Safety Risks of Large Elevator Door Sill Gaps & How to Fix Them
During daily elevator operation and inspections, the gap at the elevator landing door sill is often an overlooked detail—yet it can pose serious safety risks. When the gap between the landing door sill and the car sill is too large, it not only affects passenger comfort when entering or exiting the elevator, but may also lead to tripping or foot-trapping accidents.
As a professional elevator & escalator parts supplier, A-FLY has found through extensive maintenance and modernization projects that this issue is especially common in older elevators.
1. What Is the Elevator Landing Door Sill Gap?
The elevator landing door sill is the structural component installed at the bottom of the landing door. Together with the car sill, it forms the transition area for passengers entering and exiting the elevator.
A properly designed sill gap allows normal door operation and accommodates minor running deviations. However, an excessive gap can directly compromise passenger safety.
2. Main Safety Risks of an Excessive Landing Door Sill Gap
1. Increased risk of tripping and foot entrapment
When the gap is too large, shoe heels, soles, or stroller wheels can easily get caught, causing trips or falls—especially in high-traffic locations.
2. Barriers to accessible passage
For wheelchairs, luggage, or baby strollers, an oversized sill gap creates a noticeable obstacle and fails to meet accessibility requirements.
3. Abnormal wear of the door system
An excessive gap is often associated with wear of the car sill, landing sill, or door sliders. Over time, this accelerates failure of the elevator door system.
4. Non-compliance with safety standards
Many elevator safety codes and inspection requirements specify clear limits for sill and car-sill gaps. Exceeding these limits may cause the elevator to fail annual inspections or require mandatory corrective actions.
3. Common Causes of an Excessive Sill Gap
Based on field maintenance experience, the most common causes include:
Long service life resulting in natural wear of the sill and car sill
Insufficient installation accuracy during initial construction
Car misalignment due to poor guide shoe or guide rail condition
Aging or deformation of door system components such as door sliders and rollers
Therefore, simply adjusting the door panels rarely solves the problem at its root.
4. Effective Ways to Improve the Landing Door Sill Gap
1. Replace or repair the landing door sill and car sill
If the sill surface is severely worn or deformed, replacing it with a new, standard-compliant sill is recommended to restore the designed gap.
2. Inspect key door system components simultaneously
When correcting the sill gap, related components should be checked at the same time, including:
Guide shoes and guide rail condition
This avoids repeated corrective work caused by addressing symptoms rather than root causes.
3. Correct the car running alignment
If significant car offset is present, guide shoes and guide shoe liners should be inspected to ensure smooth and stable car travel along the guide rails.
4. Use high-precision, wear-resistant sill components
High-quality sill materials reduce secondary wear and significantly extend service life.
5. A-FLY — Your Reliable Supplier of Elevator Door System Components
As an experienced elevator & escalator parts supplier, A-FLY provides global customers with:
Elevator landing door sills and car sills
Door sliders, door rollers, and complete door system components
Guide shoes and guide shoe liners for stable operation
A-FLY products are widely used in residential buildings, commercial properties, and elevator modernization projects. They are compatible with multiple elevator brands and support OEM / ODM customization and global delivery, helping customers complete safety improvements efficiently.
Conclusion
Although the elevator landing door sill gap may seem like a minor detail, it directly affects passenger safety at their feet. Only by accurately identifying the cause, replacing the appropriate elevator components, and working with a professional supplier can these risks be eliminated at the root.
Choose A-FLY to make every elevator entry and exit safer, smoother, and more reassuring.
