In this episode, I interviewed Kevin Cunningham, an elevator professional and entrepreneur who, along with his partner Tim Toan, turned a critical safety challenge into a mission to safeguard lives.
Their product, HydraSafe Brake, is a device designed to prevent unintended ascending movement in elevators, mandated by the A17.3-2020 elevator code. It uses disc brakes to clamp onto rails in case of brake failure. It is particularly useful in hospitals and public buildings, where safety is paramount.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
1:38 – The Mission: Turning Safety Problems Into Solutions
2:25 – What Is Unintended Elevator Movement?
3:04 – How the Safety Device Works
4:05 – Future Features
5:04 – Why Elevator Safety Needed Innovation
5:27 – What Happens When Elevator Brakes Fail
6:20 – How This Differs from Rope Brakes & Other Systems
6:30 – How Safety Codes Are Driving Demand (A17.3-2020)
7:06 – Where These Devices Are Required (States & Cities)
8:06 – The Risk in Hydraulic Elevators Explained
9:23 – How the Device Detects and Stops Failures
9:35 – Hospital Elevator Failure Incident
10:27 – Why Hospitals & Public Buildings Are Adopting It
11:33 – Cost vs. Liability: The Business Case for Safety
12:24 – The Hidden Risk in Older Elevators
13:25 – Selling Safety: Reaching Building Owners
14:06 – Installation Time & Labor Costs Explained
15:29 – Comparing Installation vs. Other Safety Devices
16:03 – Can the Device Be Reused After Modernization?
16:39 – Where to Learn More About Hydra Safe Brake
17:22 – Training, Certifications & Industry Education
17:59 – Final Advice
19:02 – Closing Thoughts
Resources:
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