Safety and Durability in Elevator Technology: 
SCHAEFER Sets New Standards in Vandalism Protection
 

Vandalism is a serious issue in the elevator industry. Especially in public and high-traffic buildings, control panels and display units are frequently subjected to deliberate damage. This not only results in high repair costs but also affects the availability of elevators and user satisfaction. SCHAEFER GmbH has made it its mission to develop robust and vandalism-resistant components that go far beyond the requirements of EN 81-71.

Higher Testing Standards for Maximum Resilience

The European standard EN 81-71 specifies different protection classes against vandalism: Class 1 for moderate protection and Class 2 for protection against severe vandalism influences. SCHAEFER goes one step further and has defined Class 3+, a proprietary protection class that includes particularly robust components. To receive this certification, the components must withstand harsher and more extensive tests than those required by official standards.

Extreme Tests: SCHAEFER’s Quality Assurance

To ensure the highest possible resilience, SCHAEFER subjects its components to a series of rigorous tests:

1. Impact Resistance Test. According to EN 81-71 Class 2, components are tested with a 1 kg impactor from a height of 1 m (10 Joules). However, SCHAEFER Class 3+ components must withstand a 5 kg impactor from 0.4 m, equivalent to an energy of 20 Joules.

2. Fire Resistance Test. While EN 81-71 requires exposure to a gas lighter flame for 120 seconds, SCHAEFER’s Class 3+ components undergo a 180-second flame exposure.

3. Water and Dust Protection (IP Test). EN 81-71 only requires protection against splashing water (IP X3). SCHAEFER Class 3+ components, however, comply with IP X5 or even IP X6, making them resistant to strong water jets from all directions. The dust protection test is based on EN 60529 and simulates highly dusty environments. The vandal-proof button VB 42 Class 3+ meets IP 65, ensuring that no dust can penetrate the housing.

4. Service Life Test. A crucial factor for reliability is long-term durability. SCHAEFER tests its buttons with a mechanical test finger for up to 10 million activations.

5. Temperature Resistance Test. SCHAEFER components are tested at extreme temperatures between -25°C and +65°C to ensure functionality in all climates.

Real Added Value for Operators and Users

Thanks to these extended test procedures, SCHAEFER offers products with a significantly longer lifespan and maximum operational safety. Operators benefit from reduced maintenance costs and minimal downtime, while passengers can rely on fully functional control elements at all times.

SCHAEFER: Innovation and Quality for the Elevator Industry

With its Class 3+, SCHAEFER sets new benchmarks in vandalism protection. The components are already in use in numerous high-traffic areas such as train stations, airports, and shopping centres, proving their durability every day.

Invest in the future of your elevator – with SCHAEFER, you get uncompromising quality and maximum protection against vandalism.