Elevate

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All you ever wanted to know about lifts

Index
Please click on the following sections: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 16 17 19 21 23 24 25 26 27 Introduction A Safe Way to Travel How Lifts Work Lift Owners’ Responsibilities When Accidents Happen Lift Laws and Regulations The Lift Regulations 1997 PUWER 98* LOLER 98* HSE and Other Guidance* Insurance Modernising Your Lift What you should know: - when taking over a modernised lift installation - when taking over an existing lift installation Caring for Your Lift Maintenance Agreements* How to Finance Your Lift Installation Tax Relief on Your Lift Installation Lift Facts Films etc about Lifts Lift Associations etc

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* Acknowledgement is made to publications by LEIA from which parts of these sections have been extracted.

Introduction
It is hard to imagine what life would be like without lifts without them, the very idea of a building above three storeys would be preposterous. After all, how would people be able to get to the top of the Empire State Building in New York without a lift? Before lifts arrived, masonry buildings were built only five or six storeys high. Although buildings could have been built higher than this, fatigue and loss of time caused by stairs reduced the commercial value of higher buildings. Lifts (or Elevators as they are called in the United States) aren't just for moving passengers. The implications for industry has been considerable by the advances in lift technology over the years. But the concept of powered elevation should not be credited to the 19th Century. The world's first great civil and structural engineers, the Romans, were the first to design and build them, using ropes and pulleys. From ancient times through the Middle Ages, and into the 13th century, man or animal power was the driving force behind hoisting devices. It is believed that the pyramids of Egypt and the temples of Mexico and Guatemala were built using a simple elevator system powered by the muscular energy of slaves. The first modern elevator is said to have been built in 1743 in France for Louis XV at the Palace of Versailles. In the 18th Century, long before Mr Otis burst onto the scene, steam engine powered lifts were in daily use although they were considered unsafe for passengers. By 1850, hydraulic elevators had been introduced. The year 1852 saw the invention of the world's first safety elevator by Elisha Graves Otis whose company installed the first passenger elevator in New York in 1857 powered by electricity. By 1915, further advances in lift technology put thousands of lift operators out of work when lift cars offered a simple press-button facility for passengers to select the floor of their choice on their own. The electric motor was introduced in elevator construction in 1880 by the German inventor Werner von Siemens. His lift car, carrying the motor below, climbed its shaft by means of revolving pinion gears that engaged racks at the sides of the shaft. An electric elevator was constructed in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1887, operated by an electric motor turning a revolving drum on which the hoisting rope was wound. Although the 20th Century saw hundreds of thousands of lifts installed in buildings, by the 1990's the need for a lift solution as a replacement lift in existing buildings was clearly in demand. A British engineer, Paul Britton, invented a new type of lift called the Imago. The Imago is the only concept that can provide an enlarged replacement lift within an existing lift shaft and at the same time minimises additional builders work and eliminates structural engineer's fees. The Imago is a hydraulic lift individually designed and custom built to take account of the restrictions imposed by existing buildings. It offers improvement on traditional lifts in that the lift is driven directly from below, rather than as a cantilevered system, which can impose high loadings on the shaft walls. Unlike other lifts, the Imago does not require load-bearing walls as the weight of the lift is transferred into the ground below, away from the shaft walls.

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A Safe Way to Travel
Lifts (and escalators) are among the very few modes of transportation available for continuous unsupervised use. Most people - from the very young to the elderly and infirm, can use them. Despite this, or because of this, they are by far the safest forms of travel. Although British/European Standards impose strict and comprehensive safety requirements and equipment is thoroughly checked and tested before being put into service, there are other factors as well that affect those charged with the responsibility for the maintenance of a lift. Despite the great care taken in the design of equipment to ensure the safety of users, it is essential that it is regularly checked and properly maintained and that any such work is entrusted only to competent persons with the relevant specialist knowledge. The duty of care placed upon lift owners, makes it a legal requirement to ensure that lifts are maintained to a safe standard.

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How Lifts Work
Market leaders, Otis Elevator Company, describe clearly how lifts work. This is what they say: "In a geared or gearless traction system (used in mid-rise and high-rise installations, respectively), the elevator car is supported in a hoistway by several steel hoist ropes, usually two sheaves, and a counterweight. The weight of the car and counterweight provides sufficient traction between the sheaves and the hoist ropes so that the sheaves can grip the hoist ropes and move and hold the car without excessive slipping. The car and counterweights ride along vertical guide rails to keep them from swaying. The machinery to drive the elevator is located in a machine room usually directly above the elevator hoistway. To feed electricity to the car and receive electrical signals from it, a multi-wire electrical cable connects the machine room to the car. The end attached to the car moves with it, so the cable is called the "travelling cable." A geared machine has a higher-speed motor, and the drive sheave is connected to the motor shaft through gears in a gearbox, which reduce the rotational speed of the motor shaft to a lower drive-sheave speed. The gearless machine has a slow speed motor, and the drive sheave is connected directly to the motor shaft. In a hydraulic system (used primarily in low-rise installations, where moderate car speed is acceptable), a car is connected to the top of a long piston that moves up and down in a cylinder. The car moves up when oil is pumped into the cylinder from a reservoir, raising the piston. The car is lowered when the oil returns to the reservoir. The lifting action can be direct (piston connected to the car) or roped (piston attached to car via ropes). In both methods, the work done by the motor pump (kinetic energy) to lift the car to a higher elevation gives the car the ability to do work (potential energy). This energy transfer occurs each time the car is raised. When the car is lowered, the potential energy is used up, and the energy cycle is complete. The up and down motions of the elevator car are controlled by the hydraulic valve."

