Water Damage to Elevator Systems: Decontamination Avoids Unnecessary Replacement

When thousands of litres of rainwater flooded the elevator shafts of a 61-storey residential tower under construction in the Netherlands, technical installations were affected by water. BELFOR Technology assessed and decontaminated the equipment, helping to avoid unnecessary replacement, additional costs and delays to the building’s completion.

Thousands of litres of rainwater entered the elevator shafts

The 215-metre tower, the tallest residential building in the Netherlands, was still under construction and its permanent roof was not yet in place. The elevator shafts were protected from the elements by a temporary roof and tarpaulins.

During a severe summer rainstorm, water accumulated on the temporary roof until it gave way under the weight. Thousands of litres of rainwater poured down the shafts and over the technical installations.

Inspect first, then decide what to replace

Replacing all affected components would have been expensive and could have significantly delayed completion of the building.

BELFOR Technology was called in to inspect the damage and report on the condition of the elevator installations. Working together with the elevator system OEM, BELFOR identified which components could be decontaminated and which should be replaced.

Following the assessment, BELFOR Technology carried out the decontamination. A second, final report documented which components had been successfully saved and which still required replacement, providing a clear technical basis for the final decision.