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Ask the Expert

Do you have a question about RATH® Elevator products, technology or code?
Read answers to common Elevator communication questions or complete the form below to contact our Expert

“The inspector said that I need to install the 2100-Alarm (Communication Failure Detection).
Why is this so important?”

When trapped in an elevator, your first thought is to make a call on your cell phone, however, there is not always a strong signal in an elevator cab. When that attempt fails, your next response is to utilize the "emergency" communication option in the elevator.
What if it is not functioning due to the line being down or inactive due to a service lapse?

To combat these line failures and service lapses, the following requirements of the Emergency Communication Device were adopted into the 2010 version of the A17 and B44 elevator codes.

2.27.1.1.6
(a) The two-way communications means within the car shall include a means to verify operability of the telephone line, where:

1) Verification of the telephone line operability shall be automatically performed.

2) Verification may be continuous or periodic.

3) Periodic verification shall be at least on a daily basis.

4) Verification shall not require activation of the two-way communications. If means other than a telephone line (e.g., VOIP, network, intercom, etc.) is used for the two-way communications, similar verification of this equivalent means shall be performed.

If the phone line is disconnected for any reason, the 2100-Alarm will provide an audible and visible indicator that the phone isn’t working so maintenance staff can quickly restore communication.

Click to watch our 2100-ALARM - How it Works Video

"On the 2100-907RSA, we are using the alarm relay to trigger the phone monitor. Our inspector insists that the phone monitor should trip without any button being pushed. I explained that it is monitored "daily" per code. What is the exact time frame between self-testing?"

Our SmartPhones are field programmable for the time between self-tests. You can program the test anywhere from 5 minutes up to 23 hours. The standard time programmed from the factory is 10 minutes.
Click the Standard Programming Manual to see how to program this frequency.

"We have two buildings, one with three elevators one with two.
We have five phone lines total.
Would your products allow us to reduce the number of phone lines?"

Yes, you would be able to drop the number of telephone lines down to one or two with our SmartPhones depending on how far apart the two banks are and if it is feasible to tie them together.
After reviewing the make and model of your existing phones, we can provide you with replacements
An elevator maintenance company or an electrician will need to install them

"Does your Cellular Interface meet the 2010-2015 version of the A17 and B44 Code for Emergency Communication Failure?"

When the A17 Code was amended to include Section 2.27.1.1.6, stating the elevator phone must check the telephone line at least once every 24 hours, it was written around a standard analog line. In the 2015 version of the code they state that if you are utilizing a line other than analog the phone must function in a similar manner.
We developed our SmartPhone to initially work on an analog line and then expanded that to include Digital, VoIP, and RATH® Intercom Systems. Now we have this technology available with a Cellular Line, either AT&T or Verizon. Our phone, in conjunction with our Cellular Interface, will monitor the Cellular Network and if it detects the network is unavailable it will cause the same emergency communication failure trip we provide today.

The Emergency Communication Device adopted into the 2010 version of the A17 and B44 Elevator Codes is as follows:

2.27.1.1.6

1. Verification of the telephone line operability shall be automatically performed.
2. Verification may be continuous or periodic.
3. Periodic verification shall be at least on a daily basis.
4. Verification shall not require activation of the two-way communications. If means other than a telephone line (e.g., VOIP, network, intercom, etc.) is used for the two-way communications, similar verification of this equivalent means shall be performed.

If the phone line is disconnected or is non-functioning for any reason, our 2100-ALARM will provide an audible and visible indicator that the phone isn’t working so maintenance staff can quickly restore communication.
RATH® Phones, along with the 2100-ALARM, can monitor Analog and Digital phones.

For VoIP phones, contact us for our 2500-VOIPM IP Line Monitoring Solution.
Click to learn about our Cellular Communication options
Click to watch our "How it Works" 2100-ALARM Video

"On the SmartRescue Base Station, what activates the relay contacts?"

When any of the phones attached to it make a call that SmartRescue relay will activate. It will then reset once the call is completed.

"Our customer is complaining about solicitation calls coming in on their elevator phone.
Is there a way to turn off incoming calls?"

No, this is a function of the telephone service provider and has nothing to do with the emergency elevator phone. In addition, elevator code states that you must be able to call back into the elevator, so the answer feature is a function of that code requirement.

"I see you have an in-car IP solution.
We’ve been told that nobody makes a CAT5 or higher traveler cable.
How are you accomplishing this?"

It is rare, in the US or Canada, that we do an actual in IP phone, normally we pick it up in the MR or electrical room. However, Draka now has a CAT 5e travel cable offering that they debuted at the 2019 NAEC show.

"How is the SmartRescue able to use one phone line to service multiple elevators?"

If there are multiple elevators, with multiple calls out, it becomes a party line. However, the called party is able to toggle between the elevators or talk to them all at the same time.