SOURCE: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY

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Lift Owners’ Responsibilities
Owners have a responsibility under the law and need to keep up to date with any changes that might affect their lift equipment. Although it's recognised that this is a highly specialised and sometimes complicated area, assistance is available from reputable lift manufacturers, maintenance contractors and building services consultants. Many specialist building services consultants will also be aware of all the current requirements and good practice affecting lifts and can provide advice to building maintenance managers. When an insurance inspector regularly examines equipment, they too will normally be able to advise on matters such as a breach of legislation or where passenger safety is concerned. Both employers and employees have a duty of care in relation to the health and safety of people or property which may be affected by their actions, or failure to act. It means that building owners, or those who have responsibility for controlling buildings, are required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to ensure that their premises are safe and free from risk to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes access to the premises and plant, articles and substances used and in this particular respect the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations will be relevant. The Management of Health and Safety Regulations require that every employer make an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees and those not within his employment who might be affected by the conduct of his undertaking. Lift contractors have a duty as employers to ensure those in their employment are not exposed to health and safety risks from their business activities, so far as is reasonably practicable. Although there is no requirement for a lift contractor to inform a building maintenance manager of changes in codes of practice or legislation, there falls to both parties a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and under both criminal and civil law to provide safe plant and equipment, safe systems of work, adequate information, instruction, training and supervision and failure to do so may render those concerned in breach of criminal and/or civil law.

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When Accidents Happen
There is legal requirement to report certain types of injury to the appropriate authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. All fatalities or incidents involving serious injury at work must be reported as soon as possible. Normally incidents involving injury are reported to the local authority environmental health officer. There should be a safety officer in the building where the lift is installed who will fulfil these obligations. Injuries on construction sites have to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. In addition, there is an obligation to report certain categories of disease and, in the case of a dangerous occurrence, a controller of the premises must be informed. Certain types of dangerous occurrences are also reportable, especially where load-bearing parts of lifts have unexpectedly failed, even if no injuries have resulted.

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Lift Laws and Regulations
As you might expect, there's considerable legislation and guidance affecting lifts and which covers the responsibilities of employers and their employees in respect of health and safety. Failure to comply with many health and safety requirements can amount to a criminal offence to be dealt with by the courts. Judgements in a criminal court are intended to punish, deter and reform, but not generally to compensate an injured party. A criminal case must be proved "beyond reasonable doubt" and insurance is not available covering penalties imposed under criminal law. Failure to comply with health and safety responsibilities can also give rise to a civil liability under contract or tort, which includes negligence. Compensation for injury and loss is dealt with by the civil courts where a case must be proved on "the balance of probability" but in this respect insurance is available to cover damages that may be awarded. Where the law of statute is concerned there are a number of statutory instruments that might apply - the most recent being the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is always of particular importance. The specific provisions of the first two are covered later, but it is the Health and Safety at Work etc Act that is by far the most significant of health and safety legislation. It covers many general duties, placing responsibilities on employers, directors and managers as well as individual employees. It also covers a growing list of subordinate regulations - such as The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, Noise at Work and Head Protection. Breach of the provisions of the Act amounts to a criminal offence and in addition there may be a liability for breach of a duty of care under the Regulations. It should also be appreciated that the law provides that a Health and Safety Executive Inspector or local authority environmental officer as appropriate, may serve an Improvement or Prohibition Notice on an employer where the safety of equipment might be in question. In addition to the above there is significant new health and safety legislation emanating from Europe. This is a consequence of a wide range of EC Directives as they become transposed into national law. There are key Directives for the construction industry that apply at various stages of the installation process; for instance, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations implementing the Temporary and Mobile Sites Directive.).

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The Lift Regulations 1997
These Regulations, introduced in 1997, became mandatory from 1st July 1999 and apply to all new lifts placed upon the market from this date. The Regulations enact a European Directive aimed at harmonising requirements for lifts and at the same time setting minimum standards of safety throughout the European Union. Compliance with the Regulations is deemed to be fulfilled where the lift installation is in accordance with an approved Harmonised Standard and in such event the lift installer is authorised to inspect, test, affix the CE marking and issue the necessary Declaration of Conformity - always providing he has been assessed and has received ISO 9000 certification as required under the Regulations. Should this not be the case the installation is required to have third party approval by a notified body. The CE marking, which will be affixed in the lift car, is an indication of compliance with the Regulations and that the installation has undergone the appropriate conformity assessment procedures. The Lifts Regulations apply only to new lifts installed after 1st July 1999 - they are not retrospective in application. However at the time the European Directive was approved, recommendations were made at the behest of the European Parliament for improving safety standards on existing lifts.

