Every passenger lift in a workplace or public building needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every six months. Most building managers know the inspection has to happen. Fewer know what’s actually checked.
We recently carried out checks during a LOLER test on an Otis Gen2 lift. Here’s what was looked at, with photos and video from the visit. If you want the background on the regulations themselves, read our guide to what LOLER regulations are.
What a thorough examination covers
A thorough examination is a detailed safety check of the whole lift by a competent person. It includes testing:
Checking the belt monitoring system
Many modern lifts, including the Otis Gen2, use flat coated steel belts instead of traditional steel ropes. Belts last a long time, but they still need to be checked.
This unit monitors the condition of the belts. If it picks up a problem, it can flag a fault so the lift can be looked at before it becomes a safety issue.
During the examination we check that the monitoring system is working and reporting correctly. A monitor that isn’t working gives no warning at all.
Under the car: guide rollers, linkages and the alarm
Underneath the lift car is where a lot of the important moving parts sit. During the test we checked:
- ✓Guide rollers, which keep the car running smoothly and quietly along the guide rails
- ✓Linkages, which connect the safety parts and need to move freely
- ✓The alarm under the car, to make sure it works if someone needs to raise help
Worn rollers usually show up as noise or a rough ride, so catching them early saves a bigger repair later.
Testing the brake release on an Otis Gen2
The Gen2 is a machine-room-less lift. There’s no separate motor room, so the controls engineers need in an emergency are built into a panel at the landing.
One of these is the brake release function. If a lift stops between floors, it lets a trained engineer release the brake and move the car to a landing so passengers can get out safely.
The video shows the checks carried out on this function during the LOLER test, using the rescue controls in the landing panel.
What happens after the examination
Once the examination is complete, the competent person writes a report. This lists anything that needs attention and how soon.
- ✓Minor issues are noted with a date they need fixing by
- ✓Anything that could become dangerous is flagged so it can be repaired in time
- ✓If a defect is an immediate danger, the lift has to be taken out of use straight away and the enforcing authority told
Our guide to lift servicing explains how the two fit together.
