I hear repeated stories that elevators contain embedded chips to track the time elapsed since the last maintenance, and that such elevators may take themselves out of service on 1/1/2000 because they will compute that they have exceeded the allowed maintenance interval. The testimony of John Hamre, deputy secretary of Defense, on June 4, 1998 referred to this perceived problem.

However, the website for Otis elevator states "Engineering reviews at Otis have determined that neither the operation of Otis manufactured and maintained elevator and escalator systems nor the use of Otis manufactured diagnostic equipment will be adversely affected after December 31, 1999. Moreover, Otis maintenance system is usage based and not date dependent. Otis is currently working with an outside computer consultant to review its internal computer-based communications and business systems including OTISLINE. to ensure that these will also be Year 2000 (Y2000) compliant."

Does anyone know if some other elevator manufacturer has a Y2k problem in its elevators? There are enough real problems to try to plan for that I would like to try to eliminate some of those that are just rumor or myth. Or am I missing something? The Otis Elevator website is at www.otis.com, and on the North American operations page has a link to their year 2000 statements. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<

-- Dan Hunt (dhunt@hostscorp.com), June 10, 1998

Answers

Hi Dan:

I can't speak directly to the elevator systems' Y2K vulnerability i.e., Otis, US Elevator, etc., but I do know that many elevator systems are interfaced with other "controlled access" or "security" type systems which overide the elevator control functions during preprogrammed days\hours of operation. Perhaps you've seen cars with card readers or keypads installed for these reasons. If I'm correct in my logic then, this would make the elevator vulnerable to various other Y2K vulnerable systems?

-- Jeff Hertz (jh@holly.colostate.edu), June 11, 1998.