Parts · PRT-08
Elevator Safety Brakes & Safety Gear
Instantaneous and progressive safety gear, plus machine brakes and rope-brake UCM protection.
In short
Elevator safety gear is the mechanical device on the car sling that clamps onto the guide rails to stop a falling or overspeeding car, triggered by the overspeed governor. Instantaneous gear is used up to 0.8 m/s; progressive gear, which limits deceleration to 0.2–1.0 g, is required above 1.0 m/s. Separately, the machine brake and a UCM device stop unintended movement.
Engineering overview
Safety gear is the arresting half of the fall-protection chain. Triggered by the governor rope, wedge or roller jaws clamp onto the guide rails and bring the car to a controlled stop. Instantaneous gear grips almost immediately and is limited to 0.63–0.8 m/s because the deceleration is severe; progressive gear uses a spring or elastomeric element to hold the retarding force between 0.2 g and 1.0 g, which is mandatory above 1.0 m/s.
The second layer is braking at the machine. EN 81-20 requires two independent braking circuits, each individually capable of holding and decelerating the car with 125% of rated load; disc or drum brakes carry redundant coils, micro-switches proving release, and a manual release for hand winding.
The third layer is UCM (unintended car movement) protection under EN 81-20 §5.6.7 — the lift must detect and stop a car that moves away from the landing with the doors open. Liftech Global implements this with certified rope brakes, brake-monitoring on gearless machines or double-acting safety gear, and verifies stopping distance on site.
Types & variants
Instantaneous safety gear
Wedge or eccentric roller block, immediate grip, ≤ 0.63 m/s (≤ 0.8 m/s with buffered rope suspension).
Progressive safety gear
Spring-damped wedge assembly, deceleration 0.2–1.0 g, for 1.0–4.0 m/s cars and all high-rise duty.
Bi-directional safety gear
Arrests in both directions to satisfy up-overspeed and UCM requirements in MRL layouts.
Counterweight safety gear
Required where an accessible space exists beneath the shaft.
Machine brake (disc / drum)
Twin independent circuits, redundant coils, release micro-switches and manual release lever.
UCM rope brake
Certified rope-gripping device on the suspension ropes, triggered by door-zone plus movement detection.
Technical specifications
| Instantaneous gear speed | ≤ 0.63 m/s (0.8 m/s buffered) |
|---|---|
| Progressive gear speed | 1.0 – 4.0 m/s |
| Deceleration window | 0.2 g – 1.0 g (progressive) |
| Brake holding capacity | 125% of rated load, each circuit independently |
| Brake circuits | 2 × redundant with release proving switches |
| Rail head range | b2 = 9 / 10 / 16 mm machined rails |
| Type test | EN 81-50 §5.3 certified component with data plate |
| Site test | Full-load drop test at commissioning, periodic re-test |
| UCM stopping distance | ≤ 1 200 mm car movement per EN 81-20 §5.6.7 |
Gallery
Where it is used
- All traction lifts — car safety gear
- Counterweight gear over occupied spaces
- MRL modernisation requiring UCM compliance
- High-rise and hospital cars with progressive gear
- Brake replacement and brake-monitoring retrofits
Frequently asked questions
Need elevator safety brakes & safety gear in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad?
Send us the model, rail profile or car dimensions and our engineers will confirm compatibility, lead time and pricing.