Elevators, Escalators and Electronic Locks

Elevators and escalators are driven by electric motors. The nature of these efficient motors is that when they start up they use minimum power and consequently, are at their weakest when the elevator cabin is empty. As the passenger load increases the motor draws more electric current to increase its power so that it can lift the cabin. The motor sparks increase proportionately to the greater electrical current being drawn. The sparks created are not needed for the motor to function. Generally speaking, both A.C. and D.C. motors spark. Large A.C. elevator motors are built not to spark, but they are not generally preferred. The D.C. elevator motors are built not to spark, but after several years of usage and wear they create sparks when in use.

There is also a reverse electromagnetic force that acts as a counter force. Therefore, as the speed of the elevator increases this counter force increases and stops the acceleration.

There is a counterbalance that is usually equal to forty percent of the maximum cabin load. Therefore, if there is less than a forty percent load in the cabin the counterweight pulls the elevator up without the need of the motor power. However, the initial lift off after stopping at the floor is performed by motor power to overcome friction. The heavier the cabin is the more power the motor uses for the initial lift off. The same is true in reverse when the cabin is heavier than the counterweight and the elevator is descending by gravity. The initial lift off to overcome friction is accomplished by the motor.

When descending, if the cabin is more than forty percent full, the cabin is then heavier than the counterweight and does not need the motor power to continue to bring it down after its initial lift off. The acceleration is stopped by the reverse electromagnetic force. The motor shaft is now being turned by the elevator cable and the combination of the turning motor shaft with its wiring in a weak magnetic field that exists within a non-functioning motor turns the motor into a generator. Older designed elevators waste this generated electricity through resistors. The newer, more efficiently designed elevators use this electricity being generated to help power the elevator with its lighting and also help power the lights of the rest of the building. The electric company credits the building owners for the electricity being generated.

A passenger entering the cabin causes an improvement in the motor because the power increases to lift him. This is a violation of the Rabbinical prohibition of improving an implement. It also causes the motor to produce larger sparks, but since the sparks are not needed for the motor to function and are not desired, he violates a Rabbinical violation of creating a larger fire unintentionally. Regarding these prohibitions there is no difference if the elevator automatically stops on each floor or if a non-Jew is operating it manually.

There are other prohibitions involved in operating a non automatic elevator. Pressing the buttons turns on a bulb to indicate that the elevator has received a command. This is a forbidden Biblical work. Pressing the button also starts up the motors that close and open the door and the motor that brings the elevator to his floor. These are forbidden Rabbinical works. If the elevator descends with him in it his weight is helping to produce electricity that is causing the bulbs to light. His weight is also causing light bulbs to go on and off, lighting the floor number display on top of the elevator door and on the wall of each floor above the elevator door. This is a violation of the Biblical work of creating fire. Causing the light bulbs to turn on in the cabin when he presses the button from the floor is unintentional since he does not see it, therefore it is Rabbinically prohibited, until he enters the car and then presses the floor button. However, he is guilty for causing the floor light bulbs that display the floor numbers to turn on and off since he sees them. In the more complex elevators there are many more prohibited Sabbatical works being performed.

An elevator safety door is actually a large switch. While the door is open, the cabin cannot move. There is a spring that automatically closes the door. Therefore, by just opening the door it is considered as if he also closed the door. Therefore, if he instructed the elevator to go to a different floor and by closing the door it is enabled to go to that floor, it is as if he pressed the cabin floor button and is thereby responsible for all the works being done by the elevator. Even if the timer on an automatic elevator has turned off the power after it stops on the floor and by his closing the safety door no sparks are produced, nevertheless by causing the door to close it is inevitable that this will cause the elevator cabin to automatically move. Therefore, it is considered as if he did the action. If it is not an automatic elevator then the one who presses the button after the door is closed does the action of moving the elevator. His action of closing the door is considered improving an implement (the elevator) and is Rabbinically prohibited.

There are various safety switches for automatically closing double doors that use an interrupted light ray to detect if anyone is standing in the doorway. When it detects someone in the doorway, before the door begins to close, the switch does not allow the motors that close the doors to be activated. If, however, the doors already begin closing, the switch will reverse the motors direction to open the doors. There are other ways this can be accomplished, but the important point is that there are Rabbinical prohibitions to activate a motor. The action causing the motor to reverse direction is actually activating the motor in reverse and therefore, forbidden. Some of these safety switches may produce sparks that are hot enough to ignite volatile materials such as gasoline.

