3 Reasons You Should Consider Elevator Modernization

In a previous blog, A Glimpse At The Oldest Operating Elevators, we gave examples of the exquisite and elaborate elevator design still in operation since their installation in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Keeping these historic elevators functioning does as much to inspire and raise the conscience of life in early America, as they physically raise those who ride them up to higher floors. Indeed, these mechanical marvels are representative of the upward mobility of the American culture, where freedom reigns, to dream, create, and innovate.

Aesthetically beautiful as these historic elevators are, if your building is not a designated historic site, the noise, cabin appearance, and possible vibration of older elevators traveling up and down the hoistway can bring tenseness to tenants and visitors alike. The tenseness, eventual complaints, and a notice of violation from the Department of Buildings (DOB), prompt building owners to increase elevator maintenance. What’s more, the increased energy costs of running an older elevator, the decreased marketability of attracting tenants to a building, and the decrease in the property value of a building are all vital considerations as well.

The more practical and cost-effective solution to satisfying building tenants, visitors, and the DOB is elevator modernization, which brings about three basic, yet essential, benefits for that office, condo, or apartment building:

Safety Code Compliance: The best reason for performing elevator modernization is that of bringing a building’s elevators in line with the municipal or city elevator safety codes since the lift was initially installed. This compliance will prevent the tragedy of elevator malfunctions, injuries, and fatalities and the costly safety violation penalties and time-consuming process of resolving the violations with authorities.

Reduced Energy Costs: Elevator modernization is the best ‘go green’ initiative to achieve both environmental and cost savings. Retrofitting newer motors and drive systems to an older elevator system will result in less electricity used in the elevator operation, less heat generated, and a reduction in HVAC demands for the hoistway machine room. With elevator modernization, the energy that an elevator’s counterweights and braking system exert in ascending and descending gets fed back into the building to power other electrical systems. Another means of saving energy with elevator modernization is to retrofit the older lighting and illuminated call buttons with LED units, and having standby modes for fans and lighting rather than having such run continuously.

Improved Technology: The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), a professional trade association of the building transport industry, affirms elevator modernization brings the technological advancement known as destination dispatch technology. Destination dispatch technology uses advanced algorithms to optimize the traffic flow within a multi-elevator building, grouping elevator passengers who share similar destinations into the same elevator, reducing the travel, and wait times. Passengers use a touch screen interface to select their floor and get directed to the bin that will carry them to their desired floor level. This technological advancement improves the efficiency of the elevator system by reducing the number of trips, stops, and starts that consume excess energy. Destination dispatch technology may require fewer elevators in multi-floor buildings, opening up the possibility of more rentable space.

Making the right choice in equipment, supplier, and installer are all of the utmost importance. If the equipment is first class and installed properly, you will have years of safe and reliable elevator service for all passengers. Contact Champion Elevator today!