Project
Lifts
Lift Doors
At the AGM on 24/4/25 an owner asked if anything could be done to the lft doors to stop them bashing people when the lower sensor fails to recognise someone.
There is a product, it’s typically referred to as a lift door safety edge, sensor strip, or door edge sensor.
These are aftermarket pressure-sensitive or infrared sensor strips that run vertically along the edge of the lift door. Their purpose is to detect when a person or object is in the way and either stop or reverse the door before it makes contact. They work much more effectively than a basic light sensor at floor level, especially for people of different heights or those using mobility aids.
Here are some options:
1. Rubber Safety Edge with Pressure Sensor – These are soft rubber strips that also act as pressure sensors. If the door starts to close on someone, it detects the pressure and immediately stops or reverses.
2. Infrared Sensor Edges – These run the height of the door and use infrared light to create a beam; breaking the beam stops or reverses the door.
3. Retrofittable Kits – Many manufacturers (like Memco, Fermator, Otis, and others) make safety edge kits that can be retrofitted to older lifts. These are especially common in buildings where modern accessibility standards are being applied to older infrastructure.
If we agree to this project, the president of the community could ask our maintenance contractor or lift servicing company to assess the lift and recommend a suitable safety edge retrofit. It’s not just a comfort issue — it could be a compliance and liability issue too, particularly if someone vulnerable gets hurt. Our lift tech is:-
