Water in a lift pit is an emergency for the building, not just a cleaning job. Stop using the lift, keep people out of it and call your lift company first. A plumber or pumping contractor usually cannot safely pump out a lift pit until a lift technician is on site to make the lift safe and give access.
The lift pit is the space at the bottom of the shaft, below the lowest floor. It holds equipment that is not designed to sit in water, and it is a restricted area. Whether the water came from a storm, a burst pipe, fire sprinklers or a blocked drain, the steps below are the same.
First steps when you find water in the pit
- Stop using the lift. If it is still running, do not send it to the lowest floor.
- Keep residents, staff and contractors away from the lift entrances on the lowest level.
- Call the lift company and say clearly that there is water in the pit. Mention whether the lift car is down at the bottom with the water.
- Take photographs from a safe position, such as from the landing with the doors closed, and note the time you found the problem.
- If water is still coming in, find and stop the source if it is safe to do so, such as by turning off a water supply.
If anyone is trapped in the lift, injured or in danger, treat it as an emergency and call 000 where required.
Do not pump it out without the lift company
Nobody should enter a lift pit or lower hoses, pumps or tools into it without a lift technician present. The lift has to be made safe first, and the car may be sitting in the pit itself.
When the car is down in the water, a technician may need to move it up out of the pit before the water can be reached. This is technician-only work: it depends on the condition of the lift and is done under controlled conditions, never by building staff.
Whether the car can be moved, and how, is the technician's decision once they have checked the lift. Do not ask building staff or the plumber to call the lift or move it.
Coordinate the plumber and the lift technician
This is the step most buildings get wrong. If you only call a plumber, they may arrive and be unable to start, and the building pays for a wasted call-out while the water keeps doing damage.
Book the plumber or pumping contractor for a time when the lift technician will be on site. The technician makes the lift safe, gives the plumber safe access and stays on standby while the pit is pumped out. Tell both parties about each other before they arrive, including the address, access arrangements and a contact on site.
On the day, have someone from the building on site who can open plant rooms, switch rooms and the lowest-level lobby, and who can authorise the work.
What water can damage
Once the pit is dry, the lift company inspects the equipment before the lift returns to service. Depending on the type of lift and how high the water reached, damage can include:
- equipment and wiring in the pit
- door equipment and controls on the lowest floors
- on hydraulic lifts, parts of the hydraulic system located low in the building
- corrosion and electrical faults that show up days or weeks later
A lift that seems to work after a flood can still have hidden damage. Follow your lift company's advice on testing and return to service.
How long the lift is out of service depends on how much water there was, how long it sat there and which parts need repair or replacement. Ask the lift company for an estimate once the inspection is done.
Keep records for the insurance claim
Water damage to a lift is often an insurance matter for the building owner or owners corporation. Contact the building's insurer or broker early and ask what they need. Insurers commonly ask for:
- photographs from when the water was found, and after it was removed
- the date, time and suspected cause of the water
- the lift technician's report describing what was damaged, what caused it and what needs repair or replacement
- quotes and invoices, including the technician's attendance and standby time during pumping
- invoices from the plumber or pumping contractor
The cause matters. Policies can treat water from a storm, a burst pipe and a flood differently, so a clear report on where the water came from helps. Check your policy or ask your broker; this guide cannot tell you what your insurance covers.
Ask your lift company for a written report and quote you can pass on to the insurer or their assessor.
Reduce the risk of it happening again
- Ask your lift company whether the pit needs drainage or a pump, and who maintains it.
- Check drains near the lift after storms and after nearby building work.
- Report damp, puddles or a musty smell in the pit area during routine servicing.
- Keep the lift company's emergency number with the building's other emergency contacts.
For help with a flooded lift (or elevator) pit, call Hiteck on 03 9293 8100 or see our lift repairs and 24 hour call out services.