Elevator emergency communication should be inclusive

Elevators occasionally break down, leaving passengers trapped for extended periods – a challenge for individuals with hearing or speech impairments.

Traditional communication systems often failing to provide accessible solutions in such emergencies. To address this, the Prague-based company 2N has introduced the elevator system 2N Sentrio.

The Prague-based company 2N, part of Axis Group, aims to tackle this problem with the 2N Sentrio – their latest IP-based emergency communicator, fully compliant with ASME A17.1-2022 and EN 81-28. With its 7" display, the 2N Sentrio provides two-way audio communication, enhanced by video from an external IP camera.

Protects privacy

This allows the operator to monitor the situation inside the elevator cabin when something happens – but protects privacy by making the video stream unavailable day-to-day. For hearing-impaired passengers, a multilingual text chat in their preferred language makes assistance more accessible.

"We made 2N Sentrio to make elevator safety truly inclusive. The new system caters to all users thanks to its support of both VoIP audio calls and text communication. We are aiming to set a new baseline for emergency communication technology," said Michal Kratochvíl, CEO of 2N.

Real-time multilingual chat

By connecting to the 2N Elevator Center cloud portal, the 2N Sentrio is automatically configured from a pre-loaded template and operators gain complete control over alarm calls through an intuitive interface. It features live video streaming from the elevator car, real-time multilingual chat with trapped passengers using predefined questions, and access to chat history supplemented by video recordings.

For compliance with the European standard, a top shaft and under cabin audio unit can be added. In mid-2025, the 2N Sentrio Lobby unit will be launched, facilitating direct on-site communication in high-rise buildings.

Completing the solution is the 2N LiftGate, which ensures stable data connectivity for uninterrupted communication between the cabin and the dispatching center. Together, 2N Sentrio and 2N LiftGate form a fully IP-based system for elevator emergency communication, meeting compliance standards such as IEC 62443-4-1 and 62443-4-2.

More information: 2n.com/en-GB/