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PUWER 98
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
These Regulations came into force on 5th December 1998 - they apply to new and existing work equipment and replace 1972 Regulations under the same title. A lift constitutes "work equipment" whether it is used in the conventional way for transporting persons and goods at work or by those at work undertaking a maintenance activity. The lift owner, either as the employer of those using the lift or as the person employing the services of those undertaking the maintenance of the lift, has a responsibility for ensuring its suitability for the work to be undertaken. "Work Equipment" means any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work. There is an apparent anomaly in the requirements in that where a lift is primarily for the use of members of the public, for example in a shopping centre, it is not subject to the Regulations as it is not considered to be "Work Equipment". However, the owner of such a lift still has to satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and it is stated such requirements will probably be satisfied by compliance with the (PUWER 98) Regulations. The same can be said for the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. The PUWER 98 Regulations need to be considered together with other statutory duties such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. Risk Assessment is the method to be used in the selection of suitable work equipment and work procedures taking into account the tasks to be undertaken and conditions of use. PUWER 98 Regulation 5 requires every employer to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. "Efficient" the word used in the Regulations actually relates to the condition of the equipment and how it might affect health and safety. It is important, therefore, that equipment is maintained so that its performance does not deteriorate to the extent that it puts people at risk. Maintenance should only be undertaken by those who have received adequate information, instruction and training. Whilst it is not possible to detail specific requirements under PUWER 98 which might relate to lift applications - these can vary according to circumstances - a good example would be guarding of dangerous parts of machinery. The HSE definition of a dangerous part is any piece of work equipment that, when used in its foreseeable way, can cause injury. The main parts of lift equipment to be guarded could, dependent upon the results of a risk assessment, include traction sheaves, multiplying and divertor pulleys, fixed flywheels and rotating safety governor wheels.

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LOLER 98
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
These Regulations came into force on the 5th December 1998 and stem from the same European Directive as PUWER which itself was amended in 1995. The main feature of LOLER - so far as lifts that carry persons are concerned - is the requirement to for the lifts to be thoroughly examined at least every six months or in accordance with a written scheme. In the case of goodsonly lifts, thorough examinations are to be undertaken at least every twelve months or in accordance with a written scheme. A competent person should undertake the thorough examination. A competent person is defined within these Regulations as someone who "has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued safe use of the lifting equipment". Under LOLER, the term "thorough examination" includes, where necessary, testing. During a thorough examination the competent person has to decide whether a test is necessary. The Regulations set down the required information to be contained in a report of a thorough examination which includes the following (please note that this is not intended to cover all the text within the Regulations but covers substantially the main requirements): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The name and address of the employer for whom the thorough examination was made. The address of the premises at which the thorough examination was made. Particulars sufficient to identify the equipment and where known its date of manufacture. The date of the last thorough examination. The safe working load of the equipment. In relation to the first thorough examination that the equipment has been installed correctly and is safe. Identification of any part found to have a defect which is or could become a danger to persons, particulars of any repair, renewal or alteration required to remedy any such defects: in the case of a defect which is not yet but could become a danger to persons - the time by which it could become such a danger and particulars of any remedial repair necessary;
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The name, address and qualifications of the person making the report (whether he is self-employed or, if employed, the name and address of his employer). The name and address of a person signing or authenticating the report on behalf of its author.

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10. The date of the report.

the latest date by which the next thorough examination must be carried out; where the thorough examination included testing, particulars of any test; the date of the thorough examination.

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HSE and Other Guidance
The Health and Safety Executive produce Guidance Notes on particular topics in pursuance of its duty to advise on safety matters relating to plant and machinery. A number of these have specific relevance to the inspection and tests of lifts and escalators. SAFED GUIDELINES ON THE THOROUGH EXAMINATION AND TESTING OF LIFTS (LG1) These guidelines provide a selection of recommended examinations and tests along with their associated periodicity's that are designed to supplement and support where appropriate the thorough examination undertaken by a competent person as required by LOLER Regulation 9. Although published by the Safety Assessment Federation Ltd (SAFed), LG1 was produced by an industry Working Group chaired by the HSE. The Guidelines are fully supported by HSE and hold similar status to that of the earlier HSE Guidance Note PM7. They represent best practice and if followed will normally be regarded as sufficient to comply with health and safety law. LG1 replaced HSE Guidance Note PM7 with effect from 15th December 1998. The examinations and tests detailed within the SAFed Guidelines are more comprehensive than the HSE Guidance it replaced and now include ones for hydraulic lifts. Reference is also made to scenic lifts. It is important to appreciate that it is the duty and responsibility of the employer (lift owner) to have their lift(s) thoroughly examined as required by Regulation 9 of LOLER. It is also the duty of the employer (lift owner) to employ a competent person to undertake such thorough examinations. The need for any supplementary examinations and tests undertaken will invariably be decided by the competent person undertaking the statutory thorough examination. The competent person will make the decision on what particular examinations and tests are required using as a basis the results of a risk assessment of the lift. Any such supplementary examinations and tests deemed necessary will normally be, but dependent upon particular situations may be different from, those detailed in LG1. The person that undertakes LG1 examinations and tests or any other particular examination or test called for by the competent person may not be the competent person that undertakes the statutory thorough examination as required by LOLER. Any person that does undertake LG1 examinations and tests or any other examinations or tests should however be competent for that purpose. For the detail of the thorough examination and tests a copy of the Guidelines should be obtained from SAFed Ltd, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, Butlers Wharf, London SE1 2NY.

