Massive power outages pose serious challenges to apartment buildings, turning a routine trip to the upper floors into a source of constant risk. Emergency services physically cannot keep up with thousands of calls from citizens trapped in the dark, forcing residents and management companies to find autonomous technical solutions. Specialized batteries, generators, or automatic evacuation systems can help in this situation, but their implementation involves many hidden nuances and costs.
Technical upgrade options and evacuation systems
As explained by Igor Tkachenko, CEO of the Euroformat Lifts group of companies, one of the basic solutions for HOAs and management companies is the installation of automatic evacuation systems with backup power. When centralized power supply disappears, such a device accumulates residual energy, smoothly brings the cabin to the nearest floor, and opens the doors for the safe exit of passengers. However, the installation of such systems is far from possible at every facility and directly depends on the technical condition and year of manufacture of the lifting equipment.
Financial barriers and technical limitations
Despite high demand and numerous requests to company call centers, the actual number of installed batteries and inverters remains low due to their high cost. In many cases, old elevator models are equipped with outdated relay control systems, and it is technically impossible to connect batteries to them without completely replacing the elevator's 'brain'. In addition, voltage surges when power is restored can damage sensitive electronics, requiring the additional installation of powerful stabilizers and rectifiers.
State support programs and the realities of HOA budgets
The existing state compensation program 'SvitDim' (LightHome), which allocates up to 300 thousand hryvnias for the energy independence of high-rise buildings, significantly helps in a crisis situation, but is not able to cover all the costs of large residential complexes. For high-rise buildings with a large number of entrances and elevators, this amount is only enough for the partial implementation of the project, and the remaining million-hryvnia budget must be covered by contributions from the residents themselves, requiring a balanced audit before purchasing equipment.
