Your elevator pit sump pump

Next time your elevator company comes out to visit have them check your elevator pit sump pump[if you have one].  In the Chicago area we had a lot of rain last year and we saw a lot of elevator pit sump pumps not work when they needed to.  If the pit sump pump is not working properly it can cause a lot of damage to the elevator system.  If we have standing water in an elevator pit, it is dark cold, no ventilation, etc water doesn’t go away quickly.  Call up your elevator maintenance company, find out when their next visit is and have them show you that their pit sump pump is working or not working.  If the sump pump is not working then get a plumber right away to avoid any issues with water in the pit.  The elevator professional should be the one to get them access to the elevator pit and stay for the whole visit to the building by the plumber.  We want to keep your equipment safe and the people working on elevator related equipment safe as well.

 

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Reputable elevator companies

This last week we have seen some interesting developments with new entrants into the market for elevator maintenance and modernization in the Chicago area.  We encourage all building owners to be thorough with their evaluation of their service providers for elevator maintenance and modernization.  There is a building who went with a start up elevator company, the start up elevator company sub contracted the work to an even newer start up elevator company and before the work started had the building owner sign a 5 year agreement for elevator maintenance[at an unreasonably low price].  Since the beginning of the project there have been many change orders paid for, another X dollars requested and the elevator has not run for 2 hours after the elevator inspection[it keeps breaking down].   It is our recommendation that if a building is deciding to work with a newer firm to make sure they are familiar with a body of work they have performed as well as they know the key people of the company and are comfortable with those key people.  There are also existing elevator companies that fall into distress so it is not only start up companies that have issues.  While cost is always important, building owners should also weigh responsibility and reliability of the vendor they decide to work with.

 

Our job as elevator service providers is difficult when we all do our best to be fair and honest to building owners.  When you add companies and people who are not looking out for their customer’s best interest it gives our industry a bad name.  Elevator work is difficult and expensive so please make sure you are working with a reputable company who has a proven track record.  Your elevator company may not always tell you what you would like to hear, however, we should be giving you information to make decisions based on your buildings best interest.

 

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

What a building can do to prevent elevator shut downs

We see service calls come from buildings when they have new people moving in the building, deliveries and work completed in the building’s units.  Please find a few tips to prevent a elevator service call

 

Use independent service – Independent service is a function on some elevators which allows the user to keep the doors open and allow the user to have full control of the elevator.   This means that no one else can call the elevator or use the elevator unless you have control of the elevator.  This will prevent the doors from being banged up or knocked off the track.  Most buildings require a deposit when they issue the key to the user.  Please note that older elevators systems may not have this option. The independent key switch is located in the car station and should be labeled "independent service" on/off.

 

Vacuum out car and door sills – The car and door sills are the tracks on the bottom of the elevator.  We find that screws, quarters and general debris get stuck in the track and cause the elevator door to bind or not fully close. 

 

Keep track of move in and move outs, deliveries and workers in the building – If buildings keep track of who is using the elevator for heavier duty use they may be careful when using the elevator and not be as careless.

 

If you have any questions or require any additional information you can contact Colley Elevator at 630-766-7230, www.colleyelevator.com or Craigz@colleyelevator.com

Capital expenditure planning

It is very important for buildings to know how much usable & reliable life the elevator equipment has left in it.  Your elevator maintenance company should be sending you information on modernization of you elevator equipment if it is over 15 years old.  Some elevator systems can last for a very long time, some components can last 10-15 years which others last 40 years. It is in best interest of the building owner and the elevator contractor to have an ongoing dialog of what elevator equipment should be scheduled for replacement and a time line associated with their recommendation.  If direction is not given by the elevator contractor then the building owner will not know what condition the elevator equipment is in and when it should be scheduled for replacement. 

 

If you have any questions or require any additional information you can contact Colley Elevator at 630-766-7230, www.colleyelevator.com or Craigz@colleyelevator.com

State of Illinois elevator certificates

If you own a building that is in an “open territory” Geneva, Winnetka, St. Charles, Hinsdale, etc[you can view a full list on the State of Illinois Fire Marshall website http://www.sfm.illinois.gov/documents/Municipality%20Agreements%20040414.pdf] please be conscience of when your State of Illinois conveyance operation certificate expires.  What an “open territory” means is that the municipality that the building is in did not sign an agreement with the State of Illinois listing a elevator inspection firm to inspect the town or cities elevators.  When the town is not involved it is up to the building owner to get the elevator certified with the State of Illinois.  Many times the inspection corresponds with the annual testing so if the building does not have an maintenance agreement, the testing is not completed and when the inspector does come to the building he will write the building up for not having the testing completed. At this point in time the building owner will have to call an elevator company to complete testing or remedy other violations, line up an inspector to witness the test and release the violations so the building owner can begin the process with the State of Illinois.  This is a process that can go relatively smoothly if building owners and their maintenance companies complete their required paperwork.  Stay on top of the paperwork and make sure you are getting the paper work to the State of Illinois so they get you the certificate in a timely manner and you as a building owner avoid any fines.

 

If you have any questions or require any additional information you can contact Colley Elevator at 630-766-7230, www.colleyelevator.com or Craigz@colleyelevator.com

Chicago hydraulic elevators – Single bottom cylinders

If the building you own, manage or live in has a single bottom cylinder it needs to be replaced, it should have been replaced as of 1/1/14.  This is a City of Chicago mandate that requires all single bottom elevator cylinder to be removed[this was published a few years ago].  We have been seeing more and more buildings being written up and taken to administrative hearings for non compliance.  If there is a question about the elevator in your building having a single bottom cylinder you should ask the elevator maintenance company.  A rule of thumb is that installations after 1972 should have a double bottom elevator cylinder.  While not always accurate that is a good starting point, some elevator companies where manufacturing elevator cylinders with double bottom bulkheads[safety bulkheads] in the 1960’s and some companies did not comply with this until the 1980’s.  There are two solutions to comply with the mandate; one is to replace the cylinder and the other is to install a safety device[the common is a Adams Life Jacket and there are ways to install safeties on a hydraulic elevator, this is less common]

 

If you have any questions or require any additional information you can contact Colley Elevator at 630-766-7230, www.colleyelevator.com or Craigz@colleyelevator.com

Home elevators & door to gate clearances

There has been a lot of talk about rule and law changes recently in regard to injuries from children[smaller people] getting in-between residential elevators doors and gates.  On some of the residential elevator systems that are installed it is possible for a small person to get between the door and the elevator gate and the lift to take off and crush the person.  A person getting stuck in between the gate and the door is even more prevalent when a flexible accordion gate is used on the lift.  There are ways to install infrared sensors and other safety options on new and existing lifts.  New safety devices my cost more money, however, it will eliminate the possibility of injury or death.   With more and more people choosing to live in town homes or houses with residential style lifts please be careful and consult and elevator professional to advise you on options for your specific lift.  You may review more information on this topic at http://www.fairwarning.org/2013/12/elevator/

 
If you have any questions or require any additional information please feel free to contact Colley Elevator at 630-766-7230 or www.colleyelevator.com