Tag Archives: Elevator Due Diligence

How Regular Maintenance Can Prolong the Lifespan of Elevators

Elevator maintenance is essential, and it plays a key role to an elevator’s lifespan. Regular maintenance can ensure that elevators, escalators, lifts, and dumbwaiters will continue to operate safely and reliably. Regular maintenance will not only address immediate issues, it will also significantly contribute to prolonging the lifespan of the elevators. Elevator service providers will perform the maintenance; however, it is the owners of the buildings, the property managers, or the building engineers that are responsible for making sure that the service providers are showing up and conducting the appropriate maintenance needed to achieve a desirable lifespan. An elevator consultant can provide guidance to the building that will ensure that service providers are showing up and taking the right steps to maintain and protect the lifespan of each lift. Let us look at why regular maintenance is crucial and how it can help extend the lifespan of elevators.

1. Identifying and Addressing Issues Early

Regular maintenance involves thorough surveying, analyzing, and servicing of elevator components. By conducting these routine checks, maintenance professionals can identify potential issues early on. A skilled service technician will know the different elevator manufacturers, and their knowledge is impeccable – as they understand what it takes to maintain elevators. Promptly identifying and addressing minor problems can prevent an issue from escalating into major and costly repairs down the line. Additionally, early detection of maintenance issues will help to ensure the safety of elevator passengers while minimizing any downtimes. When choosing a service provider, it is important to identify a company who has prior experience with the elevators or escalators in your building.

2. Preventing Wear and Tear

Due to incessant operation, elevators endure significant wear and tear. Regular maintenance should include lubrication, adjustment, and the cleaning of various components – such as the motor, gears, cables, and door mechanisms. These maintenance tasks will help to reduce friction, optimize performance, and prevent premature wear of critical elevator parts. ASME A17. 1 / CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators has the actual code required intervals for elevator maintenance, and the elevator service technician should know what the equipment needs are, as well as what intervals are appropriate. By minimizing wear and tear, regular maintenance will ensure the smooth operation, while extending the lifespan of the elevators. Per code, buildings are required to keep and maintain consistent maintenance documents.

3. Enhancing Safety Features

Elevator safety is of paramount importance, and routine maintenance will ensure the proper functioning of crucial safety features – such as door sensors, emergency buttons, interlocks, and fire alarms. Faulty safety features can expose passengers to risks, and may lead to accidents or entrapments. Regular maintenance will ensure that these safety features are inspected, tested, and calibrated, while safeguarding their effectiveness and keeping them in compliance with all safety regulations. Elevator service technicians will know which safety mechanisms need to be maintained, and will do so according to the appropriate code requirements. There are monthly, annual, and five-year testing functions that must be performed on equipment, and additional tests may be required pending the authority having jurisdiction. The building needs to be knowledgeable in this area in order to make certain that these

tests are being completed and properly documented on a regular basis for the local authority having jurisdiction.

4. Upgrading and Modernizing Elevator Systems

Over time, technological advancements have brought about more efficient and advanced elevator systems. Replacing outdated or obsolete parts and incorporating new technologies can enhance elevator performance, improve energy efficiency, and optimize passenger experiences. Replacing some components may not only extend the lifespan of the elevators, but will add value to the buildings as well. When an elevator has reached the end of its lifespan, a building may have to modernize its equipment, which starts the whole life cycle over again. Elevators have numerous components, therefore -it may be possible to use items that have been refurbished or maintained based on the condition of the parts when it is time for modernization.

5. Complying with Regulatory Requirements

Elevator maintenance is not only about optimizing performance, but to also ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Regular maintenance helps to fulfill mandatory requirements that are imposed by regulatory authorities, and compliance will not only help a building avoid penalties, but will also ensure that its elevators are adhering to the highest safety and operational standards. This way, an authority having jurisdiction inspection will lead to the operator certification for the elevator, escalator, lift, or dumbwaiter to pass. Failed inspections are not desirable and are usually correlate with the lack of maintenance. If this happens, an elevator audit might need to be performed by an elevator consultant. A certificate of compliance is typically found in the cab of the elevator, or will available from the building manager.

Overall

Regular maintenance is an investment in the longevity and performance of elevators. By addressing issues early, preventing excessive wear and tear, enhancing safety features, upgrading components, and complying with regulations, regular maintenance will significantly prolong the lifespan of elevators. This will not only ensure the safety and satisfaction of elevator passengers, but will also minimize unexpected breakdowns, reduce repair costs, and add value to buildings. It is crucial to work with qualified elevator professionals including an elevator consultant who possess the expertise and experience needed to provide comprehensive and reliable maintenance services. Knowing the buildings equipment and aligning with the right service provider will make for a match to keep your equipment operating smoothly, while prolonging its life cycle.

Remember, with regular maintenance – elevators will continue to be a reliable and efficient mode of vertical transportation, serving occupants for years to come. If a building is uncertain about their maintenance requirements at any time, an elevator consulting firm can assist and answer any questions.

Elevator Service Trends for Building Owners

  1. Building owners are paying for service that they are not receiving.

Today it is very common for buildings to have an elevator preventative maintenance contract and not to receive said preventative maintenance.

  1. Elevators are being neglected.

Elevators have been commonly referred to as the “black hole” within a building. The building relies on the elevator service provider for all the information about their equipment.

  1. Elevator contract Terms & Conditions dupe owners.

Buildings will sign an elevator preventative maintenance contract which is written by the elevator service contractor, which is referred to as being written on their “paper.” All terms are in favor of the service provider, relinquishing the building any control of the equipment they own.

All buildings containing an elevator or escalator are required by code to have a maintenance contract from an elevator service provider (ESP). The question commonly is asked, how can the ESP’s service be verified? Since there is no oversight, ESPs have the ability to circumvent accountability and avoid carrying out the maintenance they are contractually obliged to perform. Meanwhile, building owners are still being charged full price for the maintenance that is being ignored. This lack of maintenance ultimately shortens the lifespan of the equipment, leads to repairs and increasing risk, all the while driving up costs exponentially for the building owner. Building ownership has the ability to draft their own maintenance contract with their own Terms & Conditions. Ownership can empower itself by forcing the ESP to abide by their terms of service and holding them accountable. The benefits owners will receive ultimately are:  decrease cost, eliminate pre-mature modernization and unnecessary repairs, decrease RSF, reduced entrapments and/or callbacks, decrease CAM, no hassles when buying or selling the property, mitigating risk and tenant satisfaction from properly working equipment, among many others. For more information, read THREE ELEVATOR TIPS FOR BUILDING OWNERS.