Elevator constructors are people who work on skyscrapers, apartment complexes, and other structures to build, install, and maintain elevators. The elevator has existed in some form since ancient Egypt, but it was only in widespread use in the mid-nineteenth century that it was used to transport people within buildings. Since then, elevator builders have taken on the important task of ensuring that the elevators are safe for passengers to ride in.
A job as an elevator builder is physically demanding and also requires intelligence and skill. Electricity, computer electronics, physics, and hydraulics are all skills that constructors must have. Constructors should have a thorough understanding of how an elevator moves up and down in terms of physics. The rails, machinery, car enclosures, pumps, cylinders, motors, and plunger foundations are typically installed using a blueprint, and constructors typically follow a blueprint to find the necessary equipment and install the rails, machinery, car enclosures, pumps, cylinders, motors, and plunger foundations. The elevator will then be guided steel rails that are bolted or welded to the wall shaft.
Elevator constructors are responsible for putting electrical wires in place and running tubes between floors. Constructors erect the elevator’s frame at the shaft bottom, install the platform, walls, and doors, and attach the guides and rollers, which reduces the car’s motion while it moves up and down, after installing all electrical parts and devices at each floor. The constructor is also responsible for constructing the doors and door frames for each elevator entrance on each floor.
Elevator builders are responsible for testing the elevator before it is opened to the public, and after it is open, they must service, maintain, and repair it on a regular basis. Elevator builders are frequently members of a union, which can protect them from being sued because elevators can be dangerous contraptions. The job itself is difficult, and new technological advances are constantly shifting the industry’s focus and necessitating more experimentation. Elevator builders work in cramped spaces, at great heights, and at risk of electrical shock, but the majority of their work is done indoors, away from inclement weather.
Apprenticeships in elevator construction are the most effective way to become a constructor. The program consists of a four-year combination of classroom and practical training. Experienced elevator mechanics supervise newcomers, and while each program differs slightly, they all include training in safety procedures, generator installation and maintenance, elevator wiring and installation, and hydraulics installation. After the program, elevator builders must pass a test that assesses their math, comprehension, and mechanical abilities. Before the constructor can begin practicing, he or she must achieve a score of 70%.