Lifts/Escalators/High Access
– this will vary according to location and usage.
• Maintenance contracts are typically in place from one to five years but could be fixed on PFI projects for up to 25 years. Contracts vary in coverage, from maintenance only to including all replacement parts and breakdown costs.
5. When specifying new equipment, look at the manufacturer’s policy on available parts for products that have been superseded or for when that model is no longer available. Schindler, for example, warrants that parts for its lifts will be available for a minimum of 15 years after a product ceases to be manufactured. We have seen situations where companies have stopped supplying parts after just six months and lifts have had to be replaced after only two years because parts were no longer available.
6. Make sure each lift is used only for the purpose it was designed for. Is it designed to take trolleys, for example? If not, it will be more susceptible to damage and breakdown. And be aware that if a building is reconfigured, are the lifts still fit for purpose? The equipment may need upgrading to ensure continuity of service.
7. To reduce the risk of injury, consideration should be given to enhancing older lifts with multi-beam, non-contact safety edges to the doors. Some door edges have green and red warning lights to show when the doors are closing and when it is safe to enter. Enhanced levelling systems can also deliver improved level access into and out of the lift car and reduce trip hazards.
8. Typically lifts are designed for use from 15 to 25 years although there are instances, for example in interim buildings, where a lift may only be required for five years or less. The lift should be adequately maintained, small repairs carried out and parts replaced as needed. It may then be necessary to upgrade the lift equipment to bring it up to modern standards or it could be more cost effective to replace the equipment with new.
9. Lift technology is continually evolving. Some advanced features could be retro-installed, such as emergency communications systems. Whilst these are not
Building & Facilities Management – October 2014
statutory requirements for existing installations, it is good practice to have them installed. The risk of claims can be minimised by having the appropriate safety equipment in place – such as passenger detectors on doors. One single claim can be higher than the cost of fitting a safety device! A good maintenance contractor would carry out a risk assessment and can advise on enhancements to improve safety in operation.
10. Compliance with EN81 part 70 is a statutory requirement for new lift installations to ensure accessibility for disabled people. This is recommended but not compulsory for existing lifts. There may be a need to add features such as a permanent chair, hand rails, audible communications for partially-sighted people, visible indicators for passengers with hearing difficulties, and to ensure adequate car sizes for wheelchairs.
Maintaining the Highest Standards of Lift Safety
When undertaking any service or maintenance work on lift equipment, the facilities manager must ensure safe access for contractors at all times. Health and safety regulations apply to all aspects of a building, including lifts.
Advancements in lift technology mean equipment is now designed for safety during maintenance or repair so there are switches, locks and power isolators in place. The older the lift equipment, the fewer safety devices there will be. The lift owner should be aware of this potential risk and put procedures in place to ensure safe working.
The Importance of User Education Educating users of lifts is really important. Door strikes most commonly occur when a passenger’s hand is stuck between two doors when that person has tried to enter a lift too late. Good quality safety edges to the door should prevent that until there is a gap of around four inches – passengers should then know better than not to try to force entry. Forcing open and hitting the car doors, for example with trolleys, will cause electronic components to miss-align which is the single most frequent cause of lift breakdowns. User education can help prevent this. Lift users should never interfere with lift equipment. It is definitely the case that the number of lift breakdowns can be reduced by users taking more care. Debris and litter should also be kept well away from a lift. Debris gathered in the lift pit will take additional time and therefore cost for the maintenance specialist to clear.
Passenger Release
How passengers are to be released in the event of lift doors failing to open is another key issue. Ideally, an alarm system should be connected to a communications centre or a working telephone line operated 24/7. The maintenance specialist should be automatically contacted, and staff will know the lift number and exact location to despatch an engineer. However, there is an increasing trend for organisations asking for local staff to be trained in lift release but our experience has shown that their depth of knowledge will be very limited and in some situations that lack of competency could make a situation much worse.
For further information about Schindler lifts and escalators, call 01932 758100, email
info@gb.schindler.com or visit
www.schindler.com.
lifts/escalators/high access 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36