Commercial buildings and facilities need to ensure that their elevators and escalators are in line with other technology improvements in buildings, according to the Elevator Consultants.
The consulting firm said that commercial buildings and facilities are constantly undergoing shifts to keep up with innovations in safety, technology and user experience.
“The advent of sophisticated building management technology has resulted in ‘smart’ buildings that improve operational efficiencies while enhancing the experience of the people who own, manage and occupy them,” the firm said. “However, you might be surprised at how many buildings overlook technology of their elevators, escalators or lifts in their stack of technology tools. It might be more understandable in older buildings, but even many of the newer buildings, those making improvements or renovations or even seeking LEED certifications, may still overlook the specific importance of elevator and escalator technology.
The company also noted that buildings often focus on elevator aesthetics, leaving mechanical and operational best practices as an afterthought, saying, “Many simply leave the elevator service companies to handle things. Building personnel, of course, have no reason to think that they shouldn’t do that; after all, most don’t have the time or specialized knowledge of that equipment themselves.”
The Elevator Consultants also highlighted that regular preventative maintenance is not being performed in buildings all over the world, which often results in incidents involving elevators and escalators. However, the firm said, “by integrating elevator maintenance monitoring software into a building, owners and managers can have data which empowers their operations; they receive holistic insight that helps them make the best decisions for the building.”
According to the company, buildings should consider implementing elevator technology like other building systems that are automated and tracked: “Buildings can gain insight which can be crucial, particularly in the wake of a safety issue. An elevator should be an asset to a building, not a liability.”
The Elevator Consultants is an elevator consulting firm helping building owners, property managers, building engineers, facility managers, and REIT’s oversee and optimize their elevator and vertical transportation assets.