elevator doors to remain open for an extended period of time please contact the UBC Facilities Service Centre at 604.822.2173 for help.

Elevator loading

All elevators are not engineered for the same purpose. Some are designed as passenger elevators, some as service elevators, and some as freight elevators. Within each elevator type, there are also multiple Elevator Loading Classifications.

Most elevators at UBC are passenger elevators classified as ‘Loading Class A’. If you are unsure of the loading class of an elevator, always treat the elevator as having ‘Loading Class A’.

  • No single person or item shall weigh more than 25% of the posted ‘Maximum Capacity’ of the elevator system (i.e., although the capacity of the elevator may be 2,000 lbs, the actual limit of a one-piece load is 500 lbs).
  • The load must be evenly distributed when manual or hand truck loading up to the stated capacity of the elevator car. The weight of the hand truck and equipment must be included as part of the 25% loading restriction.

For more information on Elevator Loading Class, please refer to the information and diagram at the end of this page.

FAQ

How do I get information about moving a piece of equipment into an elevator?

You can submit a Service Request to the Facilities Manager. Please include in the Service Request information regarding the equipment’s dimensions and weight, as well as when you are planning to move the equipment. If you have the ‘shop drawings’ of the equipment being moved, it is always best to submit these drawings as an attachment.

Can I just call someone when I need to move something that weighs more than 25% of the posted in elevator maximum loading?

The department’s elevator use may conflict with your planned use. All requests need to be pre-arranged and planned through with the Facilities Manager. The Facilities Manager will know what other business or events are scheduled to occur in the facility at the time you are planning to move the equipment.

Can I use a pallet jack to load a piece of equipment or other materials into an elevator?

All freight or equipment movements in elevators that require the use of a pallet jack should only be done with the proper preparation to prevent damage. The following shall be adhered to:

  1. Facilities Manager notified and load information provided.
  2. Ensure total load weight including pallet jack does not exceed elevator Loading Class.
  3. ‘Independent Service’ key requested from the Facilities Manager. When using a pallet jack, the elevator car is in Independent Service Mode.
  4. Training provided by Building Operations’ Elevator Maintenance Crew on the proper use of the elevator while operating in Independent Service Mode.
  5. Use of plywood to bridge the hallway floor and elevator car floor.
  6. Care must be taken not to make contact to the sides of the opening or “ram” the load against the back of the elevator car.

How do I request information on the Loading Class of an elevator in the building?

At this time, we do not have all elevator Loading Class information recorded. A plan is in place to have this information made available to the Facilities Managers in the future. Please continue to send all requests through to your Facilities Manager, and they will ensure to provide you with the necessary information. If this is a request for information with no planned date for moving a piece of equipment, the priority will be set as low and response time may take longer.

Elevator loading classification

Class A Loading: Most passenger elevator systems and standard freight elevators are designed as Class A, or “General Freight Loading”. The actual amount of a one-piece load being moved on to or off of the elevator cannot exceed 25% of the stated capacity of the elevator system.

Class B Loading: Freight elevators that are intended for the transport of motor vehicles only, up to the stated capacity of the elevator system.

Class C Loading:

  • Class C1 Loading: Industrial truck loading/unloading of the elevator system. The combined weight of the industrial truck and the load cannot exceed the stated capacity of the elevator. The loading device can remain on the elevator during operation.
  • Class C2 Loading: Allows for the loading of the platform at 150% of the stated capacity of the elevator. In most cases, this allows for a one-piece load that equals the capacity of the elevator to be loaded with a forklift or motorized lift truck to the platform of the elevator.
  • Class C3 Loading: Allows for heavy concentration loading where the static load during loading and unloading does not exceed the rated load. The combined weight of the load and equipment must not exceed the stated capacity of the elevator system. Class C3 elevator is most often designated to support single piece loads equal to the capacity of the elevator.

*Elevator loading class information and diagrams provided by Delta Elevator Co Ltd.