Friday, October 17, 2014

How An Elevator Modernization Company Improves Service By Increasing Efficiency

By Patty Goff


Summoning an elevator in some older structures can become an exercise in personal patience. Overloaded cars arrive, only to be followed by others that are empty due to poor electrical timing. Buildings older than ten years may develop chronic service problems, making it imperative to install a system that attracts and retains desirable tenants. An elevator modernization company helps building owners plan and carry out that transition.

While dramatic films use falling elevators to their advantage, that situation rarely occurs. More often there is simply an increase in complaints and emergency service calls. Deciding when to make the substantial investment that accompanies an upgrade is based on financial forecasting as well as actual physical conditions. An upgrade adds value to a building, and determines when it can be sold profitably.

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.

In older structures, obsolescence also drives an upgrade. Even when a system still works well for its age, replacement parts may be hard to get, making repairs more difficult than necessary. Many manufacturers have merged, and discontinued making and maintaining outdated equipment. Newer hardware is usually controlled by microprocessors, and like most computer chips, improved models appear before the old ones wear out.

If a building was constructed more than two decades ago, deterioration is likely. Modernization firms can confirm the extent of aging by creating an assessment that accurately measures acceleration and slowing, the level of vibration riders experience, and the length of time doors take opening and closing. This evaluation details objective facts rather than relying on user opinions.

An assessment can also prevent any unexpected costs that arise during an upgrade. To meet all modern seismic and construction codes, additional work may be necessary to modernize associated systems such as internal electrical wiring, or high-rise smoke detection. Older backup generators or wiring composition may not work well with a digital elevator system, requiring additional internal improvements.

There is more to modernization than providing faster service. Although most new systems seem much speedier than the old, that perception is usually based on increased efficiency rather than actual changes in acceleration. Similar to other forms of digital technology, the microprocessors employed can often recognize and adjust to greater demand, and some are able to compensate for heavier traffic by adjusting their operations independently.

Newer technology is also more energy-efficient, reducing operating costs. Not only are updated systems seen as faster by users, but they eliminate wasted trips between floors, cut down on noise, and are usually dispatched more quickly when called. Some can change destinations, or group them for quicker response, improving service by as much as 25 percent and creating more user satisfaction while increasing building value.




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