Despite its innovative design, your building’s lift can’t and
won’t operate forever! Keeping your passenger lift well-maintained will help to
extend its lifespan significantly (in fact, some lifts will serve you for more
than three decades), but it will come to a point where using your lift is no
longer safe or financially viable. At this time, you’ll typically be faced with
two options: lift replacement or lift modernisation.
You may have heard the term lift modernisation
used once or twice by your chosen
lift engineers without truly understanding what it means. It’s a service that
you might want to consider if the lift in your building has started to show
signs of deterioration but isn’t ready to be replaced just yet. If there’s
still life in your lift, you may be advised to opt for modernisation and
refurbishment services, rather than full-on replacement solutions. Here’s why.
What is lift
modernisation?
As the name suggests, lift modernisation is the process of
modernising your existing passenger lift, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all
approach. Typically, the modernisation of a lift happens component by
component; that is, the physical and mechanical structure of the lift doesn’t
change completely.
Lift modernisation services can often be split into two
types: component and system upgrades. For example, it may only be the door that
needs to be updated because it’s become damaged over time. Or, it could be a
section of wiring that no longer meets the safety requirements and legal
standards.
The modernisation process your lift goes through will depend
on its overall condition. Sometimes it’ll be that a key component has become
damaged, such as the mechanism which operates the lift door. Other times, the
lift may need to be modernised because the existing parts can no longer be deemed
legally compliant. Not all lift damage is obvious, so it’s important to have it
serviced and inspected regularly by professional lift engineers.
What are the
benefits of lift modernisation services?
Keeping your lift well-maintained is crucial to keeping
yourself, your colleagues and your employees safe. Maintenance is also a key
part of extending your lift’s lifespan and making sure you don’t have to pay
out for costly and time-consuming repairs regularly. But, no amount of
professional maintenance can keep a lift running smoothly forever - and it will
eventually need to be replaced.
Lift modernisation, however, is a great way to prolong the
lifespan of your building’s lift and prevent a total replacement service for as
long as possible. This is the major benefit of choosing to have your lift
modernised. By replacing components with newer, safer and more efficient
alternatives, you can prolong the development of issues that might require your
lift to be replaced.
Some of the
other major benefits of modernising your lift include the following:
Keep your lift operating safely
Over time, your lift’s mechanical components will become worn
and overused. This can lead to potentially dangerous failures and breakdowns
that could put the lift’s users at risk. Replacing any damaged or worn
components with newer models that run more smoothly and efficiently could help
to prevent issues like this and keep everyone in your building safe.
It’s worth noting that lift modernisation doesn’t always
refer to major system upgrades. Making sure your lift operates safely could
mean replacing the door so that it closes smoothly. It could also mean
installing features like a new handrail to make using the lift safer and more
comfortable for its users.
Small changes like these can go a long way with regards to
user experience, but making sure your lift runs smoothly and safely is also a
vital part of staying compliant. There are various rules and regulations that
you must adhere to as a property manager, which leads us onto our next point.
Make sure your lift
installation remains compliant
When was your building’s lift first installed? The chances
are that the rules and regulations surrounding lift installations have changed
significantly since that date. As a result, your lift may no longer be deemed
legal or compliant. This could put you at risk of facing legal action, but if
your lift is still running safely and efficiently, you may wonder if you really
need to replace it.
Under these circumstances, modernising your lift could be the
most convenient and cost-effective way to make sure it still adheres to the
appropriate regulations and legislation. Your lift engineers will be able to
guide you through the legislation in place to make sure your modernised lift
operates safely and legally.
Save money on lift
repair and replacement services
If your lift breaks down, you’ll need to pay out for
professional lift repair services. If it breaks down frequently, you’ll either
rack up a huge bill or need to replace the lift altogether. Lift modernisation
services can help to prevent this by keeping all mechanisms and components
running smoothly. As a general rule, the older the component, the more likely it
is to cause your lift problems.
The cost of lift repairs can set a business back financially,
but this isn’t all. If it’s difficult for employees or customers to move
between your building’s storeys quickly and easily, you could lose revenue as a
result of missed sales opportunities or staff downtime.
Minimise lift
downtime
The two main reasons for installing a lift in a building are
to increase traffic efficiency and boost accessibility. Your customers and
employees will rely on your building’s passenger lift for safety and
convenience, so it’s important to keep it operating as smoothly as possible.
Breakdowns and other related problems will ultimately lead to lift downtime,
and the more your lift requires repair services, the more downtime you can expect
to face.
For people with restricted mobility, not having access to a
functioning lift can be extremely stressful. To ensure that your building is
accessible to everyone, it’s important to do all you can to keep your lift
working properly.
Boost the
energy-efficiency of your lift
A poorly functioning lift will need much more energy to
operate than a modern one. This is something else to consider when deciding
whether or not to modernise your lift; by substituting old and potentially
damaged components for their newer counterparts, you could increase the
energy-efficiency of your lift significantly. Reduced energy consumption means
reduced energy bills, which is another great benefit of lift modernisation
services.
Not only that, but reduced energy consumption means a lower
carbon footprint. Finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of your
business and the commercial premises that it operates in is vital, so it pays
to have your machinery inspected regularly. If modernisation services could help
to reduce the carbon footprint of your lift, your chosen engineers will advise
you on this.
Lift modernisation
vs lift replacement
We’ve spoken about the benefits of lift modernisation, but
there are some circumstances where this isn’t the most appropriate solution.
While modernisation services can prolong the life expectancy of a lift, there
comes a point when the safest and most cost-effective route is to replace the
lift altogether. This is often true in cases where even major system upgrades
wouldn’t be enough to make the lift safe or legally compliant.
To help you decide whether your lift should be modernised or
replaced, it’s important to speak to professional lift engineers - like us at
ADL Lift Services. With years of experience in designing and installing lifts,
we are well-equipped to advise you on the most appropriate course of action.
ADL Lift Services:
Professional lift engineers specialising in lift modernisation and repair
services
For professional, highly-skilled and accredited lift experts in Scotland, look no further
than ADL Lift Services. With over 80 years of combined experience in the lift
industry, we’re proud to have become the go-to company for lift design,
installation, modernisation and repair services in Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen. No matter your requirements, we’ll make sure your new lift is safe,
efficient and compliant across all of the appropriate standards.
To learn more about
our lift modernisation services or to discuss any of the other services we
offer, don’t hesitate to
contact us
today. We look
forward to working with you.
