I finally switched from wire rope to poly rope for hoistway safeties

Back in 2018 I was still using standard 3/8 wire rope for all my hoistway safety cable runs, you know, the old way. Then I got a call from a building manager in Cincinnati who said the wire had frayed and damaged a guide rail bracket after only 4 years. My mentor, a guy named Frank who's been in the trade since the 70s, told me to try polyethylene rope instead. He said it doesn't rust or fray the same way, and it's way easier to handle in tight spaces like that 12 inch gap between the car and the pit floor. I swapped over on my next job at a 6 story apartment complex last spring, and the install went so much smoother - no kinking, no sharp edges to deal with. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference in longevity? I'm curious if poly holds up as well in wet conditions long term.

2 comments

2 Comments

sandraf849d ago

Totally feel you on that, I've been there with the rust nightmare.

sullivan.elliot9d ago

@Sandraf84 nailed it with the rust thing, but I gotta ask - is frayed wire really that big of a deal in most buildings? I've seen wire rope last 10+ years in dry elevator shafts without a single issue. Maybe the Cincinnati building had some moisture problem that poly wont fix either. Could just be that one bad install, not a reason to completely switch systems. I'd want to see some real data before swapping out all my gear.