Elevators and escalators are essential for moving people and goods in buildings, but they also require regular maintenance to ensure their safety and efficiency. In this article, you will learn about some common maintenance procedures for these mechanical systems, and why they are important for preventing breakdowns, accidents, and costly repairs.
The first step in maintaining elevators and escalators is to inspect and test them periodically, according to the standards and regulations of the local authorities and the manufacturers. Inspection and testing involve checking the components, functions, and performance of the systems, such as the doors, brakes, cables, motors, sensors, switches, and emergency features. Inspection and testing help to identify any defects, malfunctions, or wear and tear that need to be fixed or replaced.
Many times escalator maintenance is bid and usually goes to the company with the lowest bid. These most likely goes to someone other than the manufacturer of the elevator or escalator. Sometimes maintenance contracts go to competitors. You can imagine the likelyhood of them doing good maintenance on the equipment.
Another essential maintenance procedure for elevators and escalators is to clean and lubricate them regularly, to prevent dust, dirt, grease, and debris from accumulating and affecting their operation. Cleaning and lubrication involve removing any foreign objects, wiping the surfaces, and applying the appropriate lubricants to the moving parts, such as the rollers, chains, bearings, and gears. Cleaning and lubrication help to reduce friction, noise, vibration, and heat, and to extend the lifespan of the components.
Again, something that is not done in many instances. I have had to go out so many times to investigate bearing failures only to find out that they were not greased properly or had chains installed so tightly that it caused bearing failures. Cleanliness and escalators should not be in the same sentence ??!! While the steps and everything else may look clean on the outside, it is a whole different story when we open up the escalator to have to work on them.
Sometimes, elevators and escalators may need to be adjusted and aligned to ensure their smooth and accurate movement. Adjustment and alignment involve correcting any deviations, gaps, or misalignments of the parts, such as the steps, handrails, guide rails, ropes, and pulleys. Adjustment and alignment help to improve the comfort, stability, and speed of the systems, and to prevent damage, wear, and stress on the components.
Chains are something that need regular adjustment as they continue to stretch over time they are in use. They regularly get installed incorrectly that cause undue vibration and premature wear. Chains need to have a 3-4% slack of the center to center distance and are often set so tight that they cause many issues.
Occasionally, elevators and escalators may need to be replaced or upgraded to meet the changing needs and demands of the users and the building. Replacement and upgrade involve installing new or improved components, such as the controllers, drives, displays, lights, buttons, and safety devices. Replacement and upgrade help to enhance the functionality, reliability, and efficiency of the systems, and to comply with the latest codes and standards.
Escalator design has largely remained unchanged from the time they were invented in the 1900's. However there has been a lot of obsolescence on the electrical side. So we are always trying to get replacement components that sometimes forces us to upgrade or change the design altogether.
Finally, elevators and escalators may need to be troubleshooted and repaired in case of any faults, failures, or emergencies. Troubleshooting and repair involve diagnosing the problem, isolating the cause, and applying the solution, using the appropriate tools, techniques, and spare parts. Troubleshooting and repair help to restore the normal operation of the systems, and to prevent further complications, injuries, or losses.
Escalator designs are generally so robust due to the high safety factors that we need to maintain the design to that sometimes it is difficult to troubleshoot because it is likely because either it was not installed correctly or it was not maintained correctly. Escalator repairs are also not easy because of how little real estate that is available once every thing is installed.
To ensure the optimal performance and safety of elevators and escalators, it is important to hire a qualified and licensed contractor to perform maintenance procedures according to the manufacturer's recommendations and the local codes. Keeping a record of the maintenance history, including the dates, tasks, results, and issues of each procedure is also essential. Additionally, any signs of trouble should be reported to the maintenance contractor as soon as possible. Furthermore, it is important to avoid overloading, misusing, or vandalizing the systems, and to follow the instructions and warnings displayed on them. Lastly, educating yourself and others on the proper use and etiquette of the systems, as well as how to respond in case of an emergency is essential.