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HSE and Other Guidance
OTHER GUIDANCE - RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY OF EXISTING LIFTS About the time when the European Directive for lifts was approved, the European Commission, at the direction of the European Parliament, issued a Recommendation concerning the improvement of safety of existing lifts. The UK Government felt it could not set down requirements for new lifts without having some regard for the safety of existing equipment. The Recommendations comprise ten items, which briefly cover the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The lift should be fitted with car doors That suspension cables are inspected and replaced where necessary That control systems will provide an adequate degree of levelling at landings Controls to be capable of being used by an accompanied disabled person The fitting of human presence detectors on automatic doors Safety gears when initiated to provide controlled deceleration 7. 8. 9. A two-way 24 hour communication system in the event of a breakdown Elimination of any asbestos, particularly in braking systems The fitting of a device to prevent uncontrolled upward movement of the car THE POINTS COVERED IN THE GUIDE INCLUDE:
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The fitting of electronic protective devices on lift doors Controls to protect maintenance personnel when travelling on the car top Floor levelling with particular regard for the infirm and partially sighted Two-way communication for persons who may become trapped in the car A device to warn against overloading the car Guarding of moving machinery Protection of voids in the lift well and the risk of falling Provision for the safe release of passengers

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10. Provision of emergency lighting

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The list is not exhaustive and it is recommended the European EN 81 Standards be applied wherever possible towards the improvement of safety. With the above Recommendations in mind the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) has produced "An Owners Guide to Lift Safety - In a Changing Environment". The Guide picks up certain of the Commission's Recommendations recognising that these are directed at all member states of the European Union whereas the UK has its own priorities. The Guide also covers a few additional recommendations which it was felt should have equal priority in the light of practical experience.

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Insurance
Both building owners and lift maintenance contractors have a responsibility to carry insurance. Although insurance can cover damages awarded by the civil courts, it is not available against penalties imposed under criminal law. This applies equally to the building owner and the lift maintenance contractor. You should also bear in mind that any insurance policy may well include "exceptions to cover" and these might comprise:
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Losses brought about by dishonesty, including theft. Accidental injury to an employee - because such a risk would be covered under Employer's Liability Insurance. Injury or damage unless arising from an act, error or omission in professional advice, design, instruction, specification or supervision. Money recoverable under the terms of any other policy. A claim arising from an agreement to pay penalties or liquidated damages. A liability arising from radioactivity, nuclear waste etc. Damage to property as a result of war etc.

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Modernising Your Lift
In the USA, research by Building Owners and Managers Association indicates that dissatisfaction with lifts is the second most often quoted reason for tenants breaking or not renewing their leases. Dissatisfaction goes beyond the functional side of things - lifts have to "look good" as well as "working well". The lift is at the heart of a building and largely determines how well it functions. As the primary mode of transportation in many buildings, it lays a key role in the day-to-day lives of tenants and visitors who expect the lift to move them quickly and quietly. The interesting thing is that unless there's an obvious problem such as a blown light bulb, a bumpy ride, slower than usual response time, uneven floor levels or an actual shut down - most lift travellers give the humble lift little thought. But building owners or managers can afford to ignore their lift at their peril. Lifts are sophisticated pieces of equipment and use complex technology. They can represent the most important and costly square footage in any building. It makes sense to regularly and properly maintain this key item of equipment and, when it needs updating or a face-lift, to undertake a modernisation programme. Fred Gold, whose pre-war building on West 81st Street in New York enjoyed a refit in the mid 1990s puts it well: "the elevator is an extension of the lobby and hallways". For a successful modernisation, the lift engineer you choose needs expertise in four key areas: 1. Technical - knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the lift equipment and the ongoing advantages of modernisation in avoiding costly problems - such as major breakdowns or litigation claims. Awareness - knowledge of the whole range of equipment that is available and its compatibility with existing equipment. The Law - knowledge of legal requirements and standards. Competence - high quality installation skills with particular attention to detail and safety. The costs and benefits of modernisation compared to a new lift are very appealing. For example, a new lift might cost say £30,000 whilst modernisation could cost somewhere between £10,000 and £25,000. Modernisation can be undertaken in a modular pay-as-yougo way - perhaps over a 5-year period. For example, the lift doors might be replaced this year, the interior décor and carpeting the following year, the lighting the year after that and so on. Modernisation can thus be carried out in line with any budgetary limitations that may exist.

