See how field preparations and careful coordination enabled FAAF Enterprises to execute a challenging and creative installation at the Gouffre de Padirac
Located in the Occitanie region of southwest France, the Gouffre de Padirac (or the Padirac Chasm) is one of the country’s most popular natural sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. When tasked with modernizing the lowermost elevator that brings visitors to the bottom of the chasm, FAAF Enterprises developed a tailored solution to overcome the site’s monumental scale and exposed operating conditions.
Unique Requirements
Due to the rocky conditions within the Gouffre de Padirac, there are a total of three elevators connecting the site lobby to the floor of the chasm, along with an additional unit reserved for tour guides.
In 2020, with an ever-increasing number of tourists, the staff decided to renovate the lowermost elevator, which was beginning to show signs of wear. With a location that’s both difficult to access and exposed to climatic conditions, transporting the necessary equipment for the installation would prove challenging. On top of that, the procedure had to be carried out in the middle of winter to avoid disrupting the site’s tourist season.
Innovation
By combining extensive technical expertise with a proven ability to work in remote environments, FAAF Enterprises was able to meet the complex challenges of this installation.
To do so, field teams conducted a study of the site in 2019 and used the results to develop a customized plan for the project. This included the usage of a crane, supplied and operated by Bovis Company, to lower the heaviest components along the vertical wall of the chasm.
For eight weeks, FAAF Enterprises personnel worked through harsh conditions to bring the elevator system into complete regulatory conformity within the required timeframe.
Overcoming Extreme Conditions to Ensure Safety and Reliability at One of France’s Most Unique Natural Heritage Sites
An Underground Marvel That Has Captivated Visitors for Over a Hundred Years
Discovered in 1889 by explorer Édouard-Alfred Martel, the Gouffre de Padirac is an immense chasm and underground cave system located near Gramat, in the heart of France’s Dordogne Valley.
Every year, nearly half a million visitors descend 75 meters via elevator or staircase before exploring its underground river and galleries.
With limestone rock walls, massive caverns, and impressive stalactites—one of which is over 60 meters long—it’s no wonder that the Gouffre de Padirac is regarded as one of the region’s most extraordinary natural phenomena.
Environmental Challenges
The unique geological and environmental conditions of the site created a series of complications for this renovation project.
To begin with, the elevators operate in exposed conditions, including rain, snow, wind, frost, and a constant 98% humidity. When it rains, water runs down the hoistway walls and can lead to flooding during times of high precipitation.
This means that any new equipment or wiring has to be watertight to ensure long-term durability.
Solution
From the Eiffel Tower to our work on iconic buildings in Paris’s La Défense business district, customers across France have trusted FAAF Enterprises to take on some of the country’s most challenging cultural heritage projects. The renovation we performed at the Gouffre de Padirac was yet another demonstration of our ability to apply deep expertise and careful planning to a project with strict requirements.
Among the improvements made were:
- The addition of galvanized cables capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.
- Stainless-steel cab doors designed to avoid corrosion.
- A new heavy traction motor.
- A sensor system for detecting flooding at the bottom of the hoistway.
Together, these upgrades increased the elevator’s reliability and ensured regulatory conformity and proper operation—all in time for the site’s reopening in spring 2021.
Ongoing Service and Support
FAAF Enterprises is now providing ongoing service and support for all four of the elevators onsite. Our trained service employees perform regular upkeep and maintenance throughout the year to ensure each unit operates correctly.
The team also conducts an annual, two-week, in-depth maintenance phase every spring, prior to the site’s reopening. With a continuous stock of spare parts kept at the location, we’re able to execute repairs quickly and efficiently to minimize disruptions.
