What Services Can a Professional Lift Company Provide?
Anyone who’s had to climb several flights of stairs after a lift malfunction will recognise the importance that these machines play in our lives. Lifts are a vital tool for transporting both people and goods between floors in a quick, easy and efficient way, and they can also significantly improve mobility for the elderly or disabled.
A faulty or out of service lift can cause a lot more disruption than you might think, so professional lift companies are essential for the installation, repair and maintenance of any lifts in a building. They also offer a wider range of services, from custom design to the installation of eco-friendly lifts for your office or business. Lifts are an essential component for many buildings, so naturally you’ll want to ensure that they’re running at optimum efficiency at all times.
A professional company offers many services, from essential repairs to modernisations that help you to optimise your lift’s performance. If you’ve been thinking it’s time to hire a professional lift company as part of your building maintenance, read on for our handy guide to the many services on offer.
All building owners and managers have certain responsibilities and a duty of care that they need to adhere to, and this includes ensuring that any lifts are safe to use at all times. Lift maintenance is essential for the safety of anyone using the lift and it can help to extend the longevity of the machinery.
In some cases, owners have a legal obligation to have their lift regularly maintained, especially if the lift is installed in domestic premises. In this case, two pieces of legislation come into play; PUWER (The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and LOLER (The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations). Put simply, these legislations decree a lift as a piece of work equipment, so owners have a responsibility to ensure that they’re safe to use for all employees, residents and members of the public.
The frequency of lift maintenance will depend on the type of lift, amount of use and the building it’s serving, but as a general rule you should arrange for lift maintenance at least once every 12 months. During a maintenance visit, a trained engineer will check all the safety features of a lift and clean and lubricate the essential components to ensure the smooth running of the lift. An engineer can also identify and arrange for any necessary repairs or replacement parts to be put in place.
There are many issues that can cause your lift to breakdown, but it’s important to seek out professional lift repair as soon as possible, both for the safety of those in the building and to ensure you don’t waste valuable time and money from lost efficiency. Lift repairs can cover anything from emergency breakdown services to replacing worn out parts or electrical systems.
Most professional life companies offer 24/7 emergency repair services, 365 days a year, so you can be confident that you’ll get the essential repairs you need at any time. Trained staff will also conduct a thorough risk assessment before any repair work goes ahead, so you can be sure that you’re in safe hands.
Lift installations can make the world of difference to both domestic and commercial properties, whether you’re replacing an old, inefficient lift or installing a new one for the first time. Lifts improve accessibility and mobility, as well as maximising productivity and efficiency by allowing employees and goods to be transported swiftly between floors.
It’s a legal requirement to install a lift in most commercial buildings with more than two floors, so it’s important to check the building regulation rules if you’re constructing a new build or if your workplace is currently missing a lift. Lift installation is also vital for accessibility and you may need to install one under rules laid out in The Equality Act 2010.
A professional lift company can install lifts in most domestic, commercial or industrial buildings and they’ll be able to advise you on the best model. There are five basic steps to installing a lift, starting with a trained technician assessing the area where you would like the lift installed. A suitable site needs enough space for the technician to work safely and the floors need to be strong enough to support the lift system when loaded. Once a suitable place has been found, columns and guide columns will be bolted in place and then outlines will be drawn to ensure the lift carriage is placed correctly.
Lift chains are then connected to the wheelblocks and a drive base will be fitted on top of the columns if a mechanical lift is being installed. Gates and enclosures are then fitted to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent items from slipping and causing injury. Finally, the technician will wire all the electrical components which make the lift go up and down and ensure that the lift is operating safely and efficiently.
Maintenance and repairs are two essential services offered by lift companies, but they also have the skills and equipment to modernise your lift systems. This can drastically improve the efficiency and safety of your lifts, as well as their reliability. You may not have noticed any specific issues or breakages with your lift system, but a refresh and replacement of parts can bring many benefits. If your lift is several years old then chances are that technology has improved and there will be more efficient, modern parts available to inject new life into your lift unit.
Keeping your lift up to date can reduce the chances of future breakdowns and improve the general aesthetics of your lift both inside and out. Lift modernisation can range from replacing lift doors to a complete overall of up to 95% of a lift in its entirety, including new wiring and modern control systems.
If you’re in need of a new lift, then many lift companies are able to install eco-friendly models, which are better at conserving energy and have a less harmful impact on the environment. Eco lifts are a green alternative to traditional electrically powered lifts and they're highly efficient too. This type of lift is also available in a machine room-less model (MRL), which lowers construction costs and makes maximum use of a building’s space.
Eco lifts are fitted with a sophisticated back-up system, which generates electricity if the lift motor breaks and feeds the power back into the electricity grid. They use LED lights, which reduces energy consumption by up to 80% and also last ten times longer compared to traditional halogen bulbs. These lifts also power down when not in use so that only key elements stay running - saving money and power over time.
Accessibility is vital and this applies to both domestic and commercial buildings. It’s important to ensure that any workplaces or homes are suitable for those with disabilities or other mobility issues and installing disabled access lifts is one place to start. A lift company will be able to install both commercial disabled access lifts for offices or shops, as well as domestic stairlifts for the home.
Here at ADL Lifts, we’re proud to offer tailor-made disability solutions for your home or workplace, which suit customer’s needs and also comply with any relevant legislation. We offer many different types of disabled access lift, including inclined platform lifts, vertical platform lifts, stairlifts (straight and curved) and overhead hoists.
ADL Lift Services - Your Leading Lift Company in Scotland
If you’re looking for a professional lift company with a tailor made service to suit your needs, get in touch with the expert team at ADL Lift Services. With over 100 years’ experience, we’re proud to offer the highest quality services, equipment and parts to keep your lifts running at their best.
We supply, install and maintain lifts all over the UK and can also offer eco lifts, disabled access lifts and bespoke lift design to suit your requirements. For more information about any of our services, give us a call today or visit our website.
