wierd elevator key

[femurat]

Found this new box on the wall of the building where I live. "Emergency elevator"... I guess it contains the elevator control-room keys or an electric switch to shut down it in case of fire or maintenance.
No I'm not going to pick it, just wanted to share the picture and maybe get some info on it. It looks like a vending machine lock, except for the hole on the top of the "keyway". I think it's nothing special, just basic security with a new look.

Cheers

[raimundo]

Looks a lot like a van lock, but the cut in the top of the plug is different, its made in europe, so that would explain why its just a little different. There is also a curious flat on the bottom of the plug, I cant figure that one out. would like to see it taken apart.

[femurat]

VAN LOCK, thanks Ray, I had the picture of the lock in mind and couldn't remember that name.

The slot on the bottom of the plug is easy to explain: it allows you to remove the key with the cylinder upside down, so I guess unlocked, like in many tubular locks or switch locks.

Cheers

[Evan]

@femurat:


Is the "box" that lock is located in look like it is an electrical enclosure or does it look like it is a key vault...

Given the proposed two removal positions of the key I personally am leaning towards electrical enclosure and a key switch being used to operate the fire service mode on the elevator...

Key vaults for fire departments are generally the "key retaining" type lock and either the face of the vault is removed and held by the person with the vault key, or it is relocked to the empty housing and opened again for the keys to be placed back in secure storage after the call is completed just prior to clearing the scene...

~~ Evan

[femurat]

Hi Evan,

when I saw it I was just surprised by the lock so I didn't look at the box at all, I'm going to have a better look at the box itself and maybe shoot a couple more pictures.

Cheers

[deciBell]

Looks like a key for FIREMAN-OPERATION for the elevator.
'Lift comes direct to the floor where this lock is places and is than exclusive for the fireman. etc.'

couldn't find the key on http://elevatorshop.de/index_E.html
(try looking for 'key' as with 'lock' in the elevator business the mean the lock for the elevator doors)

[femurat]

I took a picture of the whole box, there is an inge on the top of the box, and the lock is in the lower right corner, so I think it's a key container. Also, it's attached to the elevator control room door, located at the 9th floor, over the last floor reached by the elevator itself. There is already an elevator electric switch covered by a thin glass on the ground floor, so I doubt there is another one here.

deciBell, I searched in the website you pointed out but couldn't find anything similar to this box.

Cheers

[vov35]

I want to say "it's a keybox" and be done with it, but... on the ninth floor?

[Evan]

I want to say "it's a keybox" and be done with it, but... on the ninth floor?

It appears to be a keybox... Although I wouldn't vouch for its supposed ability to be a "secure" place to store emergency keys in what with that very exposed hinge pin at the top of the container... The elevator machine room door is on a floor above the last landing served by the elevator, so that indicates that the elevator machine in question is operated by steel cables hung over a sheave... Fire departments frequently require access to elevator machine rooms in order to assess the best way to extricate trapped people from a stalled elevator...

~~ Evan

[femurat]

The last maintenance guy left the box open and took the keys with him. Dunno why he did that but I had the chance to shoot a couple of pictures of the empty key box. By the way, you were right about it being just a key container.

Cheers