Home elevators and the gap that traps children

Many home elevators have two doors on each floor, the outer door on the landing and a door or folding gate on the car itself. If the space between them is too deep, a child can step into it and close the outer door without opening the car door. When the elevator is called to another floor, the child is trapped between the doors as the car moves. Children aged 2 to 12 have been crushed to death in this gap, and others have been left with lifelong injuries. Home elevators are common in multilevel houses, townhouses, vacation homes and rentals, and large houses turned into inns or bed-and-breakfasts.

Check the gap

• Know the limitThe gap between the outer door and the car door or gate should be no more than 4 inches deep.
• Find out whether yours is recalledAbout 69,000 home elevators were recalled in 2022 for this gap, and their makers offer free space guards.
• Have it inspectedIf you're not sure of the gap, have a qualified elevator inspector check it and the elevator's other hazards.

Until it's checked

• Lock the elevatorLock it in a position where it can't be used, or lock every access door to it.
• Keep young children away from itDon't let them use or play in the elevator unsupervised.

Close a deep gap

• Ask for a space guardA space guard fits on the back of the outer door and fills the gap. Contact the elevator's maker or an elevator installer.
• Or ask about an electronic sensorA monitoring device can shut the elevator off when it detects a child in the gap.

In someone else's house

• Check the gap before the children are near itVacation homes, rentals and inns often have home elevators. Look at the gap between the doors when you arrive.
• Keep them away if it's deepIf the gap looks deeper than 4 inches, keep young children out of the elevator for the stay.

Report any incident with a home elevator at SaferProducts.gov, or call CPSC at 800-638-2772.