If there are accessible spaces beneath the bottom of an lift shaft (e.g. cellars, underground car parks or passageways), it must be ensured that, even in the event of a hoisting device failure, no component falls unchecked onto the shaft floor and pierces the ceiling.
In the case of goods lifts, the car is accessible to people for loading and unloading. Therefore, more stringent safety requirements apply here:
- Safety catch on the car: As the car is accessible, it is already fitted with a safety catch as standard, and the speed limiter is equipped with a descent protection mechanism.
- Additional buffers: To protect the building and its structure, additional buffers are installed beneath the car where there are accessible spaces beneath the shaft, in order to absorb any impact forces in a controlled manner.
- Counterweights for chain drives: Even when goods lifts are fitted with chain drives, counterweights on the chains are usually used to relieve the load on the drive.
- Additional safety catch for the counterweight: If such a counterweight is chosen, it must, in the case of accessible spaces beneath the shaft, be fitted with its own additional safety catch.