Stopping at a Dizzying Height
Mar 1, 2018
PEGA service lift, Schmersal switchgear put to use at Burj Khalifa.
A permanent lift brings service-technology materials almost to the very top of the highest building in the world: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, where the stop is at a height of 611 m. The service lift from PEGA’s IndustrialLift range is fitted with Schmersal lift switchgear equipment.
The Eiffel Tower is 300 m high, Cologne Cathedral is 117 m high, and the Empire State Building is 380 m high. Burj Khalifa in Dubai towers over them all, and, at 828 m, is the highest building in the world. The other superlatives of the building include the highest number of usable floors (163), the highest viewing platform in the world (555.7 m) and the highest restaurant (122nd floor). The service lift sets more world records, bringing material and personnel to heights greater than 600 m to this day. It was built by the Czech company PEGA Hoist, which also supplied numerous temporary super-high-speed construction lifts for Burj Khalifa. Four PEGA double lifts transported personnel and material for the first 400 m during construction. Lifts with speed-regulated drives were used for this purpose, permitting speeds of up to 100 mpm at full load. Several additional smaller PEGA construction lifts were implemented several times as construction progressed.
Sturdy Switchgear
These temporary construction lift types were dismantled after the Burj Khalifa was completed. But, a permanent PEGA service lift, with a stop at 611 m, is still in operation. Here, PEGA installed an IL 1012 industrial rack-and-pinion lift. This upper lift station provides personnel with access to the technical section of Burj Khalifa above it. The machine cabin with the drive unit moves constantly with the lift roof: it is installed outside, merely under glass, and, as a result, is exposed to extreme conditions and the tower’s own movement, which, in strong winds, sways up to 1.5 m.
Position Switches and Door Locks
Like the construction lifts, PEGA’s permanent lift is driven precisely and efficiently by variable-speed drives. A programmable control creates the condition for standard compatible adjustment to individual deployment conditions. In this lift type, Schmersal series TVH335 position switches with safety function take care of upper and lower operational shutdown. These switches were developed for reliable use in a rough environment, as the sturdy metal housings suggest. Thanks to the operating elements that can deploy four at 90°, they can be adjusted flexibly to any application.
All PEGA lift series are fitted serially with Schmersal lift switchgears. The Schmersal AV20 switchgear is responsible for locking the doors of the permanent lift at a height of more than 600 m. Its special characteristic is the magnetic mode of operation for preventing accidental opening, which provides a high degree of safety and ensures the functionality of the door lock, even given wide door leaf tolerances. The wide operating range of the magnets permits fast, easy installation and permanent, adjustment-free use.
In addition, in the IL series, series 236 position switches with safety function are used in the clamp brake. A TZ 422 switchgear device monitors the upper and lower emergency-stop function of the car. The permanent lift and Schmersal lift switchgear have been in use in Burj Khalifa for more than nine years in its demanding conditions. The climate alternates between great heat by day and cool nights. The humidity is high, and, due to the proximity to the coast, the salty air is also highly corrosive. This is not just a great challenge for steel structures, but also for all electrical and control components.
Get more of Elevator World. Sign up for our free e-newsletter.