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Modernising Your Lift
Today, lifts can be modernised, with minimal disruption, by:
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Installing a new fully compliant, state of the art microprocessor control system with fault logging facilities. Providing a new direct acting two speed drive system to improve the ride quality and enable accurate floor levelling. Installing new doors - providing better door control and safer operation. Replacing existing wall panels with new attractive plastic laminate, stainless steel, wood veneers or baked enamel finished panels in any style and colour of your choice. Alternatively, the whole of the lift car can be replaced with a modern interior. Adding attractive new lighting with a translucent suspended ceiling or several variations of cove lighting configurations. Installing new handrails, fold away seat (to assist the less mobile) or flooring of in any design or colour of your choice.
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Replacing existing safety systems with today's state of the art technology - such as an infrared door obstruction detection system. This equipment does not require passenger contact before re-opening the automatic doors and will prevent a potential trapping hazard. Installing internally lighted translucent buttons, tamperresistant buttons, security buttons, or hands free telephone for emergency communication along with matching hall buttons. Installing emergency lighting in the lift car in case of power failure. Replacing the entire system, using the existing lift shaft to install a larger passenger lift.

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What You Should Know
When taking over a new or fully modernised lift installation
The building maintenance manager can reasonably expect that new equipment will comply with all current legislation and standards as well as any other Health and Safety Executive requirements. In addition, the law requires that all lifts installed after 1st July 1999 comply with the Lifts Regulations. The contractor supplying the equipment will normally have provided a 12-month warranty covering parts and labour and in some cases as an extension of the commissioning phase. The contract for supply may include certain work of maintenance for limited period in order to fine-tune the equipment as it settles into the building. The building maintenance manager should be aware of such arrangements but should also appreciate that the warranty is not a substitute for the maintenance that is essential from the time the equipment is put into service. Such maintenance, at least for the first year of service, should be placed with the manufacturer in order to protect the rights under the warranty and ensure necessary adjustments are undertaken.
CAUTIONARY NOTE.

Caution should be exercised where proprietary electronic equipment exists, requiring the need for specialist training and knowledge.

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What You Should Know
When taking over an existing lift installation
In the case of an existing installation, it should not be assumed that the equipment complies with all the current regulations and/or standards. Compliance is particularly unlikely in the event of equipment that is over ten years of age. Consideration may need to be given to access for the disabled because old equipment is unlikely to meet present day requirements. It is therefore recommended that the building maintenance manager arranges to have the equipment surveyed either by a specialist building services consultant or a lift/escalator contractor. In addition to checking for breach of legislation or current health and safety requirements, checks should be made for other shortcomings in the equipment which might have a bearing upon safe working. For example, top of car inspection control, pit stop switches, shaft lighting, pit props and safe access should be provided. These additional recommendations are contained within BS 7255 "Safe Working on Lifts". Escalators require balustrade skirting deflector devices, adequate stop buttons or appropriate safety notices. The general condition of the equipment should be inspected with regard to wear and tear and anything that might require urgent attention and to assist in budgeting for future requirements. Particular attention should be given to the following: FIRE
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ALARM SYSTEMS
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Where a fire certificate for the building exists, you should check that its conditions are met. Where there is no building fire certificate, you should check that the equipment satisfies the requirements of the local fire authority. If a "fireman's" lift exists does it perform satisfactorily? If a "fire fighting" lift exists are the arrangements in place for the necessary tests to be undertaken?

It is advisable to check on the adequacy of the communications/alarm system to deal with the problem of people becoming trapped in the lift car. Many existing lifts rely on an alarm bell to attract attention. This may not be sufficient particularly where the equipment might be used when the building has been otherwise vacated. Often a telephone or some form of oral communication system will be necessary even if the extent of access to external lines is restricted. The number of possibilities, which will depend on the building usage and degree of internal security.

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NOTE:

EVACUATION
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Do the building construction content documents permit that any lifts may be used for evacuation purposes? If so, are the relevant building management systems and periodic testing arrangements in place?

Under the Lifts Regulations a permanent two-way voice communication system is a requirement for lifts put into service from 1st July 1999. Many maintenance contractors now have a 24-hour manned facility and can provide twoway voice communication in the event passengers become trapped in lifts cars, whilst at the same time initiating an emergency call-out for release purposes. Such facilities are normally part of a remote monitoring system, informing a control centre immediately a fault takes place.

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What You Should Know
When taking over an existing lift installation
LIGHTING
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Is there adequate emergency lighting in the lift car and motor room? In the event of a power failure, this backup illumination will assist in comforting passengers and in gaining safe access to the machine room to enable release procedures to be carried out.

You should also remember that, within the useful life expectancy of a building (perhaps as much as 60 years), an up-grading or even total replacement, of the equipment might occur on three, if not four occasions. It is clearly desirable, therefore, to take this into account when looking at long term budgeting arrangements.

FUTURE COST IMPLICATIONS
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It is impossible to predict costs that might arise out of implementing future legislative changes, which are not always required to have immediate effect. In order, therefore, to budget for possible expenditure, it is clearly important that the building maintenance manager is aware of prospective changes at the earliest possible time. This is particularly relevant in the case of lifts which tend to have a longer life cycle than most if not all forms of transportation.

