Electrical surges can cause significant damage to elevator systems, leading to costly repairs, downtime, and confusion about who’s responsible and how did it happen. Was it truly an electrical surge, or just equipment failure? Who bears the liability, property management, the elevator service provider, or someone else? How do you prove the cause? And most importantly, how do you prevent future surges?
Let’s help you navigate the complexities of elevator electrical surges.
What Causes Elevator Electrical Surges?
An electrical surge is a sudden spike in voltage that can overwhelm and damage sensitive elevator components like control boards, motors, and circuit breakers. Common causes include:
- Lightning Strikes: External power surges from weather events.
- Utility Grid Issues: Voltage fluctuations or power outages.
- Building System Faults: Malfunctioning internal systems like HVAC units.
- Backup Power Activation: Improperly configured generators or emergency power systems.
These surges can lead to prolonged downtime, costly repairs, and tenant dissatisfaction, making prevention and quick resolution critical.
What Should I Do After an Elevator Electrical Surge?
Here are the steps to manage and mitigate the damage caused by an electrical surge:
- Inspect Safely for Immediate Damage:
- Look for visible signs like burnt control boards, melted wiring, or tripped breakers. These are often indicators of a surge.
- Document the Incident:
- Photograph the damage, collect maintenance logs, and record building electrical system data. Proper documentation is invaluable for insurance claims and discussions with service providers.
- Have a Proper Personnel Survey the Equipment:
- Conducting a survey to differentiate between surge-related damage and equipment failure. Proper testing of the elevator equipment may be needed to pin point the failure, if possible.
- Call your Elevator Service Provider
- Contact your current elevator service provider and have them provide a proposal for damage. Be careful not to give authorization on work as it may not be covered or needed and you may incur unnecessary cost.
- Engage an Elevator Consultant:
- You may feel that this is complex and you may want to contact an elevator consultant can assess the damage and determine if it was caused by an electrical surge or equipment failure. This distinction is crucial for resolving insurance claims and liability disputes.
- Contact Your Insurance Provider:
- If you suspect an external surge, file an insurance claim if you have the proper insurance. Insurance companies often engage their own consultants having your elevator consultant ensures you’re prepared.
- Check Surge Protection Systems:
- First, do you have the proper surge protection installed?
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- For traction elevators, confirm that surge protection devices (SPDs) were installed on control systems and emergency power circuits.
- For hydraulic elevators, ensure that soft starters are functional and installed.
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How an Elevator Consultant Can Help
An elevator consultant plays a critical role in managing electrical surge incidents:
- Damage Assessment:
Elevator Consultants can distinguish between surge-related damage, equipment failure, and regular wear and tear, providing an unbiased assessment that is essential for assigning liability. - Insurance Claim Support:
- Many insurance companies involve their elevator consultant consultants in evaluating claims. Your elevator consultant can serve as your advocate, presenting clear documentation and analysis to support your claim.
- Elevator Consultants who also work with insurance companies understand their processes.
- Service Provider Evaluation:
- If the damage could have been mitigated by better service or maintenance, an elevator consultant can investigate and provide recommendations or help assist in holding the service provider accountable.
- Preventive Measures:
Consultants can recommend and help implement surge protection solutions, modernize outdated systems, and establish preventive maintenance schedules to reduce future risks.
Preventing Elevator Electrical Surges
Prevention is always better than repair. Here’s how to protect your elevators from future surges:
- Install Surge Protection Devices (SPDs):
- Traction Elevators: Ensure SPDs are installed properly.
- Hydraulic Elevators: The use of soft starters helps reduce problems associated with electrical spikes. SPDs provide an additional layer of protection.
- Regularly Inspect and Test SPDs:
- Surge protection systems should be tested during routine maintenance to ensure they’re operational. Replace or upgrade SPDs as needed.
- Upgrade Outdated Systems:
- Older elevators are more vulnerable to surge damage. Modernizing your system improves resilience and often adds built-in protection.
- It should also be noted that some elevator service providers have specific equipment to help stop protect equipment from electrical surges.
- Audit Electrical Systems:
- Work with an elevator consultant to audit your building’s electrical systems and elevator infrastructure.
- Maintain Backup Power Systems:
- Test emergency generators and ensure they are configured to avoid creating surges when activated.
- Comprehensive Maintenance Contracts:
- Work with your service provider to include surge protection coverage is in your elevator maintenance agreement.
- Educate Stakeholders:
- Building owners, property managers, and maintenance staff should understand the importance of surge protection and proactive maintenance to prevent future issues.
What Are the Costs of Doing Nothing?
Failing to address surge protection can result in:
- Expensive Repairs: Damage to control boards, motors, and other critical components can cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Downtime Costs: Downtime inconveniences tenants and can lead to lost revenue for commercial properties.
- Insurance Claim Denials: Without proper documentation or evidence of a surge, claims may be denied.
- Reputation Damage: Prolonged elevator outages can damage a building’s reputation and tenant satisfaction.
- Safety Risks: Surge-related damage may cause unsafe operating conditions, increasing liability.
Key Takeaways
An electrical surge to an elevator system can be a complex issue, but taking the right steps can mitigate damage, ensure accountability, and prevent future problems. An elevator consulting is a critical ally in assessing damage, navigating insurance claims, and recommending preventive measures like SPDs, upgrades, and proactive maintenance.
By acting promptly and working with experts, property managers can protect their investments, avoid unnecessary downtime, and ensure tenant safety and satisfaction.
Need expert help with elevator surge damage or prevention? Contact us today to connect with an experienced elevator consultant and safeguard your elevator systems!