Before attempting fire control in an elevator machine room, what action must be secured?

• A. Power to the elevator has been disconnected
• B. All doors are closed
• C. The car is in a locked position
• D. The hoistway is clear of occupants

Answer: (A)

Isolating power to the elevator is the essential safety step before fire control. Disconnecting the elevator’s power removes all electrical energy from the hoist motor and control circuits, preventing the car from moving, doors from operating unexpectedly, or any electrical shock hazards while firefighters are working. This creates a safe baseline so manual fire control operations can be performed without the risk of the system re-energizing or moving on its own. In practice, this is done by cutting power at the main disconnect in the machine room (often with a lockout/tagout) and confirming de-energization before proceeding. Other steps like closing doors, locking the car, or ensuring the hoistway is clear are important for safety, but they do not eliminate the electrical hazards or unintended motion that de-energizing the system prevents.