FEATURE
INGENIEUR
Improving Vertical
Transportation Systems
Safety
By Ir. Ke Geok Chuan
Vertical transportation systems which include
lifts and escalators are ubiquitous in our
modern living environment. With advancements
in their operational controls and technologies
come new risks if the regulatory regime does
not keep pace with such changes. Proposals are
made in this article to provide for continuous
improvement for the safety and efficiency of
such systems and the comfort of users. The
article makes reference to the recent falling
lift car incident in one of the public high-rise
apartment blocks.
Vertical transportation systems (VTS) that
include lift and escalator machines are
critical building facilities in today’s modern
built environment. They enable the movement
of passengers from one floor to another with
optimal ease and safety. Continual advancement
and development of their operational controls,
instrumentation and technology have facilitated
the growth of massive ultra-tall buildings and
structures spanning the global landscape.
Current Development
Figure 1: A typical lift arrangement in a modern
building complex
The number of lifts and escalators that
have been installed and in operation have also
increased manyfold in recent years with the
property sector’s robust double digit growth.
As a result, governing authorities such as the
Department of Occupational Safety and Health
are encumbered with a heavy backlog of the
inspection of lifts and escalators. For example,
as reported in the press recently, there are 6,000
lifts in operation in Kuala Lumpur without valid
certificates of fitness.
Vertical transportation systems nowadays are
made to travel at very much higher speeds but are
safer, more efficient and comfortable. The control
of their operations by microprocessors make for
quieter and smoother machines. In Malaysia, they
have to be designed and manufactured to comply
with the local regulatory laws and regulations,
and also with the requirements of recognised
international codes such as EN 81-20 and
EN 81-50: 2018.
Lift Incidents
With reference to the latest high profile incident
involving a lift car falling from a high level to the
ground level at the PPR Kerinchi Pantai Permai
public housing flats, I was reassured by my own
observations at the scene that the flats are of good
design and the lift facilities are suitable for residents’
use. I spoke with a number of residents of the flats
and deduced that the underlying issues were related
40 VOL 81 JANUARY-MARCH 2020