MAINTENANCE:
WHAT IS ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Elevator Maintenance is used as a preventative measure, as it's implied, to prevent callbacks, shutdowns, entrapments, etc. Maintenance is designed to reduce these issues, not necessarily eliminate them completely. A maintenance mechanic's job is to look over and evaluate how to maintain the equipment to be in proper working order.
Elevator Maintenance is a core part of caring for your elevator. Maintenance is a key aspect to help keep costs down, preventing accidents, and extending the life of your elevator, which in turn keeps your elevator passing inspection.
WHAT DOES ANY OF THAT MEAN?
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Keeping costs down; Mechanics preforming maintenance is to reduce the number of callbacks and shutdowns which reduces the amount the calls or invoices you may get from overtime visits from the mechanic. These types of calls are hard to budget for so the more you can reduce these risks the better.
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Preventing accidents; Elevators are very heavy pieces of machinery. At minimum, they weigh 2,000 lbs. and move at a speed of at least 100 feet per minute. They need proper care, similar to a car; a common example that could happen is the safeties wearing down causing the elevator to stop slightly below the platform, in turn making a tripping hazard that could've been prevented with regular maintenance.
- Extending the life of your elevator; Any piece of working machinery can only last so long, your car has a working life, your computer, etc., Elevators do too. Having the proper care of the elevator can extend that working life before needing updated or replaced completely. If this preventative maintenance isn't preformed, parts will wear out quicker and those timelines for replacements or updates will be forced up by what could be years.
- Elevator passing inspection; Similar to a car, an elevator needs inspected based on your jurisdiction. If the elevator gets written up due to faulty equipment or failure to meet standards, it has to be remedied; however, if it is not remedied, inspectors can have your elevator shut down. Preventive maintenance is here to limit the risks of that happening, not eliminating it completely but significantly lowering those risks and allows your elevator to pass inspection.