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Caring for your Lift
Life expectancy of equipment depends largely on environment and usage. As a general guide, providing proper maintenance has been undertaken, generally geared type lift equipment can have a life expectancy of 25 years for the main components and 15 years for the control system. In the case of gearless machines, the main drive machinery could have a life of 40 years or longer. In both cases this assumes the duty cycle is not significantly changed from the original specification. However, it must be pointed out there are a number of component parts which will require replacement - perhaps several times within these life cycles - such as suspension ropes for lifts and escalators drive chains. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE Maintenance of lifts and escalators is not an optional extra, nor should a "breakdown only" approach be adopted. In addition to the equipment being required to be of good mechanical construction, of sound material and adequate strength, the statutory provisions extend to requiring proper maintenance. Preventative maintenance is best employed in order to preserve the operational integrity of the installation. Such maintenance has many virtues. REGULAR SITE VISITS:
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which may extend for up to twenty years. Lesser agreements are available but will not afford the same benefits. It is important in these cases to consider the scope of what is being offered and the exclusions.

Ensure continued safe functioning of the equipment Minimise the time that equipment might otherwise be out-of-service Secure the availability of trained personnel able to respond promptly in the event of a breakdown Prolong the life and performance of the installation.

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Preventative maintenance also has the benefit of protecting the value of the investment in the product and spreading the cost more evenly over a longer period of time. Whilst the extent of maintenance undertaken may vary, a fully comprehensive maintenance arrangement is that which will provide maximum cover for the client fulfilling the benefits described above. This type of agreement serves to anticipate the needs of the equipment and therefore the cost and provision of parts requiring replacement as they become worn. Manufacturers/maintainers can thus spread their costs to the benefit of the client and over a period

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Caring for your Lift
FREQUENCY OF MAINTENANCE VISITS A fully comprehensive agreement will provide for the appropriate number of visits to suit a particular installation. However, where there is a high usage or if a continuation of service is particularly vital, the frequency of visits may need to be increased. On the other hand there may be occasions where fewer visits can be tolerated, ie where the equipment has limited use and is of relatively simple design. In any event consideration should be given as to when the equipment being taken out of service for maintenance will cause least convenience. One of the important objectives of a full maintenance agreement is to minimise inconvenience caused by interruption in the service and the complaints that might result. A lift is an essential feature of building services and their continued availability reflects upon the effectiveness and efficiency of the building as a whole, and therefore its value to the occupier. HOW WELL "TRAINED" ARE YOUR LIFT MAINTENANCE PEOPLE? The quality of maintenance offered inevitably rests on the skills of the operative, together with those who provide specialist support. The extent to which such persons have been trained is therefore important, particularly in keeping abreast of changes in technology and current safety legislation. Building maintenance managers should, therefore, seek reassurance to this effect from the company whose services they intend to employ. They might wish at the same time to enquire about the company's Safety Policy and whether the company has undertaken a risk assessment of the work to be undertaken as both are requirements in law. Within every lift machine room there should be information on the safe release of passengers. The building maintenance manager may have members of staff trained specifically to undertake such a task. The manufacturer/maintainer will normally be willing to provide training but persons undertaking such activity must do so only with written authority of their employer. It is also to recommended that such training is up-dated periodically. REPORTING You should keep some form of log for recording work carried out during visits to site (usually kept in the lift machine room). The maintenance company will keep a similar record at its office. If, in addition, clients require periodic reports on the state of the equipment, then the maintenance company must be informed as to the required frequency of such reports. The extent of information required and the person to whom this should be submitted should be clearly stated.

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Maintenance Agreements
Whilst there is a range of different types of agreement, usually these fall into three basic categories. In addition to the three types of agreement described below, a separate report on the general condition of the equipment might be required for the information of the tenant, owner or insurer. Such a report would arise out of an inspection only and would not involve work on the equipment of any nature. Long-term agreements will usually be on a continuing basis but will provide for a period of notice of termination as well as for price variation. It is usual in the case of long-term agreements to provide for a variation of the price at a predetermined anniversary date and in accordance with an agreed method, such as the index produced by the Lift and Escalator Industry Association. Terms for payment will be subject to agreement between the parties concerned. FULLY COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS These may cover the replacement of most, if not all, component parts required to keep the equipment in a satisfactory working order and may include performancerelated maintenance in appropriate circumstances. This type of agreement has the advantage of spreading the cost and extending the life of the equipment whilst facilitating budgeting of annual expenditure. COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS These are similar to the fully comprehensive agreements but the replacement of major components will be excluded, ie the main machine, or jack in the case of a hydraulic lift and controller. This allows clients to make their own insurance arrangements if desired. SERVICE AGREEMENTS These will normally cover cleaning, oiling and adjusting the equipment as well as the undertaking of an inspection and provision of a report in the event any defects are discovered. Service agreements are more appropriate for those choosing to take a short-term view leaving the owner of the equipment to decide on the degree and timing of a repair investment programme. In the event the lift is in a building which may be left unoccupied for any period of time, and where no other form of maintenance/service agreement exists, interim maintenance will be required in order that the equipment is kept in a satisfactory operating condition. This is because lack of use can itself cause deterioration as the equipment relies upon movement for its own lubrication.

