The design of high-speed elevators has been found to be dangerously flawed

The design of high-speed elevators - both Russian and foreign manufacturers - has been found to have flaws that lead to their falling down under certain conditions, Izvestia has learned. To improve the safety of elevators, the main interstate standard will be changed.

"In the last five to seven years, elevators with gearless winches, in which the speed range is overlapped by changing the speed of rotation of the electric motor, have gained popularity. But in the process of operation their shortcomings were revealed, sometimes leading to dangerous incidents with injury and death of passengers", - Alexey Zotochkin, technical expert of the National Elevator Union (NLS) told "Izvestia".

With normal power supply, high-speed elevators are safe. But if due to a thunderstorm, fire or technical failures power supply is cut off, then problems are possible, Zotochkin noted.

For example, the motor loses its ability to brake the elevator. The mechanical brake, designed to fix the cabin at a stop, does not save, the elevator uncontrollably accelerates, and then triggers the catchers, which sharply grab the falling cabin, says the expert.

"Passengers at this point experience a serious overload. Many fall and get serious injuries," Zotochkin explained.

Rosstandart told Izvestia that the new GOST 33984.1 is being developed in accordance with the international standard ISO 8100-1 (2025) and takes into account the development of technology in the industry. It will be delivered in June 2026. Based on the technical committee for standardization TC 209 created a working group of six leading manufacturers of elevators in the Russian Federation, which will determine the key requirements for elevators.

Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:

Disruptive wave: dangerous flaws in the designs of high-speed elevators have been identified