In today’s world, sustainability has become a top priority for businesses and building owners alike. As concerns about climate change and environmental impact continue to rise, commercial properties are seeking innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One area that often goes overlooked but presents significant opportunities for eco-consciousness is vertical transportation – elevators or lifts. In this blog, we will explore the concept of sustainable vertical transportation and how it can align with the sustainability goals of modern commercial buildings.

The Importance of Green Solutions for Elevators or lifts 

Elevators are an essential aspect of commercial properties, providing convenient and efficient access to different floors. However, traditional elevator systems can be energy-intensive and generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable vertical transportation solutions offer a way to minimise the environmental impact while ensuring smooth and reliable operations.

Energy-Efficient Elevator Systems 

One of the primary components of sustainable elevators is energy efficiency. Building owners can opt for modern elevator systems equipped with regenerative drives, LED lighting, and energy-saving components. These systems can recover and store energy generated during elevator descents, which is then reused during ascents, resulting in a significant reduction in energy consumption.

Smart Destination Control

Smart destination control is another green solution that optimises elevator efficiency. By using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, these systems can analyse traffic patterns and group passengers travelling to similar floors, reducing the number of unnecessary stops and idle movements. This not only saves energy but also shortens travel times for occupants.

Innovative Materials and Design 

Manufacturers are now utilising eco-friendly materials and sustainable design practices to construct elevators. Recyclable and low-emission materials help minimise the elevator’s overall environmental impact, making it a greener choice for environmentally conscious building owners.

Integration of Renewable Energy 

Commercial buildings with renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines can integrate their elevator systems to utilise this clean energy. By connecting elevators to renewable energy supplies, building owners can further reduce their reliance on conventional energy sources and make their vertical transportation truly sustainable.

Reducing Waste through Modernisation

Upgrading outdated elevators with modern, energy-efficient technology not only improves performance and safety but also reduces waste. Old elevator components can be responsibly recycled or refurbished, contributing to a circular economy and minimising the burden on landfills.

Certifications and Recognitions 

Sustainable elevator systems often come with environmental certifications and recognitions that validate their eco-friendly attributes. Building owners can showcase these certifications as part of their commitment to sustainability, appealing to environmentally conscious tenants and investors.

Sustainable vertical transportation presents a tremendous opportunity for commercial building owners to enhance their properties’ eco-friendly image while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact. By investing in energy-efficient elevators, smart destination control, and sustainable design practices, building owners can contribute to a greener future while ensuring seamless and efficient vertical mobility for their occupants. Embracing green solutions for elevators is not just a step towards a more sustainable building – it’s a step towards a more sustainable world. 

If this is something you are interested to find out more about contact our team for more information.

Upgrading Your Lift System: Modernisation Solutions for Enhanced Performance

• In the fast-paced world of commercial buildings, a well-functioning lift system is crucial to ensure smooth operations and enhance the overall user experience. As elevators age, they can become less efficient, prone to breakdowns, and may not meet the demands of modern traffic flow. 
• To combat these challenges and provide occupants with a reliable vertical transportation solution, upgrading your lift system through modernisation is a smart investment. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of elevator modernisation and how it can improve the performance and longevity of your building’s vertical mobility.

Understanding Elevator Modernisation 

Elevator modernisation refers to the process of updating and upgrading various components of an existing lift system to meet current standards and incorporate the latest technology. It involves replacing outdated parts, enhancing safety features, and integrating new advancements that improve the elevator’s overall performance and efficiency.

Enhanced Safety and Compliance 

Safety is a paramount concern when it comes to elevators. With the advancements in safety standards and regulations, older elevators may no longer meet the latest requirements. Through modernisation, building owners can ensure their lift systems adhere to current safety codes, mitigating potential risks and safeguarding passengers. Upgrading safety features such as door sensors, emergency communication systems, and automatic braking mechanisms can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and liability issues.

