Category: Uncategorized

If you have recently received a large proposal for your elevator doors, you may be asking yourself what is an elevator door upgrade or elevator modernization? Why is it so expensive? Is it worth doing?

What is an Elevator Door Upgrade

Depending on who you are working with an elevator door upgrade can mean many things. It can mean:

• Replacing or recladding the elevator and hoist way doors
• Upgrading the door “eyes” (safety edge)
• Upgrading the door operator
• Replacing the door locks, interlocks and clutches
• Replacing the hoist way interlocks and clutches

For purposes of this post, an elevator door upgrade is replacing the elevator door operator, door locks, door cluctches and interlocks, and elevator doors (not hoist way doors).

Timing for a door elevator upgrade

Elevator doors are often the most abused part of an elevator. People crash into them, stop them from closing, and stick things in them. Furthermore, doors operate twice as many times as the elevator. For each run of an elevator the doors are opening and closing twice. Therefore, the door equipment tends to run out in half the amount of time that the rest of the elevator parts wear out. You can expect a door upgrade may be required after 10 – 15 years of elevator life.

How much is a door elevator modernization (upgrade)

A door elevator upgrade can be expensive. Broken down by major part average costs are as follows:

• Door operator: $12,000 – $25,000
• Door locks and clutches: $5,000 – $15,000
• New Doors: $5,000

You can see the total cost can range from $22,000 -$45,000. If you need to replace the hoist way equipment as well the costs can run much higher.

Should You Have the Elevator Door Upgrade

If your elevator are shut downs and callbacks are related to the doors it may be worthwhile to look into an upgrade. First, check if the calls are related to elevator vandalism. You may have tenants who are knocking the doors out of place. This causes callbacks, and it isn’t solved by upgrading your elevator door equipment. If you find that a majority of your shutdowns and callbacks are related to the doors call your elevator maintenance company and get a quote.

If you need help getting a quote or reviewing the quote, consider hiring an elevator consultant.

Please feel free to drop my a line and I can connect you with a vetted elevator consultant.

Elevator inspections are part of your building routines. Depending on the state, inspections can be multiple times a year. How should you prepare for these inspections? What is your responsibility versus your elevator maintenance companies responsibility?

What is an elevator inspection?

Elevator inspections are required by most state laws. A state inspector or third party agent will inspect the elevator on an annual or bi-annual basis. Typically, they will perform a pressure test on hydraulic elevator or a no load/full load test on your traction elevator.

They are also checking for various failures. If you fail you will have a period of time for you (or your elevator company) to correct any deficiencies. If you do not correct these or ask for an extension your elevators could be shut down by the state.

Elevator inspection failures

Typically, elevator inspectors can fail your elevator for any number of reasons. Besides failing a pressure test or no load/full load test, most inspectors will go after the visible items. Your doors could be in terrible condition, but if they don’t present a safety issue, the inspector will not write them up.

Typical failures are no phone connection inside the elevator to an outside monitoring company, alarm bell not functioning, fire testing log up to date, and elevator certificates not located on premises. These are all preventable, and mostly under the buildings control.

How to prepare for your elevator inspections

There are a few things any building can do to ensure they don’t fail an inspection.

Elevator Fire Testing Log

Make sure that your fire testing log is being tracked, up to date and in the machine room for the inspector to view. 95% of the time this is not the responsibility of the elevator maintenance company. If you are not sure how to do the fire testing, let your elevator company know and they can help you out.

Check your elevators phone connection and alarm bells

It is good practice for building owners to consistently check that the emergency phone is connected to an outside operating system. If you know an elevator inspection is coming up, check the phones and alarm bells. If either are not working, let your elevator maintenance company know. This could be a serious safety issue in case of elevator entrapments.

Elevator certificates located on the premise

Typically, a buildings elevator certificates need to be located in the elevator, or at least on the building premises. These are often easy to lose, so make sure their is a consistent place you store them (if not in the elevator). You do not want to lose these and have to wait for your local jurisdiction to mail you new certificates.

The day of the elevator inspection

On the actual day of the inspection, your elevator company will need to be present (depending on the jurisdiction). If you have a good relationship with them, you can have them correct minor deficiencies on the spot and pass your inspection. For example if an alarm bell is not working, they could fix it on the spot if they come prepared.

If you fail the inspection you will need to make sure to send a copy of the violation report to your elevator maintenance company. Make sure to get a quick response with what is your responsibility, like maintaining the fire log, versus their responsibility. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to fix all the violations on the report.

If you are having any trouble with your inspections or maintenance company, please feel free to fill out the form below.

A big storm is approaching your building. You need to prepare your elevator for the storm to mitigate any damage. By completing some of these preventative measures you can save thousands of dollars and hours of your time dealing with your insurance company.

Preventing elevator water damage for the season

Before the rainy season arrives or depending on where you live complete the following twice a year:

• Ensure elevator have a surge protection system
• Make sure the standby power generator is functioning
• Check emergency lighting and phones
• Inspect vents, windows and doors near the elevator for any leaks
• Add weather stripping to doors near the elevator
• Purchase sump pumps for the elevator pit or if you have them test them
• Install a float switch will prevent elevators from going to the bottom floor if the pit is flooded

Before a big storm

Before a significant storm or hurricane make sure to:

• Don’t ride the elevators during a major storm
• Shut down escalators
• Keep one elevator functioning for emergency personnel
• Run the rest of the elevators to the highest floor
• Turn off the main disconnects on the remaining elevators
• Place sandbags around the elevator machine room to prevent flooding

After the storm

Once the storm has passed:

• Ensure no one is stuck in the elevator. If so call your elevator maintenance company. Keep in mind they may be overwhelmed so you may need to call 911
• If you suspect any water damage do not resume normal elevator operation until it has been inspected by your elevator maintenance company
• Check the machine room for any water exposure

Elevator water damage has been found!

Unfortunately, you have found parts of the elevator that are damaged by water. Complete the following:

• Call your elevator maintenance company immediately to notify them
• Record as much information as possible about what parts of the elevator have been touched by water
• Take photographs of all affected part
• Save all damaged components in case your insurance company requests them

For major damage, you may want to call an elevator consultant to help with the rep[air, and insurance process.