Hydraulic elevators ascend through fluid being forced into a piston. The heavier the elevator cabin the more current is demanded by the motor to increase its power in order to lift the cabin. Therefore, the same prohibition that applies to the electric motor elevator when ascending applies to the hydraulic elevator when ascending.

Hydraulic elevators descend by the weight of the elevator forcing out the fluid in the piston. The flow is controlled by a valve and the cabin load. Therefore, the weight of the people in the cabin causes the cabin to descend slightly faster. This means that each person is significantly contributing to the forbidden works being done in descent since, due to the cabin's acceleration, these works are now being done by the elevator's descent earlier. Therefore, in descent, the difference in halacha between an electric motor elevator and a hydraulic elevator is that the hydraulic elevator does not turn the motor into a generator.

In hospitals and in hotels that do not serve meals in the rooms, a seriously ill or very weak person will endanger his health walking the stairs to the treatment or testing room or to the dining hall. In situations like this he is permitted to violate Rabbinical prohibitions in order to improve his health or prevent illness. In an apartment house a sick person can pray and eat in his apartment and usually does not have to go for treatments on the Sabbath. Therefore, it is necessary to correct certain features in the elevator of a hospital or hotel in order that there will not be any violations of Biblical works in its usage. It is also proper to minimize the amount of Rabbinical works being done when using it.

The correct way to do it is to modify an automatic elevator that stops at all floors and opens and closes the doors automatically. All incandescent bulbs should be replaced with LCD floor number displays and LED transistorized light that are not in the category of fire. These floor numbers displays produced through his weight that is helping move the elevator downwards are not considered permanent writing since the elevator is automatic and will by itself move to the next floor, thereby changing the floor number.

Any electricity being generated by the motor on the way down should be wasted through resistors. At this point we can use the elevator without violating any Biblical work.

The electric eye safety switch for the doors should be transistorized so that the sparks created will not be hot.

An A.C., non-sparking motor should be used. However, this will not solve the problem of the smaller motors used to open and close the doors and to grip the elevator when it stops level with the floor. The smaller motors create sparks.

In many cases, going up the stairs presents a health problem, but going down the stairs does not, unless there are too many stairs going down to the designated floor. Taking an automatic elevator up where the elevator is pulling the passenger against his weight violates less Sabbatical works than taking it down when his weight assists in bringing the cabin to a lower floor. The electric eye safety door switch is a general problem. When permitted to use an elevator one should try to enter or leave the cabin before the doors begin to close, if this is possible.

Taking an automatic elevator up violates two Rabbinical Sabbatical works, first: improving an implement, which is the motor in this case, since this increases its power, and second, causing unwanted sparks. If the main motor is a non-sparking A.C. motor, then it would theoretically be permitted on Yom Tov to take the elevator up. One must also decide if public opinion would frown on such an action and if there would be some who would use the elevator mistakenly on Sabbath due to his using it on Yom Tov. If, however, he will suffer by going up so many stairs, he may use it even if it uses a D.C. motor but only for Yom Tov. For the improvement of the health of a seriously ill person or to prevent someone from becoming ill it is permitted to use the elevator going up. If necessary, he may even use a manually operated electric elevator and press the buttons if the light produced when pressing the buttons and the floor number buttons do not use incandescent bulbs but LED or LCD lighting. Otherwise, he must ask a non-Jew to press the buttons for him. If this is impossible, he should press the button with closed eyes and in an unusual manner such as with his elbow and turn away so as not to benefit from seeing the button's light. When he hears the elevator door open he may turn towards the elevator, enter and press the floor button in an unusual manner with closed eyes and again turn away so as not be benefit from either the button's light or from the floor number lights. When the doors open, he must not look at the floor number display to see if he has stopped at the desired floor. He can either ask a non-Jew what floor it is or he may stand near the door and look for the painted floor number on the door post or the floor wall.

When taking an elevator down one's weight brings it down with the use of the motor. As the cabin weight increases the motor uses less power to counter the counterweight. If the cabin weight is more than the counterweight then the motor assists the initial lift off and thereafter, the combined weight of the cabin and people in the cabin move the elevator down. Therefore, the persons in the cabin are responsible for all the work being done on the way down. Even if the electricity being generated by the motor would be wasted, and even if the primary motor is a non-sparking A.C. motor, the fact remains that on the way down the cabin trips switches that activate the motors that stop the cabin aligned with the floor and open the doors. The cabin also trips switches that turn on and off the floor number bulbs, but this can be solved by using LED transistors displays. Therefore, he cannot use this elevator going down even on Yom Tov except if he will suffer pain when descending the stairs. On the Sabbath he can only use it for the improvement of the health of a seriously ill person to prevent a serious illness.