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Maintenance Agreements
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LIFT BREAKS DOWN? Having decided on the scope and type of maintenance agreement, you will also need to consider what provision should be made for attendance in the event of a breakdown. Most specialist contractors can provide a 24-hour, sevenday breakdown attendance. However, attendance at night times, weekends or during public holidays can be costly and care should be taken in considering the extent of need before requiring such provision. Where there is a need to call for a visit to site, outside the contracted visits, every endeavour will be made to ensure this takes place the same day, and in the shortest possible time particularly in the event persons are entrapped in the car and require assistance. It follows that great care should also be exercised in delegating responsibility to those authorised to summon attendance where this is required outside normal working hours and where there is no provision for this to be undertaken under the maintenance / service agreement. Nevertheless it is well recognised that for certain types of premises, such as hospitals and hotels, there is justification for having a maintenance agreement which provides for a full 24-hour, seven-day week attendance. However, it is unlikely the same need could be justified for an office building.
CAUTIONARY NOTE

ADDITIONAL WORKS Following a quotation, such work would normally be the subject of a separate agreement and will include:
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repairs in the case of a service agreement all repairs arising from damage or misuse up-grading of decorative finishes up-grading to accommodate changes in technology amendments to satisfy changes in standards or legislation.

It should be appreciated that repair work arising out of damage or misuse will not normally be covered under any service or maintenance agreement. This is something which needs to be allowed for as an additional contingency when budgeting, in addition to any up-dating of the product which might be necessary in order to comply with changes in legislative or safety requirements. BS 5655 Part 13, "Vandal Resistant Lifts" gives guidance on the protection of lifts in vandal-prone situations and can help to reduce damage and call-outs. It should be appreciated that repair work arising out of damage or misuse will not normally be covered under any service or maintenance agreement. This is something which needs to be allowed for as an additional contingency when budgeting in addition to any up-dating of the product which might be necessary in order to comply with changes in legislative or safety requirements.

CAUTIONARY NOTE

With regard to upgrading of car finishes and other decoration within the car, it is important to appreciate that these items have a fundamental effect on the design of the equipment. Careful consideration needs to be given to the weight of material used to ensure that the lift does not become overloaded and thus unsafe. Such work should only be placed with a specialist lift contractor.

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How to Finance Your Lift Installation
Today, businesses of all sizes are increasingly recognising the disadvantages of tying up large sums of capital to purchase capital assets - such as a lift installation - outright. Many business owners, recognising that the capital they have available can be better employed elsewhere in developing or expanding their business, now turn to various instalment credit methods to finance their capital expenditure. THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDE:
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example, a recent survey shows that around 8 out of 10 accountancy firms and 85% of the Times Top 100 UK companies lease equipment. With leasing, the capital cost is spread by instalments over a term of up to 7 years but longer periods may be possible. There is no initial deposit but sometimes an advance payment of 3 months rental is paid. Leasing has a VAT advantage in some cases. For businesses that are VAT-registered, the VAT charged on lease rentals is fully offset when paying VAT to Customs & Excise. Non-VAT businesses avoid the usual initial burden of VAT when buying capital assets since the VAT is spread over the term of the leasing contract - in addition, the VAT paid on leasing rentals fully qualifies for tax relief.

Bank Loan - the terms and period of loan depend on a number of factors - including how well your bank manager regards your business and its prospects. Hire Purchase - this provides ownership after the expiry of the loan period. An initial deposit is made (say 15%) and the residue of cost is spread over a loan period of up to 5 years although a longer period may sometimes be possible. Leasing - this is a well-established, tax efficient method of financing a wide variety of capital equipment. Nearly every sector of the British economy takes advantage of leasing - organisations that lease can be found throughout industry and commerce, in businesses large and small, commercial and non-commercial - for

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Tax Relief on your Lift Installation
Generous tax reliefs are now available when you modernise an existing lift or install a new one. The way in which tax relief is given depends on the method of acquisition (see previous section):
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EXAMPLE: AB & Co buy a new lift at £30,000 (ignoring VAT). They opt to finance the cost over 5 years by taking out a bank loan. This costs them a flat interest charge of 5% (£7,500 in all). The monthly instalment is £625. The lift is installed in the last month of their accounting year. The results over the first 3 years of the financing arrangement are as follows: Year 1 £ Instalments Paid each year Running Total TAX RELIEF: On Lift On Interest Total Tax Relief Running Total 12,000 125 12,125 12,125 4,500 1,500 6,000 18,125 3,375 1,500 4,875 23,000 625 625 Year 2 £ 7,500 8,125 Year 3 £ 7,500 15,625

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Leasing - tax relief is given according to the amount of instalments actually paid within an accounting period. Using the figures from the example above, tax relief in the first 3 years of the leasing agreement would exactly equal the cash paid out: Year 1 £ Year 2 £ 7,500 8,125 Year 3 £ 7,500 15,625

Outright purchase, purchase by bank loan or hire purchase - most SMEs ("Small and Medium Sized Enterprises") enjoy tax relief in the first year at 40% of the cost and thereafter at 25% on the reducing balance. If financed by bank loan or hire purchase, this can be particularly attractive in the first year, as the tax relief will often exceed the actual money paid out.

