If you own a commercial property, then it’s in your best interest to ensure that this is kept in optimum condition for both the safety and satisfaction of the personnel who use this building. A key responsibility included within this is to upkeep regular lift maintenance.
Lifts are one of the most convenient features of modern buildings in this day and age. Not only do they offer individuals a fast and easy solution to navigating different levels of a building, but they are inclusive at their very core, offering accessibility to those who are otherwise unable/struggle to use the stairs, such as wheelchair users, parents with buggies or elderly people.
Read on below as we discuss all you need to know regarding lift maintenance, including what maintenance tasks should be performed and how often, why this is important (along with the consequences of failing to arrange necessary lift servicing) and who should undertake a proper lift service on your behalf.
How Often Should You Arrange an Elevator Inspection?
When it comes to arranging a lift service, there is no set legal requirement on how frequent this should be. With that said, there is guidance on what maintenance checks you should carry out and when.
Under general guidance, it’s recommended that a lift is serviced every six months if it carries passengers, whilst the recommendation for goods-only lifts is to be serviced once every 12 months. However, this is just a minimum requirement, so if your lifts experience high frequency use, then it’s a good idea to service these more often than this.
Preventative maintenance is a much more efficient route to go down than responsive maintenance, allowing you to stay on top of the working order of your lifts and address any potential issues when they first arise, rather than trying to fix them later down the line when they’ve grown in severity.
That’s why it’s a smart idea to create a checklist for maintenance measures to follow and the timely manner within which they should be taken. We’ve offered examples of daily, weekly, monthly and annual maintenance steps that you could be taking below as part of your comprehensive maintenance plan.
Daily Maintenance
● Check lift operation and responsiveness is working as it should be (e.g. is the lift responding to calls? Are the doors opening and closing properly? Are there abnormal sounds or vibrations during operation?)
● Clean the lift cabin, including the floor, handrails, buttons and mirrors to ensure a presentable appearance
● Test that all the buttons, floor indicators and emergency buttons are functioning as they should be
Weekly Maintenance
● Lubricate all moving parts (e.g. pulleys, bearings) and hinges to maintain smooth, quiet operation
● Check door mechanisms (e.g. tracks, rollers and sensors) for damage, obstructions or misalignment and clean these of dust and debris
● Test the emergency communication system to ensure there is clear communication between users of the lift and the lift monitoring station in the case of an emergency, such as a breakdown or power cut
Monthly Maintenance
● Inspect the lift hoistway and pit area for debris, oil leaks or any signs of damage and clean these areas to maintain a safe, clean environment for the lift to operate in
● Check the door closing speed and levelling accuracy to ensure that the doors are operating and aligning properly
● Inspect and clean lighting fixtures within the lift to ensure there is sufficient illumination for users
Yearly Maintenance
● Carry out a thorough inspection of the lift’s mechanical and electrical systems, including motor, cables, brakes, control panels and wiring, addressing any issues where required
● Conduct a comprehensive safety inspection, including load testing, emergency stop functionality and other critical safety checks, obtaining the necessary documentation to showcase this
● Verify that the lift complies with all applicable codes, regulations and industry standards, undertaking any necessary upgrades or modifications to meet these
Why is Lift Maintenance Important?
Carrying out essential planned maintenance is important for a number of reasons, all of which can directly benefit you. This includes compliance with the necessary regulations, saving you from having to cover costly expenses and reducing lift downtime.
Comply with Regulations
Firstly, whilst there isn’t a specific legal requirement defining the frequency of a lift service, there are still regulations in place surrounding the use and operations of lifts when they are in place for people to use at work (rather than leisure or residential use). This includes:
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Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
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The Equality Act 2010 (to accommodate the needs of a disabled person)
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The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
It’s your responsibility to ensure that any lifts in your commercial premises comply with these regulations. Furthermore, your insurer will likely require copies of any documentation and service history that demonstrate this compliance, as failure to meet these regulations could void any potential insurance claims made relating to your lifts.
Save Money
Another reason why you’ll want to maintain regular lift inspections is to save yourself money in the long run. By making the effort to regularly inspect your lifts, you are able to identify and address any potential issues as soon as they arise.
Doing this helps you avoid costly repairs further down the line when these progress to a more serious state and require more extensive repair work - the cost of which is often higher than a service. Similarly, you may arrange for an emergency repair to reduce potential downtime, however this could come at an extra cost.
Whilst you may think you’d be saving money but not arranging a lift service and only covering the costs when a repair is needed, you are likely to experience more frequent breakdowns when you don’t undertake regular servicing, which will end up costing you more than you could be saving in the long run.
Reduce Downtime
Although a lift will be out of action whilst undergoing a service, this takes about an hour to complete, on average. This is minimal downtime in comparison to a lift malfunction and breakdown.
This is because you will have to wait for a repair service to reach you, then wait even longer while they inspect your lift and identify the issue at hand, before eventually carrying out the necessary repair work, which itself will also take time.
All in all, this time adds up, leaving your lift out of order for multiple hours. Furthermore, the more you neglect lift maintenance, the more often your lifts are likely to break down, further increasing downtime over a longer period of time.
Avoiding this by arranging a simple service, then, not only prolongs the lifespan of your lift, but also preserves your reputation and reduces the number of complaints you’re likely to receive from users in your building. On top of that, when arranging a service, you can give building users fair notice that the lift will be out of service for an hour, further keeping them satisfied and reducing negative interactions.
Who Should Undertake a Lift Service?
When arranging a lift service or inspection, this should always be carried out by a competent person with the necessary qualifications and certifications.
This could be an individual employed by the company who initially installed the lifts in your building, or alternatively you could hire a third-party, professional and licensed elevator service provider. They will send out an experienced lift engineer who has the expertise, tools and knowledge to perform regular inspections, maintenance and repairs on your behalf.
With their industry knowledge, they will also be able to spot any areas of concern and advise how best to rectify these before they become a major issue.
Lift Maintenance Services in Scotland
If you’re looking for a reliable elevator service company in Scotland to undertake your commercial
lift services, then look no further than us here at ADL Lift Services.
