The Hidden Enemy: How Internal Corrosion Destroys Elevator Ropes from the Inside Out

 When you step into a lift, you trust that the elevator ropes holding the cabin are strong enough to keep you safe. However, there is a hidden danger that even the most experienced building managers sometimes miss: internal corrosion. This "silent enemy" eats away at the metal from the inside, making it possible for a cable to look perfectly fine on the outside while it is actually rotting away at its core.

Why the Inside Matters

An elevator cable is not just one thick piece of metal. It is made of hundreds of tiny steel wires twisted together into "strands," which are then wrapped around a center piece called a core. This design makes the cable flexible so it can move smoothly over pulleys.

The problem is that these tiny gaps between the wires can trap moisture, salt, or humid air. Once water gets inside, it stays there. Because the inside never dries out, rust begins to grow where no one can see it. As the elevator moves, these rusty wires rub against each other like sandpaper, wearing the metal down until the cable becomes brittle and weak.

The Warning Sign: What is "Rouge"?

During a standard check, a technician might wipe the cable with a cloth to look for snags. But with an elevator wire rope, the biggest danger doesn't always cause a snag. Instead, you might see a fine, reddish-brown dust appearing on the surface.

In the industry, we call this "rouge." It looks like cocoa powder, but it’s actually a sign that the inside of your cable is grinding itself to dust. If you see rouge, it means the internal wires are already damaged. Waiting for the cable to "look" broken on the outside is a big mistake, as the strength of the cable is already much lower than it should be.

Protecting Your Investment

To stop this from happening, it all starts with how a lifting wire is maintained. When these cables are made, they are soaked in a special grease. This grease does two jobs: it helps the wires move without friction and acts as a shield against moisture.

Over time, this grease can dry out or get squeezed out by the heavy weight of the elevator. Building owners need to make sure their maintenance teams apply the right kind of lubricant. You don't want a thick grease that just sits on top; you need a thin, penetrating oil that can soak deep into the center to keep the "hidden enemy" of rust away.

Modern Safety Checks

Today, we don't have to guess what's happening inside the steel. Experts now use magnetic sensors that can "see" through the metal. These tools can tell exactly how much of the internal wire has been lost to rust. This technology allows building managers to replace cables exactly when needed—not too early, and certainly not too late.

Final Thoughts: Safety First

Keeping an elevator running smoothly is about more than just fixing buttons or lights. It’s about ensuring the parts we can’t see are just as healthy as the ones we can. By catching rust early and using the right cleaning methods, you can ensure that every lift rope in your building stays strong, quiet, and—most importantly—safe for everyone.