Emergency stop button

An emergency stop button​, or emergency stop switch^[1] is a button or switch used to stop an elevator, escalator or moving walkway in case of a suitable emergency.

Introduction

Elevator

These buttons/switches are used to stop the car in case of emergency or just for loading purpose, especially in service or freight elevators. Some stop switches are either flip type (like some older Mitsubishi, Hitachi and GoldStar elevators) or push-and-pull type (like most old Otis elevators). The elevator cab will not start until the button/switch/keyswitch is reset. They are normally found in older elevators installed before 1980s, and rarely found on most modern elevators nowadays, with the exception of a few countries that require them; depending on the country stop switches may even have been disconnected. Its method of implementation varies between manufacturers but often the switch breaks safety.

However, the car top, machine room, controller, shaft pit stop buttons, and the button near the ladder are still exist, to protect the elevator mechanics' safety.

Escalator or moving walkway

The escalator or moving walkway version of the buttons are placed on the both end or between (if this is long) of the escalator or moving walkway. These are the compulsory part of the escalator or moving walkway.

​Function

When pressed, the elevator will stop immediately and abruptly, while escalator, or moving walkway will stop slowly to prevent the passengers getting injured^[2]. This is true even if there is otherwise nothing wrong with the elevator. On some elevators, tripping the interlocks will have the same effect.

Gallery

Some of 1950s Schindler elevators can find emergency stop button.

Some of 1960s Mitsubishi elevators can find emergency stop button.

1960s-1970s OTIS stop button.

1970s Fujitec stop button.

1970s GoldStar flip stop switch.

1980s Indolift stop button.

1970s Otis push-and-pull stop switch.

Otis Series 1 car station with a flip stop switch.

Haughton L Series stop keyswitch.

1990s Mitsubishi stop switch (off)

1990s Mitsubishi stop switch (on)

A push-and-pull stop switch installed beside of the Mitsubishi MRL elevator shaftway.

Modern Kone car top inspection switches with push-and-pull stop switch.

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Notes and references