Improved Reliability and Performance 

As elevators age, their reliability may decline, resulting in more frequent breakdowns and service interruptions. Modernisation addresses these issues by replacing worn-out components, upgrading control systems, and installing new drive technology. These enhancements lead to improved reliability, reduced downtime, and smoother rides, ultimately enhancing the user experience and tenant satisfaction.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings 

Older elevators tend to be energy hogs, consuming more power than their modern counterparts. Modernisation allows building owners to install energy-efficient components, such as regenerative drives and LED lighting. By reducing energy consumption, elevator modernisation not only benefits the environment but also leads to substantial cost savings in the long run.

Customisation and Aesthetics 

Elevator modernisation also provides an opportunity for building owners to customise the appearance of their lift system. With a wide range of design options for cabin interiors, including materials, lighting, and finishes, you can align the elevator aesthetics with the overall building’s design theme, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and occupants.

Upgrading for Accessibility 

Modernisation can also improve accessibility for people with disabilities. By adding features such as audible signals, tactile buttons, and braille labels, the elevator becomes more user-friendly and inclusive.

Increased Property Value 

• A modern and efficient lift system can add significant value to a commercial building. Prospective tenants and investors are more likely to be attracted to a property that boasts a well-maintained and up-to-date elevator system, enhancing the building’s overall marketability and potential return on investment.
• Elevator modernisation is an investment that pays off in multiple ways. From improved safety and efficiency to cost savings and increased property value, upgrading your lift system provides a host of benefits that positively impact your building and its occupants. By partnering with a reputable lift repair and maintenance company, you can ensure a smooth and successful modernisation process, elevating your building’s vertical transportation to the next level of performance and satisfaction.

If you are interested to find out more about modernising your lift system contact our team or read about our modernisation service

Concept Elevators (UK) Limited are proud to announce that they have gained a certificate of assurance from Cyber Essentials. Cyber Essentials helps the company guard against the most common cyber threats and demonstrates their commitment to cyber security. This government backed scheme helps them to reassure clients that they have secure IT systems and that they take the threat of a cyber-attack very seriously.

As part of their overall commitment to reduce carbon emissions, as an organisation Concept Elevators have begun to electrify their fleet of company vehicles. In addition, electric car charging points have been installed at their offices in Staffordshire and Cheshire. This allows staff and visitors to charge whilst on the premises.

As an ISO 14001 accredited company Concept Elevators (UK) Limited sets ambitious targets with a view to becoming carbon neutral. Please click on the following link to see our full carbon footprint report. Carbon Footprint Report – Concept Elevators

Concept Elevators (UK) Limited are pleased to become part of The Lift Industry Mental Health Charter. This is an initiative which is focused on bringing together the lift industry to support mental health within the industry. This includes all lift companies, lift consultants and lift suppliers across the lift industry and their employees.

Working together to support the people within the industry with their mental health will make the industry a safer and more supportive place to work. The mission is to make this an international charter across the worldwide industry and for businesses to support the charter with five commitments:

• Implement Well-being/Mental Health Risk Assessments
• Take Reasonable Steps to Support Employees Well-Being
•  Implement Stress Risk Assessments
• Include Mental Health in Your Duty of Care and Safety
• Support The Lift Industry Mental Health Charter

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has announced its intention to introduce legislation to continue recognition of the CE marking on lifts and components until 31st December 2024.

This commitment by the government will reduce the burden on companies like Concept Elevators and is intended to provide more flexibility and reduce regulatory headaches for businesses.

The extension to December 2024 will allow businesses to reduce labelling costs by affixing the UKCA marking and to include information for product from the European Union. It will also reduce retesting costs for UKCA certification by allowing conformity assessment activities for CE marking undertaken by December 2024 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for UKCA marking.

Concept Elevators technical committee sits every three months, and this area of legislation is always on the agenda. Important updates will be published via our website. If any of our customers have any queries, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Concept Elevators (UK) Limited are pleased to announce it has been awarded the lift maintenance contract with The University of Warwick based in Coventry.

