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New York Elevator Inspector Practice Exam – 100 Questions
Section 1: Elevator Fundamentals (Q1–20)
1. What is the primary function of an elevator governor?
A) Control motor speed
B) Detect overspeed and activate safety gear
C) Level the car at floors
D) Open doors automatically
Answer: B — The governor mechanically detects overspeed and trips the safety mechanism.
2. Which elevator type uses a counterweight and hoisting ropes?
A) Hydraulic
B) Traction
C) Vacuum
D) Pneumatic
Answer: B — Traction elevators use ropes and a counterweight for movement.
3. What does the term "rated load" mean?
A) Weight of the car
B) Maximum load the elevator is designed to carry
C) Counterweight weight
D) Motor capacity
Answer: B — Rated load is the maximum designed carrying capacity.
4. What is the purpose of a buffer?
A) Reduce noise
B) Absorb impact if the car or counterweight overtravels downward
C) Guide the car
D) Support the motor
Answer: B — Buffers absorb kinetic energy at the bottom of travel.
5. Oil buffers are required when car speed exceeds:
A) 50 fpm
B) 100 fpm
C) 200 fpm
D) 500 fpm
Answer: C — Oil buffers are generally required above 200 fpm.
6. What is the function of a door interlock?
A) Lock the car
B) Prevent car movement unless doors are closed and locked
C) Open doors
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D) Detect passengers
Answer: B — Interlocks prevent operation with doors open.
7. What does "travel" refer to?
A) Distance between bottom and top landings
B) Car speed
C) Rope length
D) Motor rotation
Answer: A — Travel is the vertical distance the car moves.
8. A hydraulic elevator moves using:
A) Ropes
B) Fluid pressure in a cylinder
C) Magnets
D) Belts
Answer: B — Hydraulic elevators use fluid-driven pistons.
9. What is a "machine room"?
A) Passenger area
B) Space housing driving machine and controls
C) Hoistway
D) Pit
Answer: B — The machine room contains the driving machine and controller.
10. What is the pit?
A) Top of hoistway
B) Space below the lowest landing
C) Machine room
D) Car ceiling
Answer: B — The pit is the space below the lowest landing.
11. What is "roping" in a traction elevator?
A) Rope configuration (1:1, 2:1)
B) Braking system
C) Door system
D) Governor type
Answer: A — Roping describes rope reeving ratios.
12. What does "counterweight" balance?
A) Car weight plus a percentage of rated load
B) Motor
C) Governor
D) Doors
Answer: A — Counterweight balances car plus ~40-50% of rated load.
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13. What is "leveling"?
A) Aligning car floor with landing floor
B) Rope tension
C) Motor speed
D) Door timing
Answer: A — Leveling aligns car and landing floors.
14. What is the maximum allowable leveling variance typically?
A) ±1/2 inch
B) ±2 inches
C) ±5 inches
D) ±10 inches
Answer: A — Generally ±1/2 inch.
15. A "dumbwaiter" is:
A) Passenger elevator
B) Small freight elevator for light materials
C) Escalator
D) Dumb terminal
Answer: B — A dumbwaiter carries light materials.
16. What is a "sidewalk elevator"?
A) Outdoor passenger elevator
B) Elevator for street-level loading
C) Escalator
D) Dumbwaiter
Answer: B — Used for street-level freight loading.
17. What is "rise" in an escalator?
A) Vertical height between landings
B) Step width
C) Handrail speed
D) Balustrade height
Answer: A — Rise is vertical height.
18. Escalator steps are driven by:
A) Ropes
B) Chains and sprockets
C) Hydraulics
D) Magnets
Answer: B — Escalator steps are chain-driven.
19. What is a "comb plate"?
A) Step
New York Elevator Inspector Practice Exam – 100 Questions
Section 1: Elevator Fundamentals (Q1–20)
1. What is the primary function of an elevator governor?
A) Control motor speed
B) Detect overspeed and activate safety gear
C) Level the car at floors
D) Open doors automatically
Answer: B — The governor mechanically detects overspeed and trips the safety mechanism.
2. Which elevator type uses a counterweight and hoisting ropes?
A) Hydraulic
B) Traction
C) Vacuum
D) Pneumatic
Answer: B — Traction elevators use ropes and a counterweight for movement.
3. What does the term "rated load" mean?
A) Weight of the car
B) Maximum load the elevator is designed to carry
C) Counterweight weight
D) Motor capacity
Answer: B — Rated load is the maximum designed carrying capacity.
4. What is the purpose of a buffer?
A) Reduce noise
B) Absorb impact if the car or counterweight overtravels downward
C) Guide the car
D) Support the motor
Answer: B — Buffers absorb kinetic energy at the bottom of travel.
5. Oil buffers are required when car speed exceeds:
A) 50 fpm
B) 100 fpm
C) 200 fpm
D) 500 fpm
Answer: C — Oil buffers are generally required above 200 fpm.
6. What is the function of a door interlock?
A) Lock the car
B) Prevent car movement unless doors are closed and locked
C) Open doors
, 2
D) Detect passengers
Answer: B — Interlocks prevent operation with doors open.
7. What does "travel" refer to?
A) Distance between bottom and top landings
B) Car speed
C) Rope length
D) Motor rotation
Answer: A — Travel is the vertical distance the car moves.
8. A hydraulic elevator moves using:
A) Ropes
B) Fluid pressure in a cylinder
C) Magnets
D) Belts
Answer: B — Hydraulic elevators use fluid-driven pistons.
9. What is a "machine room"?
A) Passenger area
B) Space housing driving machine and controls
C) Hoistway
D) Pit
Answer: B — The machine room contains the driving machine and controller.
10. What is the pit?
A) Top of hoistway
B) Space below the lowest landing
C) Machine room
D) Car ceiling
Answer: B — The pit is the space below the lowest landing.
11. What is "roping" in a traction elevator?
A) Rope configuration (1:1, 2:1)
B) Braking system
C) Door system
D) Governor type
Answer: A — Roping describes rope reeving ratios.
12. What does "counterweight" balance?
A) Car weight plus a percentage of rated load
B) Motor
C) Governor
D) Doors
Answer: A — Counterweight balances car plus ~40-50% of rated load.
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13. What is "leveling"?
A) Aligning car floor with landing floor
B) Rope tension
C) Motor speed
D) Door timing
Answer: A — Leveling aligns car and landing floors.
14. What is the maximum allowable leveling variance typically?
A) ±1/2 inch
B) ±2 inches
C) ±5 inches
D) ±10 inches
Answer: A — Generally ±1/2 inch.
15. A "dumbwaiter" is:
A) Passenger elevator
B) Small freight elevator for light materials
C) Escalator
D) Dumb terminal
Answer: B — A dumbwaiter carries light materials.
16. What is a "sidewalk elevator"?
A) Outdoor passenger elevator
B) Elevator for street-level loading
C) Escalator
D) Dumbwaiter
Answer: B — Used for street-level freight loading.
17. What is "rise" in an escalator?
A) Vertical height between landings
B) Step width
C) Handrail speed
D) Balustrade height
Answer: A — Rise is vertical height.
18. Escalator steps are driven by:
A) Ropes
B) Chains and sprockets
C) Hydraulics
D) Magnets
Answer: B — Escalator steps are chain-driven.
19. What is a "comb plate"?
A) Step
