Method and apparatus for checking states in an elevator installation

An elevator installation, comprising:

• a cage;
• a counterweight;
• a drive;
• a support element coupled to the cage and the counterweight, the support element being driven by the drive, the support element comprising a casing, a tensile carrier and a test element, the test element being constructed as a separate element from the tensile carrier, the test element being in the casing of the support element, a tension loading being substantially accepted by the tensile carrier,
• a contacting device, the contacting device being electrically connected to the test element;
• and
• a measuring device for an electrical resistance of the test element, the measuring device being connected to the test element, the electrical resistance of the test element being changeable according to a stretching of the test element, the elevator installation using a determined electrical resistance of the test element to determine an elevator state for at least one of loading of the cage, support element slack, support element damage, and a tension difference between the support element and a further support element.