Elevator Maintenance. Your Paying For it, are You Getting It?

The majority of elevator equipment owners pay for ongoing maintenance, usually as a three (3) or five (5) year contract deal with an elevator company: either an independent or manufacturer. However, paying for something does not mean you are getting that something. Wish that there was a quick and easy method to determine if the payments you are making are enough to ensure proper maintenance? Me too, but that’s not the case. I have a chart in development that takes into account; age, usage, environment, and a few variables but that is in the works and will be available at a later date. What we can do is look at a few items that will reveal a picture we can use to see how you’re equipment management program is doing:
A. The age of the existing elevator equipment. Industry standards have been that equipment in place for 20 to 25 years with proper maintenance is a candidate for upgrades or replacement. Well, keep in mind that most “industry standards” are the product of the industry they promote; selling new equipment or upgrades. We’ve found that older equipment that has been properly maintained is capable of safe, reliable operation within its design parameters for many years past the “industry standards”.
B. The duty rating of the elevator equipment. Is your elevator being used as designed? Or has the building’s operation led to an increase in population or equipment use? Less use? Is what was at one time a designated passenger elevator now being used more and more as a service/freight conveyance? True, an elevator can’t tell if a person or package is riding, (weight is weight) has the use of cargo carts and other moving tools led to uneven loads, sill and floor damage, and cab deterioration? Delivery guy placing a box in front of the doors to keep them open while he drops off packages?
C. Has equipment room temperature and humidity controls been left unmonitored or indoor climate systems left unrepaired in equipment rooms due to cost control measures?
D. Are trouble-calls (callbacks is a common term) at a high level and/or rising? We figure anything over four (4) callbacks a year for equipment related problems per piece of equipment is reason for concern.
E. Have any upgrades, especially safety related ones, been performed?
F. Is the required documentation for all equipment on site and up to date? Wiring diagrams, maintenance and safety test records, emergency service tests, and callback records?
These are the six questions you should look at and take an analysis of the answers. Let’s see how we fare:
A. Age of equipment. Greater than 20 years?
B. Duty rating. How does the current traffic and use compare to when the equipment was installed or last upgraded? More demand on equipment?
C. Equipment environment. Is the machine room climate controlled?
D. Callbacks. Four or more per piece of equipment per year?
E. Safety upgrades? Including emergency communications and entrapment assistance.
F. Documentation? You either have it or you do not. Can you produce everything you need if required to by court order or by official requests?
Use A thru F to determine if a closer look at your maintenance program is warranted.
Contact us with any questions. We are prepared to assist.