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Safety First

In the world of lift systems, safety is paramount. Accidents can have serious consequences, which is why it is crucial to ensure the highest safety standards.

 

Particular attention must be paid to the large number of existing installations. These often have no redundant safety systems or protection against unintended car movement (UCM) and/or protection for the car travelling upwards against overspeed (ACO), which represent significant risks.

 

The continuous modernisation of lift systems and the corresponding retrofitting of safety systems contribute significantly to making lifts the safest means of transport in the world.

 

 

 

FUKA dual-circuit braking system

For many decades, lift drives, mostly worm gears, were equipped with a single-circuit brake and performed well. However, their mode of operation entails a certain risk, as the car can move uncontrollably if the braking system fails. This can lead to serious accidents that not only endanger human life, but can also cause considerable economic damage.

 

Retrofitting single-circuit brakes to dual-circuit brakes offers a decisive improvement in safety in lift systems. The use of two independent brake circuits significantly reduces the risk of failure. Even if one brake circuit fails, the second remains intact and ensures sufficient deceleration of the car movement right up to a complete stop.

 

 

 

The advantages of retrofitting a FUKA dual-circuit brake system at a glance:

 

**Increased safety**: Retrofitting to dual-circuit brakes significantly improves the safety of lift systems, as the risk of uncontrolled car movement is significantly minimised.

 

**Reliability**: With two independent brake circuits, the reliability of the braking system is increased, improving lift system uptime and reducing downtime.

 

**Compliance with current standards**: In a constantly evolving industry, it is important that lift systems comply with the latest safety standards. Retrofitting to dual-circuit brakes helps to meet these requirements.

 

**Long-term cost savings**: Although retrofitting initially requires an investment, costs can be saved in the long term by increasing the life cycle of the lift system.

 

 

 

FUKA safety brake - UCMF

 

Another significant increase in safety for existing installations is the retrofitting of a safety device to prevent unintended (uncontrolled) car movement (UCM).

 

While a UCM protection system has been a mandatory requirement for new systems since 2012, the necessity for existing systems from older years of construction is still assessed differently today, although there are unfortunately enough examples worldwide in which a defect in central electrical and/or mechanical components led to the car suddenly and unexpectedly moving out of the stop when the doors were open.

 

With the FUKA UCMF safety brake, existing installations can be protected against the UCM case. At the same time, the brake is approved as a protective device for the upward travelling car against overspeed (ACO).

 

 

 

The FUKA UCMF safety brake at a glance:

 

The Fuka drive brake is a quiescent current-operated emergency braking system that can be used for a wide range of geared machines and gearless drives.

 

The brake system is offered with a system-specific adaptation and a wide range of optional accessories as well as the technical calculations.

 

Special attention is paid to simple, on-site installation. At the same time, the FUKA UCMF safety brake is the first product from Fuka for which the (mechanical) installation can also be carried out by FUKA on request.

 

 

 

Conclusion - Safety is non-negotiable!

Operators of lift systems are faced with the task of regularly scrutinising the safe operation of their systems. This is the only way to recognise the hazard potential and assess the liability risk.

 

If an accident occurs in a lift system that could have been prevented by the current state of the art, the operator of the lift system will inevitably be held liable.

 

Nevertheless, it is important to emphasise that the reliability of lift systems depends on various factors, including and especially regular maintenance.

 

Further information on our solutions and a direct contact person can be found here: Dual-circuit brakes / Safety brake UCMF

Rudolf Fuka GmbH
March 2024