Lift Modernisation

Lift modernisation can be a real alternative to a completely new system. Pickerings Lifts offers a service that will modernise your lift, taking into account aesthetics, change in use, reliability, energy costs and safety regulations.

Aesthetics - There are many ways we can change the look of your lift car to complement or contrast with any décor. This can include new car operating panels, flooring, wall finishes, handrails and ceiling lighting.

Change in Use - Many lift modernisation schemes are undertaken at the time of a general refurbishment or change in the use of the building. This is an ideal opportunity to modernise the lift systems in the building to best meet the future needs of the building. This may put different requirements on the lift usage over and above the usual requirement to improve the aesthetics of the lift and co-ordinate with the building's environment.

The use of the building may require improved lift service. Also, the expectations of passengers for lift service and waiting times have changed, yet the provision of lifts in buildings is usually fixed. Modernisation with modern microprocessor controls, state of the art drive systems and modern door systems can improve the lifts response to calls, cut waiting times and improve passenger traffic handling.

With the range of options available and the individual requirements to be met in modernising a lift, a specification should be drawn up for each scheme to ensure that the most cost effective and appropriate measures are used to deliver the benefits required. Let us work with you to produce the ideal specification.

Reliability - A key requirement to modernise a lift installation is to ensure the reliability and minimise maintenance costs by the replacement of components and systems which are becoming unreliable due to age and use. Studies have shown that the area of lift equipment causing the most call-outs are the door systems. These are not only intensively used but also exposed to the everyday knocks, bumps and scrapes and even abuse. Door systems are therefore very often at the top of the list for replacement with newer, more robust and reliable equipment. Electrical and control equipment is also a frequent cause of breakdown. This is often associated with older relay based controls which are steadily being replaced (and performance improved) with more reliable electronic systems. Many other systems may affect reliability and longer term maintenance of a lift installation.

Energy Costs - With escalating energy costs and an increasing emphasis on "green" issues, lift modernisation is an ideal opportunity to change the drive and control system to reduce the electricity consumption of the lift. Modern variable frequency drive systems are very much more efficient than their predecessors and can lead to savings of between 20% and 40% depending on the duty of the lift and the drive system being replaced. Many of these savings are due to a reduction in lift energy usage and heat losses; traditional lift drive systems draw large currents from the main supply, much of which is wasted as heat. Variable frequency systems control the power fed to the motor thereby reducing the currents drawn from the supply and the heat wasted in the motor. The elimination of large surge currents when the lift starts reduce the sizing and peak demand of the lift electricity supply. These factors often reduce the size of electrical supply and current drawn for a modernised lift installation or allow capacity to be moved from the lift supply to other systems in the building.

Safety Regulations - The standards and regulations for the design of lifts and provisions for safe operation and working have undergone steady improvement over many years. This improvement has been possible due to technical developments allowing safety improvements to be designed into lifts. More recently, EC Directives have added requirements for safety features.

A lift repair or modernisation scheme should aim to bring the safety of replaced components and systems to current standards (except where the building design makes this impracticable). It is important that the lift is surveyed and a scheme drawn-up which takes full account not only of the components which may need up-grading but also new features which should be included. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 must be complied with by lift owners and have requirements for guarding, controls and other items.

The recent EC Directive 95/216/EC Recommendations for Existing Lifts lists the following ten recommendations for all existing lifts to bring them towards modern standards:

1. Fit a car door and floor level indicator to all cars. Where the fitting of a car door results in unacceptable reduction in the entrance width, a multi-beam light curtain can be used to stop the lift if the entrance is obstructed.
2. Car suspension cables should be subject to regular inspection and possible replacement (a regular and thorough regime for inspection and replacement of cables has been in use for many years by Pickerings Service).
3. Modified controls to give gradual deceleration and accurate stopping of the lift car. Old single speed drive systems suffer from harsh stopping and poor levelling accuracy. Current technology allows two speed control of hydraulic lifts and variable frequency control of traction lifts to meet this recommendation.
4. Make car and landing controls intelligible and usable by unaccompanied disabled persons. This is most easily done by following the requirements of the Building Regulations (England and Wales - Part M, Scotland - Part T).
5. Multi-beam infra-red edges can be fitted to existing doors to allow doors to be re-opened due to any obstruction.
6. Fit safety gears to any suspended lifts which may not have these.
7. Alarm device in the lift car to establish a two way voice link to a high speed rescue service. Pickerings can provide emergency telephones connecting the lift user to our service network.
8. Eliminate asbestos in the braking system or wherever it exists.
9. Fit a device to protect against overspeed upwards of lifts with counterweight.
10. Provide emergency car lighting (also providing power for the alarm device in 7).