Modernization refers to the process of upgrading components of your elevator system to improve its performance, efficiency and/or its appearance. There are many reasons to look to modernization of your elevator including parts scarcity. While an elevator can be used for decades, older models may require parts which are increasingly difficult to source. In some cases, you might consider upgrading obsolete components of your elevator to an alternate system that offers better energy efficiency, easier maintenance, and safety code compliance.
If your passenger cab has a vintage character that you prefer to retain, many modernizations can be done outside of passenger view. Conversely, if you have recently purchased your building, it may come with an elevator whose cabin does not match the esthetic of your new business. In this case, modernization would involve upgrading the components visible to passengers (e.g., door panels, button panels, inner cabin).
Whatever the reason for your interest in modernizing your elevator, it does not require overhauling your whole system, and we work within the framework currently installed as much as possible. A modernized elevator will meet safety code and can offer energy savings with high efficiency components and LED lighting.
What Does Elevator Modernization Entail?
These modernizations offer the look of a new elevator and increase the value of your asset. New floors, walls, and handrails offer your passengers a modern esthetic and are further accented by additional modernizations such as lighting or digital displays.
When your passengers enter the cabin, they immediately turn to face the button panel before selecting their destination floor. Modernizing to backlit, stylized buttons with LED lighting and lowering the button panel for universal access are among the most frequent upgrades here.
Door equipment is critical for a reliable and safe elevator system and should be considered in planning your modernization. Doors can meet in the middle or can consist of one large panel. The inner and outer door panels can be reclad in stainless steel for a modern look.
The machine is the power center that drives the elevator system and potentially completes hundreds of thousands of lifts throughout its service tenure. Upgrading your machines to a gearless system uses less power and may even harness and convert usable power from empty lifts.
Older generations of elevator controls consisted of a mass of hundreds of wires, which made troubleshooting more difficult and time consuming. New digital controls and diagnostic tools mean faster identification of concerns and their cause. Having done away with wire bundles, new systems are streamlined for ease of maintenance.
New digital systems allow commercial and residential building elevators to be operated with identification cards, allowing the system to determine which floors are accessible to the resident or employee, or to predict which floor is required based on digital identification. Digital identification can even be programmed to dispatch directly to a preferred floor without stops
Passenger Elevators
These are used by the public to move people and things between floors, with some small, personalized versions installed in homes. Passenger elevators can commonly be found in hospitals, shopping centres and buildings over four floors. High rise buildings cannot operate without elevators to bring their patrons or residents to the upper levels, so elevators are not only a convenience in this case – they are a necessity. Passenger elevator owners are concerned for the esthetic appearance of their elevators as well as their reliable operation. Cabin modernizations are most common in passenger elevators.
Freight Elevators
These workhorses are intended to move things rather than people. As well as passenger elevators, freight elevators may be found in hospitals. These elevators are typically steel with doors opening to the full width of the elevator car. These elevators transport hospital beds, food trays, equipment and supplies and are, therefore, more concerned with durability of the inner cab than its appearance. Modernizations typically include stainless steel paneling and steel guardrails.
Helping You Save Energy
An important component of modernization is the move to LED lighting. LED lights offer long life cycles and significantly reduce the amount of energy required for lighting. In addition to this, modernization allows sensors to be installed in order to decrease energy use when the passenger cabin is empty. Sensors may also be used to identify slow periods throughout the day where elevator trips can be reduced.
Safety Compliance
Modernizing your elevator should have the effect of bringing it in line with provincial safety code requirements. Elevator safety has evolved to include redundancy of safety mechanisms and more stringent requirements around the supervision of components and preventative maintenance. Advances in technology facilitates quicker diagnosis and repair, and digital accuracy of newer systems allows precise stopping which all-but eliminates trips and falls over the threshold. Modernizing your elevator system is the best way to ensure that you offer your passengers a safe and comfortable ride.
Elevator service, maintenance and modernization in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, New West, Coquitlam and surrounding communities.
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