How Can You Tell if Your Elevator Already Has UCMP?
How Can You Tell if Your Elevator Already Has UCMP?
How Can You Tell if Your Elevator Already Has UCMP?
UCMP Educational Series – Part 5 of 6
In the previous posts, we covered what UCMP is, why it was added to the code, and how emergency brakes work with it. Now, let’s focus on how to tell if an elevator already has UCMP installed.
UCMP is a safety feature integrated into the elevator’s control and braking system. Because it is paired with an additional emergency brake, there are several ways to check for its presence:
- Inspect the brakes
The first step is to examine the emergency brake discussed in our last post. Since UCMP requires a brake that acts independently from the machine brake, look for a brake that does not pick and drop in unison with the primary machine brake(s). In some cases, such as with a rope brake, this will be easy to identify. In others, like a second disc brake or separate plunger assembly, it may be less obvious. The presence of an independent brake is a strong indicator that UCMP may be installed. - Check the installation year
- Before 2000: UCMP was first introduced in the 2000 edition of ASME A17.1. Elevators installed before this date generally do not include UCMP.
- Early 2000s: Although UCMP entered the code in 2000, not all states adopted it immediately. Elevators from this period may or may not have UCMP depending on local code adoption.
- Recent years: Some states, such as Connecticut, remained on the 1996 edition of the code until as late as 2018. As a result, even relatively new elevators might not include UCMP.
- Contact the manufacturer or service provider
Elevator OEMs, contractors and consultants can confirm whether a specific elevator is equipped with UCMP. They can also verify whether the system meets the version of the code adopted in your jurisdiction. - Perform a test
Any test for Unintended Car Movement Protection must be performed only by qualified personnel with proper safety precautions in place. A simple test comes from ASME A17.1 Section 8.6.4.19.11:
“Unintended car movement shall be subjected to tests with no load in the car at the slowest operating (inspection) speed in the up direction.”
To verify UCMP function, position the car at a floor with doors open and no load. Then, release (pick) the machine brake(s). Because the counterweight is heavier than the empty car, the elevator will begin to drift upward. If UCMP is installed, the car should stop before moving more than 48 inches from the landing. Since the code also requires manual reset, the car should not resume movement until the fault is cleared on the triggering device.
In the final post of this series, we’ll outline the steps building owners and contractors can take to bring elevators into compliance when UCMP is not yet installed.
