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Construction Manlift Intercom SystemA construction elevator intercom system is usually a durable wireless intercom as shown below. Our Compact Wireless Callbox is placed on each floor of the building. This callbox can be battery powered using 3 D batteries for up to 7000 transmissions or about a year. It uses standard D batteries that are available anywhere batteries are sold. It can also be powered by an optional 12 volt power supply and cable. Batteries can still be used for backup power. During the construction phase of a new building, temporary man hoist elevators are usually put in place to lift workers between the floors of the building. Since the elevator does not automatically go to a floor when someone needs a ride, we have a wireless solution for the workers and the elevator operator to use.

There is often no convenient power on the individual floors so battery powered devices are desirable.

Many systems require wires to be run to each floor and then also to the elevator itself. With a wired system problems with the the wire can develop since the elevator is constantly moving up and down. This is one of the reasons a wireless system is desired.
Construction Lift Intercom

Wireless Construction Elevator Intercom

Callbox for building floors

These callboxes are left in an auto-turnoff mode so they will not receive any transmissions unless the call button is first pressed to wake them up. So every floor will not hear the communications between the worker and the operator.

What goes in the elevator car depends on whether there is power in there or not. You could just use another callbox but it would have to be taken out of the auto turnoff mode so the batteries would only last a week or so. The callbox would really need to be powered via 12 volts DC.

Another option is our Commercial Base Station. It also requires 12Volts DC. It is not weatherproof like the callbox would be. It can be mounted to the wall of the elevator.Radio for Elevator Car

The third option is a handheld two-way radio. The operator would wear it on his belt and he could use a headset or shoulder lapel microphone to talk to people.

There are two different frequencies this equipment is available in, either MURS or UHF. The MURS equipment does not require an FCC license but antenna height of MURS equipment is not supposed to be over 60 feet. The MURS VHF signals can also travel for many miles, so for buildings that are really high this means you could pick up interference from many miles away. So we recommend you only use this for 6 stories or less.

So in most cases we recommend UHF equipment. It does require hiring a license coordinator to get a 10 year license but in large cities that have a high amount of two-way radio traffic, this will give you a more reliable system.

See more info and pricing here:
UHF Construction Elevator Intercom
MURS Construction Elevator Intercom

If your construction elevators move around to different areas you will need what is called an "itinerant" license, which means it can travel around. These licenses don't guarantee you a clear frequency like a standard license so you may be sharing a frequency in areas. Our equipment has privacy codes that can be used along with the frequency you use so unless that code is transmitted when the call button is pressed, the speaker on the receiving device will remain turned off. A 10-year license costs $450 for multiple frequencies, and it will work for any number of devices you want.
Give us a call to let us help you choose the right equipment for you!