Tuesday 7 July 2009

Lift (elevator) instructions

I'm shortly moving back into the office tower we vacated 2 years ago that has now been renovated. I thought I'd like to share the new lift instructions with you (readers in the US please substitute 'elevator' for 'lift').

THE LIFTS AT MUIRHEAD TOWER
Welcome to Muirhead Tower. The four lifts in the central core are equipped with the latest technology Destination Control System. This system may be unfamiliar to some intending lift passengers. However, it is simple to operate, providing the following key steps are undertaken.

• When entering one of the central lift lobbies move to a lift Destination Operating Panel (DOP). There are two at each lobby (one of those at the G floor is located just outside the lobby entrance on the wall opposite the reception desk).

• Register your required destination floor in the DOP by means of the numerical buttons or specific alphabetic buttons for LG, G and M floors. For floors above level 9 it will be necessary to press two numerical buttons i.e. 1 and then 2, for the 12th floor.

• It is important that each intending lift passenger enters their required destination floor into a DOP. Do not simply enter a lift without registering your destination because you are following other people you know may be going to your floor. The lift system needs to know how many passengers require transportation to a floor such that it can perform efficiently.

• The DOP display screen will now indicate the floor you have selected followed by the lift (A, B, C or D), which will take you to your selected floor.

• Each lift has an identifier indicator located above the lift entrance within the lobby. Move towards your assigned lift and await its arrival.

• When the lift arrives the identifier indicator will illuminate and an audible chime will sound.

• Upon entering the lift there are two display screens within each of the two car operating panels, one of which indicate the position of the lift and direction of travel and the other indicates the next stops at floors that the lift will make. Your required floor will be shown on that display. It is not necessary for you to register any further call information, indeed there is no means for you to do so.

• The lift will now travel to your required floor, but please note that it may stop at other floors on the way for other passengers, so please look at one of the position indicator displays to ensure that you exit at your correct destination.

• You will note that within the car operating panels buttons are provided for the lift alarm, open door and close door functions. These operate in the same manner as for all lifts. The alarm button will initiate voice communication with a 24 hour manned rescue service should there be a situation requiring this.

• In the event of a power failure occurring in the building, the lifts incorporate a feature that will automatically drive them to a floor at reduced speed, should they stop between floors. This will take 20-30 seconds to initiate and passengers should not attempt to leave a lift until it reaches a floor and opens the doors.

• If there is a fire alarm within the building the lifts will automatically return to a main floor without responding to further destination calls. Once the lift has reached the floor and opened the doors passengers should exit the building by the nearest fire escape exit and not re-enter until directed to do so by University staff.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Utterly fascinating...

Be said...

Given that I'm from the ADHD generation (Gen X in Terry's land), I can only say that I phased out at "Welcome to Muirhead Tower."

Dr Bob said...

Terry, the thing that concerns me the most is that these elevators were custom made at (I imagine) ENORMOUS cost -- you'd think they cold make a keypad that went up to 12, wouldn't you?

Bob