Power cuts are a fact of life in many parts of India. When the supply fails, a lift can stop between floors with passengers inside. That is stressful for anyone and dangerous for elders, children and patients. The solution is to plan for power failure from the start.
Here are the main options: backup power and an Automatic Rescue Device (ARD).
What happens to a lift in a power cut?
Without power the lift stops. Modern lifts hold the cabin with brakes, so it does not fall, but passengers may be stuck until the supply returns or help arrives. Emergency lighting and the alarm usually work from a small battery, so passengers can see and call for help.
Option 1: Generator backup
Many apartments, hospitals and commercial buildings connect their lifts to a generator that starts automatically. The lift then continues to run, perhaps at reduced capacity depending on the generator size. Check that the generator is sized for the lifts that must run and that the changeover is automatic.
Option 2: Automatic Rescue Device (ARD)
An ARD is a system that senses the power failure and uses a battery to move the lift to the nearest floor and open the door, so passengers can walk out. It does not keep the lift running; it simply rescues people. ARDs are widely used in apartments, offices and homes where a full generator for the lift is not practical.
Option 3: Emergency lowering
Some home lifts and hydraulic lifts use an emergency lowering system that brings the cabin to a safe level during a power cut, often by gravity or a manual or battery-assisted release. Ask your installer how this works for the specific lift.
| System | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Generator backup | Keeps the lift running during a power cut | Hospitals, large apartments, commercial buildings |
| ARD | Moves the lift to the nearest floor and opens the door | Apartments, offices, homes |
| Emergency lowering | Brings the cabin to a safe level | Home lifts, some hydraulic lifts |
How to choose
- Hospitals need lifts that keep running, so generator backup is essential. See our hospital lift guide.
- Apartments usually combine generator backup for key lifts with ARD for others.
- Homes often use ARD or emergency lowering. See our home lifts.
Test it regularly
A backup system is only useful if it works. Ask your service company to test the ARD and the emergency lighting at every visit, and to note the battery condition. See our lift service visit checklist.
If you are stuck anyway
Stay calm, use the alarm or intercom and do not force the doors. Read what to do if you are stuck in a lift.
Talk to a lift company near you in Bangalore
Need to add an ARD or review backup power for your lift? We can advise. Eider Elevators is a lift company and elevator company in Bangalore with an office in Battarahalli on Old Madras Road. We install lifts and elevators, and we provide lift service, repair and AMC across the city. See the areas we serve, or contact our team for a site visit and quotation.
Key takeaways
- A lift stops in a power cut; plan backup power or an ARD so passengers are not stuck.
- Generators keep lifts running; an ARD rescues passengers to the nearest floor.
- Test the system and its battery regularly as part of lift service.