Following a hard-fought tender exercise which had quality at its core we were awarded the responsibility to maintain nearly two hundred individual lift units across several campuses.

Due to the critical nature of the lift portfolio, we have employed an experienced lift engineer to have a permanent presence on site to ensure swift response times and a good first time fix rate.

To learn more about our maintenance packages please click the link Lift Maintenance – Concept Elevators

Concept Elevators (UK) Limited has worked with the West Midlands Police Force for many years supporting its estates department with lift maintenance and repair.

As part of our social value commitment, we recently supported the force with the opening of the West Midlands Police Museum in Birmingham. Concept Elevators kindly donated a new wheelchair to the museum to ensure visitors young and old can access all areas. 

At the museum you can discover what life was really like for some of Birmingham’s most notorious criminals who were held at the lock up, including the real Peaky Blinders. Here we see the official handover during the museums opening day.

As part of Concept Elevators’ social value commitment with West Midlands Police, we had the pleasure of donating a guest wheelchair and lanyards to the newly reopened West Midlands Police Museum.

The museum opened in Birmingham last month at its new location in the city centre, the Steelhouse Lane Lock-Up. Following a five-year campaign to raise funds to refurbish the Grade II-listed Victorian cell block, which operated from 1891 to 2016, the museum now has a new home.

After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project, work resumed in March 2021 to convert the lock-up into the museum’s permanent site. One year of building and installation works later, the museum moved from its old location at Sparkhill Police Station to Steelhouse Lane in the heart of the city. Renovations and development were possible due to a £1m grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and considerable fundraising efforts by the West Midlands Police.

What started as an idea in the 1960s by Detective Sergeant Charlie Elworthy, who wanted a collection of objects to help tell the story of policing in Birmingham, is today a one-of-a-kind police museum. As a not-for-profit organisation, the museum relies on community support to continue its work and care for its policing collections.

Concept Elevators is committed to playing a constructive role within our community and we are delighted to offer our support. We’re proud of our continued working relationships with essential workers like West Midlands Police Force.

Accessibility makes it possible for everyone in the community to enjoy unique heritage experiences like the West Midlands Police Museum. Our dedicated team provides mobility access services nationwide, so we know the importance of helping people move. We’re pleased our donation can serve as a means of support for visitors to the museum.

Back in March 2021, the UK government announced new rules that allow developers to convert commercial properties such as sports centres, cafes and restaurants into residential properties without the need for full planning permission. 

This move was an attempt to help regenerate the UK’s high streets and shopping centres and breathe new life into previously neglected buildings or areas. These new rules came at a time when the housing market demanded it more than ever and the trend for commercial to residential conversions continued to grow. 

Here are some of the most important steps to take when considering investing in a commercial property to convert. By following them, you’ll be more likely to make a savvy investment for your portfolio and maximise your income. 

First, check whether the commercial property is an exception

Despite the fact that the new rules are in place, it doesn’t mean that every class E property falls into the new category. There are many exceptions such as:

• Buildings within conservation areas or national parks
• Buildings within designated areas of natural beauty / scientific interest
• Listed buildings
• Buildings within safety hazard areas / military explosive zones

If the property you’re interested in falls into any of the above, you may not be able to carry out the conversion or additional rules may apply. 

Before you invest, ensure you know whether you are, indeed, exempt from planning permission. 

Next, identify the building ‘use class’

When converting a commercial property into a residential property, you will need to change the ‘use class’. The UK uses the following system: 

• A class – Shops, restaurants and businesses that provide professional services
• B class – Offices, storage facilities and warehouses
• C class – Residential properties, hotels, care homes and other places of habitation 
• D class – Schools, doctor’s surgeries, leisure facilities, cinemas and other miscellaneous uses. 

Contact your local authority for more information. 

Then double-check whether you need planning permission

Although the new rules state that most class E buildings don’t require planning permission, there are certain cases where it would be required after all. 

This includes buildings that are smaller than 150m2 or projects that require changes to the exterior of the property. Again, check with your local authority. 

