Thursday, October 16, 2014

How An Elevator Modernization Company Improves Service And Increases Efficiency

By Patty Goff


In some buildings, calling an elevator becomes an exercise in patience. Inaccurate timing creates lengthy waits, and an overcrowded car may be followed by two that are nearly empty. Units older than a decade may regularly experience service issues, making a timely update of existing facilities necessary to attract and retain good tenants. An elevator modernization company makes that process as efficient as possible.

Crime thrillers use crashing elevators to advance a plot, but that situation rarely happens in real life. More commonly, there is an uptick in user complaints and an increase in service requests. Making the decision to upgrade requires a substantial investment, and is based on financial forecasts as well as actual need. In most cases, the work will increase overall building value, and makes resale values higher.

Improvements are also dependent on hard operational data collected over long periods. Like employees, elevator systems are rated using certain metrics and standards. These include the levels of vibration and noise, how many seconds it takes for doors to shut, the time elapsed traveling between floors, and average passenger wait times. If the figures point to increasing inefficiency, problems may be system-wide.

Technological obsolescence drives many upgrades in existing older buildings. A system may still perform reasonably well, but repairs may be difficult because replacement parts become hard to locate. Some manufacturers have merged, and discontinued production of parts for older units. New systems today are controlled primarily by microchips that become superseded by the next generation in an astonishingly short amount of time.

If a building was built more than two decades ago, some deterioration is inevitable. The extent can be analyzed by a modernization firm, which is able to assess both acceleration and stopping time, how long it takes doors to close and open, and whether riders are bothered by excess vibration. An assessment relies on realistic, factual data rather than basing recommendations on user ratings alone.

An upgrade evaluation helps prevent unexpected costs during the actual renovation. To meet modern building and seismic codes, updates may also be needed on associated systems such as smoke detection and electrical infrastructure. Arrays that tolerated older types of wiring and backup power may not work as planned when converted to a digital systems, and upgrades may be necessary throughout the structure.

Modernization involves more than increasing speed. Most new systems do not actually move faster, but give that impression due to the increased efficiency created by computerization. Like other forms of 21st century technology, new microprocessors are not only able to recognize and meet higher demand, but are also capable of learning when peak traffic occurs, and of compensating when changes in passenger loads occur.

Newer system technologies reduce operating costs by using energy more efficiently. Not only do they seem faster, but many are able to substantially reduce interior noise, eliminate unnecessary trips between floors, and respond to calls more quickly. Some are capable of changing destinations or grouping them according to requests. They improve service, build customer satisfaction, and increase the overall value of the building.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment