Elevator Inspectors in Wind Turbine Towers

Safe work in wind turbines is always the highest priority for Avanti Wind Systems.
Wind turbines are built higher and higher. Therefore, in addition to a safe ladder system with Fall Protection, most towers should also incorporate Work Cages that make it safer, easier and faster for the technicians working in the towers to go up and down. Work Cages in wind turbine towers have to be approved by the authorities just like elevators in buildings. Today, several states in the US require Work Cages in wind turbine towers to be designed in accordance with the same requirements and standards as elevators in buildings and this is a problem.
"That’s not possible," says Kent Pedersen, General Manager of Avanti Wind Systems in the US. "For example, there are a lot of welds in elevators and elevator shafts in buildings. In a wind turbine tower the lift is cable driven because the tower must have as few welds as possible for the sake of the tower's safety and structural complexity".
This was one of the reasons why Avanti Wind Systems in the US invited NAESA - National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities - from various states in the central region of the US to a seminar about the safety of Work Cages in wind turbine towers. More than 40 certified elevator inspectors participated in the seminar at Avanti's US headquarters in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

Avanti Wind Systems is the world's leading manufacturer of Work Cages/Service Lifts for wind turbine towers. Avanti has produced and installed more than 16,000 work cages in wind turbine towers worldwide. It is more than half of all those installed.
The purpose of the seminar was to expose the elevator inspectors to the wind industry and expose the wind industry to existing and new elevator compliance.
In several US states elevator inspectors must give official approval before a Work Cage can be used in a wind tower.
"Therefore, it’s important for the inspectors to know the safety considerations and training that we provide for our products. And that they know the difference between an ordinary elevator in a building and a Work Cage in a wind tower in detail," says Kent Pedersen.

In the US requirements for service lifts in wind turbines vary from state to state, but a new national standard is currently in its final stage and is expected to take effect in 2012/2013. The new standard will ensure the same requirements everywhere in the US when adopted.
"And it will further enhance the safety for the technicians working in wind turbine towers," says Kent Pedersen.
The coming new standards were an essential part of the discussions and presentations at the seminar in Avanti Wind Systems.
Most states require an approval of every service lift before it is put into use. The lift must be tested by a certified inspector and it must be inspected at least once a year like other safety equipment in wind turbine towers. This is done by Avanti Wind Systems - or technicians who are authorized by Avanti Wind Systems - and by a certified inspector.
Anyone working in wind turbine towers shall meet the safety rules by the authorities and the owners of the wind farm. This also applies to official elevator inspectors, and as such a representative from ENSA Access and Rescue presented at the seminar and detailed the applicable safety requirements.