Lifts are essential components of modern buildings, ensuring the smooth and efficient movement of people and goods. Proper lift maintenance is crucial to their safety, performance, and longevity. Selecting the right maintenance program for your Lift is not a one-size-fits-all decision. In this guide, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when choosing the ideal maintenance program for your lift.
1.Evaluate Your Lift’s Usage
Before selecting a maintenance program, it’s essential to evaluate how intensively your Lift is used. Consider factors like:
- Traffic volume: Is it a high-traffic Lift in a commercial building, or is it in a residential setting with lower use?
- Peak usage times: Are there specific times of day or week when the Lift experiences high demand?
- Purpose: Is the Lift primarily for passenger transport, or does it handle heavy freight?
Understanding the Lift’s usage patterns helps determine the appropriate maintenance frequency and type.
2.Know Your Lift Type
Lifts come in various types, including passenger directive hydraulic, traction, and machine-room-less (MRL) Lifts, but there are also other lifts types falling under the Machinery Directive, such as platform lifts, step lifts, scissor lifts and dumbwaiters to name but a few. Each type has unique maintenance requirements. Passenger directive lifts often require more frequent maintenance visits due to the complexity of the equipment. Be sure to choose a maintenance program that aligns with your Lift’s specific type and technology.
3.Determine Your Budget
Your budget plays a significant role in choosing the right maintenance program. Maintenance costs can vary based on the type of Lift, its age, and the level of service required. Be sure to consider both short-term and long-term costs when budgeting for Lift maintenance. While it’s tempting to cut costs, compromising on maintenance can lead to expensive repairs down the line.
4.Explore Maintenance Types
When it comes to lift maintenance, there are typically three main categories of coverage to choose from:
- Basic Cover: This includes scheduled inspections and maintenance to prevent breakdowns. However, it does not cover repair calls or parts.
- Semi-Comprehensive: In this coverage option, maintenance visits are included, along with labour for reactive service calls and minor component replacements.
- Fully Comprehensive: With this level of coverage, not only is maintenance included, but labour and components are also covered.
It’s important to note that the specific parts covered may vary depending on the provider, so be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions. The choice of maintenance coverage that best suits your lift depends on several factors, including usage, budget, and your tolerance for downtime.
If you opt for semi-comprehensive or comprehensive coverage, you’ll also need to consider whether you require labour for repair calls during normal working hours or if you have a facility that operates round the clock, 24/7 coverage may be necessary.
5.Determine Service Frequency
Next, you’ll need to decide on the frequency of service visits. To make this decision, consider the factors mentioned above, such as usage, budget, and downtime tolerance. Here are some guidelines:
- Low-use and light passenger lifts may only require two visits per year to ensure their reliability.
- For lifts that experience high demand and heavy usage, monthly service visits may be necessary to maintain optimal performance.
- For normal use lifts, we would advise a minimum of 4 visits per annum
- For lifts that have quite bespoke requirements such as high dependency, low usage lifts, you may want a more bespoke frequency such as 6 visits per year
By aligning the frequency of service visits with your specific needs and lift usage patterns, you can ensure the continued reliability and safety of your elevator.
6.Choose a Reliable Service Provider
Selecting the right maintenance program also involves choosing a reputable lift service provider. Consider the provider’s experience, track record, and the qualifications of their technicians. Ask for references and testimonials from other customers to gauge their reliability and responsiveness, and of course here at Morris Vermaport we are more than happy to provide references on request if you’d like to explore your options with us.
7.Prioritise Safety
Lift safety should always be a top priority. Ensure that your chosen maintenance program includes safety checks, adherence to safety codes, and regular safety training for maintenance personnel. Safety compliance is not just a legal requirement; it also ensures the well-being of lift users. Many companies opt for remote visits, visual inspections and are satisfied with drive-by servicing, ask for the duration and type of visits to be provided when you negotiate your contract.
8.Plan for Downtime
Maintenance activities can result in lift downtime, which can disrupt building operations. Coordinate with your service provider to schedule maintenance during off-peak hours to minimise inconvenience.
9.Regularly Review and Adjust
Once you’ve selected a maintenance program, it’s essential to regularly review its effectiveness. Monitor the lift’s performance, track maintenance costs, and gather feedback from users. Adjust the program as needed to ensure optimal lift performance and safety.
In conclusion, choosing the right maintenance program for your lift is a critical decision that can impact safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. By carefully assessing your lift’s usage, type, budget, and regulatory requirements, as well as considering different maintenance types and selecting a reputable service provider, you can make an informed choice that ensures the smooth operation and longevity of your lift. Remember, a well-maintained lift not only enhances convenience but also prioritises safety for everyone who uses it.