Instalments Paid each year Running Total TAX RELIEF: On Instalments Total Tax Relief Running Total

625 625

625 625 625

7,500 7,500 8,125

7,500 7,500 15,625

As you can see from the above, the amount of tax relief exceeds the cash paid out by a significant amount.

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Lift Facts
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Travelling in an elevator is actually safer than using the stairs. Elevators move the equivalent of the world's population every three days. Elevators often outlast their buildings: in many buildings, torn down after fifty years of use or more, the elevator is still in good working order. The fastest passenger elevators in the world are in the 70-story, 971-foot-tall Yokohama Landmark Tower in Yokohama, Japan, opened to the public on July 16, 1993. The elevators operate at 28 mph, taking passengers from the 2nd floor to the 69th floor observatory in 40 seconds. These elevators were designed and built by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Tokyo. Graham Coates set a world record when he was trapped in an elevator in Brighton, East Sussex, for sixty-two hours, on May 24 through 27, 1986. To mark the tenth anniversary of the CN Tower, "Spider Dan" Goodwin, the world's foremost building climber, successfully scaled the tower's 1,100-foot-high elevator shaft twice in one day, setting a world record on June 26, 1986.

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Studies have found that the first spaces people occupy after getting on an elevator are the front corners by the floor buttons or the rear corners. Actor Jack Lemmon, one of many elevator babies, was born in an elevator in a Boston hospital. Psychiatrists and computer scientists at Georgia Tech have designed a virtual reality treatment for phobia sufferers. People with a fear of heights can view simulated scenes - such as riding in an open-glass hotel atrium elevator - through a head mounted display. They can confront and potentially overcome their fears in the comfort of a doctor's office, instead of enduring the embarrassment of anxiety attacks in public places. The Otis hydraulic elevator at 34 Gramercy Park in New York City is believed to be the oldest continuously operating Otis passenger elevator. It was installed in 1883 and is still in use today.

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SOURCE: MICHELE ALDRICH, CONSULTING ARCHIVIST FOR OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY

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Films etc about Lifts
"The Elevator" (1996) - a comedy starring Arthur Borman, Arye Gross, Martin Landau, Richard Moll, Bokeem Woodbine. An aspiring screenwriter gets to present samples of his work when he becomes trapped in an elevator with a movie mogul. "Speed" (1994) - suspense thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock. LAPD cops Jack Traven and Harry Temple rescue a group of executives trapped in a sabotaged elevator, thus foiling mad bomber Howard Payne's ransom demands. In retaliation, Payne sets a new challenge - a bomb on a city bus which will arm itself when the bus reaches 50 mph, and which will explode if the bus drops below that speed or if any of the passengers try to escape. "Living Out Loud," starring Danny DeVito. Danny plays an elevator operator in search of a central meaningful thing to guide his life by. Then, of course, in 1972 Roald Dahl invented Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator - After Charlie won Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, he sets off to take possession of it. He travels with his grandparents and parents in a strange new means of transport: a Great Glass Elevator! But suddenly things start to go wrong. The elevator zooms higher and higher into the sky until it goes into orbit around the Earth. So begins an exciting adventure where Charlie and friends must defend themselves against a mob of vicious space monsters.

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Lift Associations
LEIA (Lift and Escalator Industry Association) 33-34 Devonshire Street London, W1N 1RF Tel: 020 7935 3013 Fax: 020 7935 3321 Email: [email protected] (CIBSE) The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Delta House 222 Balham High Road Balham London, SW12 9BS Tel: 020 8675 5211 Fax: 020 8675 5449 E-mail: [email protected] (BSI) British Standards Institution 389 Chiswick High Road London, W4 4AL Tel: 020 8996 7000 Fax: 020 8996 7001 Email: [email protected] (HSE) Health and Safety Executive Information Centre Broad Lane Sheffield S3 7HQ Tel: 0541 545500 (Infoline) E-mail: [email protected] (SAFed) Safety Assessment Federation Nutmeg House 60 Gainsford Street Butlers Wharf London, SE1 2NY Tel: 020 7403 0987 Fax: 020 7403 0137 E-mail: [email protected] NOTE: The Lifts Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/831) are available from The Stationery Office on 020 7873 9090. A booklet giving information on the EC Lifts Directive 95/16/EC - Product standards Lifts - is available from the DTI Publications Orderline: Tel: 0870 1502 500 (national rate) Fax: 0870 1502 333 Minicom: 0870 1502 100 E-mail: [email protected]

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B-Elevated is published by:

Britton Price Limited, an ISO 9001 Quality Assured Company, is approved by the Department of Trade and Industry under Annex XIII – Full Quality Assurance for Lifts (module H) – to design, manufacture and install goods and passenger lifts into existing lift shafts. In most instances, the equipment provided is “CE” marked - thus guaranteeing quality and compliance. Britton Price Limited specialise in fitting the right lift into existing shafts and depending on individual site specifications, the company can install a lift with more space to accommodate extra passengers.

Britton Price Limited Unit 14, Hove Business Centre Fonthill Road, Hove East Sussex BN3 6HA Tel: Fax: Email: Web: 01273 235035 01273 235036 [email protected] www.brittonprice.co.uk