If the elevator is not automatic he is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to press the elevator buttons for him if he is going down. The reason is that his weight is still helping the elevator descend and thereby turning on and off switches that light up the floor number. Even if these lights were LCD they would still be creating meaningful symbols as numbers and this is a violation of the work of writing. Furthermore, this is considered permanent writing since the elevator can rest on that floor indefinitely with the same number displayed. With a seriously ill person we can permit him to press the button in an unusual manner with closed eyes and then turn so as not to benefit from the button's light. When he hears the elevator door open he may enter and press the floor button in an unusual manner with closed eyes and again turn away so as not to benefit from either the buttons lights or from the floor number display. When the doors open, he must not look at the floor number display to know if he stopped at the correct floor. He may stand near the door and look for the painted floor number on the door post or on the floor wall.

Escalators use an electric motor therefore, when a person steps on a step the load increases and the motor demands more electric current to increase the power. These are the same two Rabbinical works that are being done with ascending in an elevator. If the escalator is full then as one gets off at the top he is being replaced at the bottom so that the only difference in weight is the difference in weight between the one getting off and the one getting on. This however, may be a significant one hundred pounds or about 45 kilos, which would cause the motor to increase it's power and draw in more electrical current.

Theoretically, an escalator descending could incorporate the weight on the stairs to help it descend. This would reduce the amount of the electric current demanded by the motor and it would produce smaller sparks. This, however, would be considered improving the efficiency of the implement since it is now doing the same work using less power. Furthermore, people will say if it is permissible to use it descending, it is permissible to use it ascending.

Some escalators are designed not to function when they have no passengers and when the initial passenger steps on, the electric eye switch starts the motor and turns on a warning light that the escalator is in use. This light is not needed for the passenger, but it is a violation of a Rabbinical work.

As a general rule, an escalator can only be used on the Sabbath to improve the health of a seriously ill person or to prevent serious illness. On Yom-Tov, it can also be used to alleviate or prevent severe pain or discomfort.

Electric-eye door openers or floor mat switches that open a door when stepped on are forbidden to use on the Sabbath because through them he is activating a motor that does not turn off until he enters the door. It may be possible to enter by a side door. If not he must wait for a non-Jew to activate the switch and then enter the building before or with him. In the case of a seriously ill person who must enter immediately, whose health will be impaired otherwise, he may enter alone.

One who makes a permanent magnet on the Sabbath is guilty of violating the Biblical work of making an implement.

As a result of security concerns, numerous hotels (especially national chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Sheraton) have, in recent years, installed in hotel guest room doors a new type of lock which is opened not by a key but, by a card. Depending on the system, the card has either numerous holes punched through it or a magnetic strip (similar to that found on credit cards) on the back.

Several "halachic" questions need to be considered with regard to the use of electronically operated locks on Sabbath and Yom Tov or permissible alternatives. These are questions of generating an electric current that functionally changes an implement, finishing an implement, and doing a weekly mundane act ("uvda d'chol" and "moris ayen").

These "card keys" can be changed with ease in a machine that fits comfortably behind the front desk. Each new room occupant is issued a newly coded card. Once inserted in the door lock, it renders any previously used card key useless. Thus, a prior occupant can no longer gain entry to the room with an old "card key."

The internal mechanisms in these locks vary. Almost all operate on batteries or electric current. Some variations do operate purely mechanically. Still others are partially mechanical and partially electronic. There are also a few models that can be overridden by a standard key. This override key is, in essence, a pass key and is restricted for use by security personnel only. This key opens the door the same way as a regular mechanical key does. It also leaves the transistorized system intact for future use.

When the magnetically striped card is inserted into the lock, it activates transistor- type read switches (similar to an automatic teller machine). These read switches, in turn, open another transistorized switch which is connected to a battery. The battery activates an electromagnet which lifts the metal locking pin, making it possible to then turn the door knob and open the door. Each time the card is inserted, the lock's internal memory registers the code entered onto the card's magnetic strip (at check- in), and the date and time of insertion. Many systems have an added light indicator feature. It consists of a transistor light which glows green to indicate that the code has been read and approved by the read switches and that the door knob can now be turned to open the door. A red light indicates a wrong card or a system malfunction. A yellow light means that the room is locked from the inside.

