Entering the elevator hoistway without elevator personnel supervision

Over the last year there have been a few accidents due to non-elevator personnel entering the elevator hoist way and getting hurt or killed.   As an elevator industry we have injuries and fatalities so even for the trained professional one must take care each time we enter a hoist way.  If a sump pump needs to be checked, call the elevator company, if a fire detector needs to be checked, call the elevator company, if someone drops keys down the elevator hoist way, again… Call the elevator company.  While it seems very redundant and perhaps unnecessary to call the elevator company each time there is an issue within the elevator hoist way, like getting keys out the elevator pit, however, typically the elevator injuries are not bumps and bruises, they are fairly significant.  Most States do have laws about entering elevator equipment rooms or hoist ways without the proper credentials.  We ask to take care when working around elevator equipment as it is dangerous and we are here to assist you in resolving any issues safely.

 

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.

Resolving ideology issues with your current elevator company

Any working relationship can be trying between building owners and any contractors.  The service provider believes they are going above and beyond and the building owner believes they are not getting what they are paying for.   My recommendation is to have an open line of communication if there are any issues, do not wait until they build up and you have a theoretical laundry list of items which you as the building owner may believe you have been done wrong.  Contact the service provider quickly and request items be addressed[make a list].  We as service providers should address them in a timely manner or let you know what it will cost to address the issues.  Our relationships will never be perfect; however, if we can make the building owners complaints or requests constructive we can resolve the issues before they become significant.  This takes work on both sides[customer and service provider].  I have been a part of meetings where the customer will “let me have it” and if we [customer and service provider] do not take the information and turn into a plan for resolution there is really no point to the meeting.  Many years ago I had been a part of meetings where we take our complicated trade and confuse the customer; this again will not be constructive.  As a elevator maintenance provider we are in the buildings for a short period of time each month, quarterly, etc we may need your help[with communicating what you would like completed] to obtain the end goal of having your elevators run as safely and reliably as possible as the building owner may be in the building daily.   We can each blame each other; Building owner “You should know what you are doing you are the service provider” and service provider “You have old junk equipment, what do you expect?” or we can work together.  Collaboration over conflict will bring both parties to a more successful and desirable outcome.   On most occasions both the building owner and the service provider have good talking points, let’s make the most of these so the issues can get resolved, capital planning can be planed for and we both get the most out of our working relationship.

 

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.

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