Elevator pit sump pumps

Over the last few weeks I have been to a few buildings that have had sump pump issues.   This is to remind building owners to make sure they are maintaining their sump pumps properly. Most of the time this may include having the elevator maintenance person help you with access to the elevator pit.

Regular sump pumps – Regular sump pumps need to be checked from time to time to make sure their fittings are tight and the pumps are working.  We got a call from a building indicating their fire detector in the elevator pit was not working correctly.  Upon closer inspection of this the person checking the fire recall detector almost got hosed down by a loose connection on the sump pump.  While the sump pumps are not elevator equipment, we are the only trade that has easy access to these devices so take a look at the sumps during your inspection and notify the office or the building owners if a plumber is required to remedy a sump issue.

[Notice the fire detector in the top center of the picture]

Oil sensors in sump holes – There is a newer device that will shut the sump pump off if there is oil in the sump hole.  I was at a building where the oil detector shut off the sump pump and the building shut off the oil detector’s alarm because it was making too much noise.  Shutting off the alarm did remedy the nuisance of the beeping, but the pit flooded and damaged some elevator equipment.   If you do hear a device beeping, call your elevator company so they can work with you and identify what is occurring.  As this is not an elevator device a building representative may be required to be there so we can figure out what the issue is and the next step to rectify it.

[Damage from the sump oil detector shutting the sump off and allowed pit to flood]

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

Hot days and elevator systems

In the Chicago area we have a relatively cool summer with few days over 90 degrees.  The last few days and next few days will be very hot.  There are a few ways this affects elevator systems.

Machine room environments – Elevator machine rooms typically are in lowest landings or on roofs where we have significant swings in temperatures and not great ventilation.  Every piece of equipment has different requirements below is a good average for temperature and humidity.

o   Temperature 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit

o   Relative humidity of 85 percent

We recommend environmental controls i.e. air conditioning to regulate the temperature.  Most elevator machine rooms do not have air conditioning and when this is the case a fan to circulate the air is better than nothing.  Microprocessor based[newer elevator systems] systems are more susceptible to environmental conditions than older relay based systems.

Overall power usage of a building – When everyone turns on their air conditioners and they are used for a longer period of time than normal that creates a strain on the power grid and could result in irregular power coming to the building.

Low voltage situations – If everyone in a building theoretically switched their air conditioners at the same time there will be a voltage drain on the building power.  When the elevator goes to run it will not have the right power to run correctly and can blow fuses, burn out motors or damage other electrical components.  There are protection devices available on elevator systems that can protect your elevator in this event.

Power outages – In this theoretical hot day where everyone puts their air conditioning on at the same time it can create such a drain on the electrical system where the electricity provider will blow their equipment[outside of the building or “on the street” which will cause the elevators power[comprised of 3 phases] to lose 1, 2 or all of the 3 phases.  The buildings power goes out, elevator obviously does not work, the danger here is when the power comes on and an inrush of electricity or an irregular supply comes in the building.  This can cause damage to the elevator system as well.  Our recommendation is to turn of the elevator until power is restored and call your elevator professional to read the incoming power at our machine room disconnect prior to returning to service. There are protection devices available on elevator systems that can protect your elevator in this event. 

Voltage protection devices - Even if buildings have protective devices the voltage issues can damage the protective devices and may need replacement.  The replacement is less substantially less than a new motor. With these protective devices your elevator still will not work during power issues but your equipment is protected from significant damage.

For more information go to –

http://colleyelevator.blogspot.com/2015/01/elevator-phase-monitorsphase-protection.html

“Our lights never went out but the elevator isn’t working” – We hear this on a regular basis.  As referred to above there are 3 phases to building power, the elevator uses all three.  The phase or leg of electricity that powers the lighting may be working fine but the other two could have irregularities which cause the elevator to not work correctly.

Take away – If you have any questions on your machine room environment or power conditions, call your elevator company and they can work with you on good solutions to keep your elevators safe and running during the hot summer days. 

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

Elevator pit stop switch location

Over the last few months there has been some confusion between elevator inspectors, elevator mechanics and elevator officer personal on where the elevator pit stop switch should be located.  With all the new requirements of the pit ladders this has been an item we have been looking at closer.  Please see the code 2.2.6.2

“In elevators where access to the pit is through the lowest landing hoistway door, a stop switch shall be located approximately 18” above the floor level of the landing, within reach from this access floor and adjacent to the pit ladder, if provided.  When the pit exceeds 67” in depth, an additional stop switch is required adjacent to the pit ladder approximately 47” above the pit floor.  Where more than one switch is provided, they shall be wired in series”

This rule should account for 90% of the elevators we will be seeing. 

[Pit stop switch is the yellow and red device above the step rungs]

With code changes, new mandates, talk among ourselves we at times get different information[right and wrong] that can spread fairly quickly.  Make sure if you have questions or are not sure about the requirement, look it up or ask someone who can look it up.  We make general assumptions that when someone says something they are knowledgeable in this area, at times they are not so to be 100% and refer to the code.  It only takes a few moments to look up the code and then we can make sure we complete the correct installations if we are installing and make the correct equipment inspections if we are inspecting.

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

Movers using the elevator

As a service company we get phone calls indicating the elevator is broken and someone is stuck in the elevator.  We respond immediately to these calls and at times we find interesting activities going on within the elevator or the elevator room. 

This week we got a call of someone stuck in the elevator.  The call was from a building with that has a lot of seniors in the building so the assumption was it was a “Mrs. Smith” who is 84 years old and needed to be evacuated quickly.

This call was from movers jamming a couch in the elevator and after it wouldn’t fit continuing to get it into the elevator and when they tried to use the elevator, the elevator got stuck.

Our recommendation to building owners is when you have movers monitor their moving as at times people do not say “hey this couch won’t fit, lets move it up the stairs”, they say “get it in the elevator I don’t want to walk it up the stairs”.  There are features on most elevators that will allow the doors to stay open when moving called Independent Service which we have other posts on.

[Big couch in small elevator]

I was at another building this week where the moving truck was pulling away and the elevator ceiling was destroyed.  We do not maintain this building but I’m pretty sure when they call the elevator company the building management will “not know anything about movers”.

Be careful moving, monitor moving and use the stairs when the objects are too large for the elevator system. When the movers are gone they do not care if the elevator works or not, it will be a service call the building will be absorbing apart of the move if no one keeps track of what is occurring.

[This is from a service call a while back - same issue - broken elevator]

Tips when building is having items moved

           

1.    Notify property management, building owner  or condo board – have someone look at elevator to see condition of walls, ceiling, etc.

2.    Get a deposit from whomever is going to use the elevator

3.    Use independent service if available[older elevators may not have this feature]

4.    Before movers leave make sure the elevator is in the same condition as it was before they came

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