An elevator brake is a fail-safe electromagnetic brake mounted on the traction machine that holds the car stationary at a landing and stops it during normal or emergency stopping. It is spring-applied and electrically released: when power is removed the springs clamp the brake drum or disc, so the lift is held safely even during a power failure. EN 81-20 requires two independent braking elements, each capable of stopping the car alone. Brake condition monitoring is mandatory on modern installations.