MRL removed the machine room, not the machine. Every service task that used to happen in a room now happens in the hoistway, on top of the car, or in a cupboard – which changes both the risk profile and the time a job takes.
What actually changes for service
| Task | Conventional | MRL reality |
|---|---|---|
| Machine and brake work | Standing in a room, good light, level floor | On top of the car above the car top, restricted space, one hand often holding on |
| Controller access | Room or closet, cabling visible | Wall-mounted cabinet, often at the top landing – may be in a public area |
| Rescue | Room-based manual lowering or machine brake release | Hoistway-based procedure, requires being on the car top or at the controller with a specific sequence |
| Heat rejection | Machine room ventilation | Machine heat goes into the hoistway; sustained duty cycles can raise temperatures |
| Spare parts | Space to keep stock on site | Usually none – plan lead times instead |
Access planning that pays off
- Confirm a safe, fixed means of accessing the car top and the pit, and that it is usable with the car at any landing the procedure requires.
- Check lighting in the hoistway above the car and in the pit – work in the dark is how people get hurt.
- Keep the rescue procedure written, posted where it is needed, and rehearsed. It is not the same procedure as a room machine.
- Verify the controller location is accessible outside traffic hours and not blocked by building furniture or fit-out.
- Record the exact make/model of machine, drive, brake and belt/rope, and keep a copy off site. MRL parts are model-specific.
Belts and ropes on MRL units
Many MRL machines use flat belts or coated ropes with manufacturer-specific retirement criteria. Two practical rules: inspect at the intervals the maker states rather than by tradition, and retire on the maker’s criteria – not on a general rule borrowed from steel rope work.
Safety: top-of-car work on MRL units often means working near the machine and the sheave with limited clearance. Use the car-top control station and the required stop switches, and confirm the car cannot be commanded from a landing while you are up there.
Related: drives and motors, emergency response, modernization.