These transistor lights produce no discernible heat and cannot ignite any combustible gas. The low current used in this system will not produce any sparks with discernible heat. Therefore, the transistor lights do not present a problem of producing a spark of fire on the Sabbath.

The information added to the electronic lock's memory when the card is inserted is not considered finishing the instrument since the person opening the door does not want this information. The information so added includes the card code and the date and hour of insertion. This is needed solely by hotel security personnel if, and when, there is a break-in. Once inside the room he locks the dead-bolt. The dead bolt will prevent anyone with a valid key-card from entering. When locked, it instructs the system not to open the switch and indicates if any valid card has been inserted and signals when someone in the room has locked the dead bolt. To signal, the lock displays a yellow LED glowing light. However, there is a halachic problem as a result of the prohibition against making a vessel or instrument on

Sabbath. This prohibition applies to two categories of implements. One is where the usage is derived from the shape of the vessel such as a pitcher or cabinet. The other is when usage is derived from the manner in which the instrument functions, for example, removing a glowing red-hot knife from a fire and placing it in cold water in order to harden the blade. With this newly hardened blade, the knife can now cut tougher meats. Thus, though there is no change in the shape of the knife, there is a functional change. Similarly, when one utilizes the magnetic card- key, the magnet inside the lock has been made into a new instrument (an electromagnet) by virtue of a change in its function. Likewise, the transistor light also creates a new information instrument. However, the system is not permanent because it turns itself off in a matter of seconds even if he fails to turn the knob. The same is true with the dead-bolt on the inside of the door. It is used to open and close readily at any time for as long as the guest wants. Therefore, his actions of opening and closing the lock or dead-bolt are in the category of using an implement and not in the category of making or improving an implement.

There are two Rabbinical prohibition against opening these locks, one is called "uvda d'chol" performing mundane weekday acts on the Sabbath and Yom Tov; and the other is called "moris ayen" people seeing him opening these types of locks will suspect him of doing a forbidden work. This is because not many are familiar with the engineering of these locks. Some of these security systems have a central monitor display that indicates which card was used to enter a room. If it uses LED bulbs the prohibition is the same. If it displays characters then there is a new prohibition of unintentionally creating temporary writing.

Once inside, there is no problem with operating the lock from inside since that operation by itself does not cause any discernible physical changes that may be deemed weekday/workday activities and it is being done in the privacy of his room.

Consequently, while one may not personally use the "card key," one may, depending on the circumstances, ask a non-Jew to insert the card for him. In such a situation, it is advisable to leave the key with the security personnel so as not to accidentally use it on Sabbath or Yom Tov. Furthermore, many hotels or motels have only desk service during business hours. If he finds himself locked out of his room at an hour of day when he cannot find a non-Jew to help him, he must not enter the room unless he needs to for reasons of health or to avoid severe pain. Situations in which he would be permitted to enter include, if he must take medicine immediately, if he is in danger because he lacks protection, or, if he feels greatly embarrassed to be out in the hotel lobby at this hour. The latter case is in the category of mental pain, which is equated with physical pain. Even in these instances, when permitted, he should try to open the door without any Jew seeing him open it and do it in an unusual manner such as inserting it by holding the card with two hands or between his fingers.

Therefore, if someone is travelling and can choose between hotels, he should seek out a hotel with standard keys and avoid hotels with electronic card keys. Especially when there is little or no difference in cost between the hotels, there is no valid reason to place oneself in a situation in which the only way to get into a room on the Sabbath is by asking a non- Jew to use the electronic key.

A remote-control switch that uses electromagnetic or radio waves is the same halachically as a manual switch since it is definite that due to his action the light will be turned on and he is using the switch in the way it was made to be used.

A switch that is built that may or may not work the first or second time but will work the third time, if he turns on the light the first or second time it is a Rabbinical violation, the third time is a Biblical violation.

We cannot state that a specific electric implement from a specific manufacturer is permitted. The reasons are, first, that even the same manufacturer often changes the design of his product, and, second, that a mechanic repairing it could make a change that would also change its halachic status. Therefore, any such implement would need constant supervision to insure that no changes are made that would render it prohibited to use on the Sabbath.

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