Determining if an elevator is overloaded primarily relies on its own audible and visual alarms and operational status. When the elevator sounds an alarm and the doors cannot close, it indicates that it is overloaded.
The most direct way to determine this: Observe the elevator's response. Modern elevators are equipped with overload protection devices. Once overloaded, the following reactions will be triggered immediately:
A continuous beeping sound or voice prompt will alert passengers that the elevator is overloaded;
Warning lights inside the car will flash, usually a flashing red light;
The elevator doors will remain open and cannot close properly, and the elevator will not start operating;
The alarm will only be deactivated and the elevator will resume operation after some passengers have exited and the load has decreased below the rated value.
Key point: Hearing an alarm + doors unable to open = elevator overloaded. Those entering later should exit voluntarily.
Prevention in Advance: Understanding the Elevator's Rated Load Capacity
Before entering an elevator, you can predict whether it is close to full load by using the following methods:
Check the rated load capacity sign posted inside the elevator (e.g., 1000kg, 13 people);
Check if the car floor is level with the floor level. If it sinks significantly, it may be close to or exceeded its load limit;
Avoid crowding during peak hours, especially in crowded places such as hotels and shopping malls.
Technical Standards for Overload Judgment (Professional Reference)
According to national standards, elevator overload judgment has a dual protection mechanism:
When the load exceeds 110% of the rated value, an alarm must be triggered and the elevator must stop;
At the same time, a minimum trigger value of no less than 75kg is set to prevent false alarms for light loads and ensure sensitivity and reliability.
For example: An elevator with a rated load of 1000kg is considered overloaded when it reaches 1100kg; if the rated load is smaller (e.g., 750kg), it needs to exceed 75kg to trigger the alarm.
