When Should You Look into Elevator Modernization?

People believe that generally an elevator modernization should occur every twenty years or so, but there are many other important indicators as well. This blog post points out other tell-tale indicators that your elevator may be due for a modernization.

If you’re within the property management industry, you probably have heard the term “elevator modernization.” Many of you are probably familiar with what this means, but in case you aren’t, the all encompassing term elevator modernization refers to updating fundamental parts of an elevator for improvements in areas such as safety, technology, sustainability, aesthetics and more. It probably comes as no surprise that this type of project can be a large undertaking, especially in terms of costs. However, with elevator service being a key factor that can affect your tenants, sometimes elevator modernization is a very necessary project.

Think you might be due for an elevator modernization? The most typical and general rule of thumb here is that you should perform one every twenty years or so, simply due to elevators becoming outdated and missing systems that have since become required by code. However, you’re not off the hook just because your elevator has been updated more recently than twenty years ago. Read below to see if any of the following apply to you.

Increased Service Calls and/or Tenant Complaints

If you are keeping record of all service calls within a year’s period (you should be), it is important to regularly review this to observe any increases in calls or patterns that may be circumstantial rather than the norm. Also pay attention to the amount of trouble calls that you are receiving after hours and any extra fees that you may be paying to dispatch out to those calls. If you are noticing a definite significant increase in service calls during either on or off hours that you know are not due to circumstantial reasons, this indicates that your elevator service may be deteriorating.

Slipping Performance Metrics

Another area that you should be keeping track of when it comes to your elevator is performance metrics, including but not limited to the time it takes the elevator cab to travel from floor to floor, elevator response times, the quality of vibrations/ the ride overall, the elevator’s door closing times and the level of noise. For a comprehensive checklist of all of the performance metrics that you should be looking at, refer to this free guide (page 6-5) from National Elevator Industries Inc. (NEII). If you notice a significant performance inadequacy, changes should be in order.

Issues with Replacing Parts

If you are unable to replace your elevator parts or find it difficult to do so because the elevator parts within your current elevator cab system are becoming increasingly obsolete, that is a pretty clear cut sign of a need for modernization. You should not only look for obsolescent of parts, but service people as well. If it’s difficult to get an available service person that knows how to handle your current equipment, this is probably a sign that those that know how to maintain these older parts are retiring, further indicating the necessity of up-to-date parts.

Lack of Code Compliancy

This is the most important and tell-tale sign of all. If your elevator does not meet all requirements of ADA, ASME and IBC codes, a change is certainly in order. One simple accident can cost far more than the cost of upgrading. You simply cannot risk the liability.

If you recognize any of these signs in your own elevator, we recommend to begin looking into the elevator modernization process. To learn more about elevator modernization and what all that it can consist of, download our free Elevator Modernization guide.