2N: Safety for Elevators in Europe’s Tallest Building

Warsaw’s new architectural icon, the Varso Tower, is, at a height of 310 metres, the European Union’s tallest building. With 53 floors, it’s not only a prestigious business hub, it also offers an amazing observation deck on the top. And moving people quickly and safely between floors requires the most advanced lift technologies. The project developer selected the market leader in high-rise elevators, Schindler Elevators, to install 29 lifts (two of which are evacuation lifts in case of fire) in this spectacular building, with one of the top priorities being a proven and reliable emergency system.

Schindler Elevators defined the following requirements for the lift emergency system:

• A comprehensive, modular, expandable system

• An integrated solution for fire-fighter interventions

• A wide range of communication interfaces

• Simple reliable access for employees with predefined rights

• Easy installation

• A cost-effective solution

Two-wire Communication Bus and Integration with Emergency Connection

The Varso Tower has acquired a highly reliable and modular lift emergency call system. The simple two-wire communication bus makes this solution stand out for its ease of connectivity and cost-effectiveness.

The system provides additional options for further communication interfaces and technologies that can be added in the future, without having to replace the whole system.

The fireman communication unit is in place for fire-fighter interventions. It ensures that, in an emergency, a connection with the cabin communicator and machine room in the same lift shaft can be established very quickly.

The solution meets all applicable EU standards (EN 81-72 in addition to EN 81-28).

Access Control System as Additional Upgrade

83 IP intercoms from 2N were also installed to upgrade the access control system, at the main entrance to the Tower and on each floor at the main doorway of companies renting the building. The 2N products that have been installed in the Varso Tower

2N Lift8 - Central Unit and 2N IP Vario

The 2N Lift 8 Central Unit was selected for the emergency communication. It’s a highly modular lift communication system that only needs a two-wire bus and therefore does not increase the requirements for travelling cable. The system comes with its own application for surveillance; 2N Call Centre software can be supplied as well.

Up to 8 lift shafts can be connected to one 2N Lift8 – Central Unit. Each shaft can have up to six communicators.

It also offers a wide range of communication interfaces, including PSTN/GSM/UMTS/IP. The communication interface can be changed on a modular basis, without having to replace the whole system.

Within each of the shafts, it’s possible to run a conference call between all of the connected units, including the unit in the machine room. This makes service maintenance easier and is a 2N smart enhancement for the emergency communication system.

The fireman communication unit operates during fire-fighter interventions. It activates a top priority call and allows you to establish a connection with the cabin communicator and machine room in the same lift shaft.

The system can be extended by additional I/O modules, a camera module, or an RS232 module. In addition to audio units, the building administrator can remotely monitor the status of the lift controller.

83 IP intercoms from 2N were also installed to upgrade the access control system, at the main entrance to the Tower and on each floor at the main doorway of companies renting the building.