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Technical knowledge for elevator professionals, building owners, and the endlessly curious.
01 / Featured
Latest Articles
how-it-works
Traction vs Hydraulic Elevators: Technical Comparison
Choosing between traction and hydraulic elevators is one of the most consequential decisions in building design. This article provides a detailed technical comparison covering speed, rise, energy efficiency, footprint, cost, maintenance, and the scenarios where each system excels.
Troubleshooting
Elevator Door Faults: Causes, Diagnosis & What Building Managers Need to Know
Door faults are the single most common cause of elevator service calls. This guide covers the mechanical and electrical causes behind door problems, explains sy...
9 MIN READ
how-it-works
How Do Elevators Work? A Complete Guide
Elevators use motors, cables, and counterweights to move cars between floors. Learn how traction and hydraulic systems work, plus what keeps them safe.
12 MIN READ02 / Knowledge Areas
Start Anywhere
Every guide, glossary term and troubleshooting walkthrough belongs to one of these 6 knowledge areas. Pick the one you need. Go as deep as you like.
How Do Elevators Work? A Complete Guide
Elevators use motors, cables, and counterweights to move cars between floors. Learn how traction and hydraulic systems work, plus what keeps them safe.
Troubleshooting
Practical troubleshooting guides for the most common elevator problems. Learn how to diagnose door faults, leveling errors, and nuisance callbacks with systematic approaches used by experienced field technicians.
Elevator Codes and Regulations
ASME A17.1, EN 81, NFPA 72 — the codes that govern elevator design, inspection, and licensing, and how they are enforced.
Elevator Safety Systems
Elevators are safer than stairs. Learn how governors, safety brakes, interlocks, and buffers stack into the redundancy that's kept passenger fatalities near zero.
How to Become an Elevator Mechanic
National career hub for elevator mechanics — apprenticeship paths, salary, licensing by state, day-in-the-life, and pros and cons.
Elevator manufacturers and their models: a building owner's reference
Elevator manufacturers include Otis, Schindler, KONE, TK Elevator, Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitec, but the right model depends on travel, traffic, local support and parts access.
03 / By the Numbers
6
Topics
25
Glossary terms
04 / Reference
Glossary
The elevator industry speaks its own language. Our glossary defines every term precisely, with context for how each is used in the field.
07 / Editorial
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About Elevators is a reference for how elevators work — for the people who install and maintain them, the owners and managers responsible for them, and anyone who wants a straight answer.
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