Critical Recalled September 29, 2022

Custom Elevator Recalls Residential Elevators Due to Child Entrapment Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death to Young Children; One Death Reported

The hazard

Young children can become entrapped in the space between the exterior landing (hoistway) door and the interior elevator car door or gate if there is a hazardous gap between the doors and suffer serious injuries or death when the elevator is called to another floor.

Incidents reported: In July 2021, a 7-year-old child died in a vacation home in North Carolina after becoming entrapped in a residential elevator.

What to do now

Repair

Consumers should keep young children away from the recalled residential elevators and contact Custom Elevator for instructions on how to measure for space guards to correct any hazardous gap. Space guards will be provided free of charge and assistance with space guard installation will be provided upon request.

Contact: Custom Elevator toll-free at 888-443-2800 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at spaceguards@customelevatorinc.com or online at www.homeelevator-recall.com/customelevator or www.customelevatorinc.com and click on "Important Recall Notice" for more information and for those specific elevators subject to the recall.

About this recall

This recall involves select Custom Elevator residential elevators with either hydraulic drives (HYD) or winding drum drives (WD). The Custom Elevator brand name is located on the controllers and hydraulic power unit. The elevators are used in consumers' homes.

Product photos

Residential Elevator with Space Between the Exterior Landing (Hoistway) Door and Interior Elevator Car (Accordion) Door. A young child can become entrapped if there is a hazardous gap between the doors.
Residential Elevator with Space Between the Exterior Landing (Hoistway) Door and Interior Elevator Car (Accordion) Door. A young child can become entrapped if there is a hazardous gap between the doors.
Scenario depicting a child trapped between an exterior landing (hoistway) door and an interior elevator car door due to a hazardous gap. The exterior door locks the young child in the hazardous space between the doors when the elevator is called to another floor, putting the child at risk of being crushed or pinned and suffering serious injuries or death.
Scenario depicting a child trapped between an exterior landing (hoistway) door and an interior elevator car door due to a hazardous gap. The exterior door locks the young child in the hazardous space between the doors when the elevator is called to another floor, putting the child at risk of being crushed or pinned and suffering serious injuries or death.

Photos: U.S. CPSC