Having a working emergency phone within the elevator has been a requirement for years. As of May 25, 2021, the State of Illinois adopted the A17.1.2019 code which requires the phone include features designed for hearing-impaired riders. To achieve this, a camera and various fixture components are needed to ensure two-way communication with those passengers.
Traditionally when a call comes in from an emergency phone, the operator communicates with the passenger and can dispatch help if needed. With the adoption of the updated code, if there is no reply the operator can visually check the car and communicate if the passenger is hard-of-hearing. A display panel allows hearing-impaired riders to respond yes or no to the operator’s text messages. The operator can then dispatch help if needed.
To see a demonstration of how the system works, click on the video below.