Finally, think about commercial property conversion essentials

Once you’ve understood the legal requirements, take time to understand whether the commercial property requires additional changes to suit the needs of residents. This could include: 

• Access for residents. Is it satisfactory? Does it need alterations? Would you prefer a key or pin code lock?
  
• Elevators/lifts. Depending on your requirements, you may need to upgrade or alter your lift to meet the needs of your residents. We can help with this. Contact us today.
  
• Health and safety. Is the building safe enough for future tenants? Review any plans with a professional who can advise you of any changes needed. 
• Utilities. Do they provide sufficient output to meet the needs of residents? What about drainage? 

Converting a commercial property to a residential property provides an excellent investment opportunity that also benefits the local community. If you’re considering investing, follow these tips to assess what is available before you make a decision.

Need elevator help? Our experienced team is here at Concept Elevator to help you through the lift installation and maintenance process, plus provide emergency support when needed. Find out more here. 

Access for all is crucial in educational settings. People, equipment and other goods need to be moved as safely and efficiently as possible, ensuring that everyone can access the education they need.

At Concept Elevators, we understand the unique requirement of educational establishments. We install, maintain and modernise elevators and lifts in schools, colleges and universities across the UK. 

We’re experienced at creating the perfect solution for each institution that we work with, taking into account the constraints of your building and the needs of a complex range of different users. We can help you achieve the kind of accessibility that you depend upon.

Why lifts are important in educational buildings

• The Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Rights in Education Act state that owners, controllers or managers of educational institutions have to provide adequate access for anyone using and visiting their premises who has a physical or mental disability. 
• Accessibility makes it possible for everyone within the community to access education and lifts are a vital part of making this accessibility a reality. 
• The solutions we provide meet and go beyond the statutory requirements helping to make schools, colleges and universities as accessible as possible for students, staff and visitors alike. 

Where to locate your lift

• Careful consideration needs to be given to where a lift is located within an educational environment. In some cases, it may be necessary to adapt the building and any building work that needs to be carried out should be well planned.
• In primary and secondary schools for example, it can be smart practice to ensure that the lift isn’t located where it can easily be tampered with by students. Accessibility needs to be maximised, making the lift easy to use for those who need it. 
• Safety first
• Accidents happen, and in schools and colleges, they can be commonplace. When it comes to lifts in educational buildings safety has to be paramount, from the design through to the construction and installation. 
• All lift installations are highly regulated, but in schools and colleges, this is taken even further. Young children might not fully understand the need to pay extra attention with machinery such as lifts. To counter this risk, we put in place extra safety measures to help reduce the risk of accidents or damage. 
• There are a range of extra safety features that can be included such as a locking facility, fire doors, intelligent automatic doors, emergency auto-dialler or intercom, emergency lowering measurements, handrails and braille pushes. 
• Every lift that we install undergoes a comprehensive and rigorous inspection process. This takes place through the design, production and installation stages, and all of our products are also compliant with British Safety Standards. 
• We can also advise on how the lift is to be used. For instance, whether a child that uses a wheelchair can be permitted to independently use the lift or if they need to be assisted by support workers. 

Durability and consistency

• Two key elements that are required for any lift in an educational establishment are durability and consistency. Lifts in schools and colleges have to withstand a lot of punishment, and every lift we install in an educational environment is tough enough to cope. With proper maintenance, it can be guaranteed to work for years to come.
• We also understand that lift downtime can create added difficulties in a school or college, so every lift we install is designed to be consistent and reliable, minimising the risk of any downtime. 

A comprehensive lift installation, repair and maintenance service

• At Concept Elevators, we understand the unique requirements of schools, colleges and universities. We offer a complete lift design, installation and maintenance service. We can modernise and make safe existing installations, as well as be on hand when repairs are necessary. 
• Our affordable maintenance packages ensure that your lifts are always working as efficiently and safely as possible, extending their service life and reducing running costs.
• To find out more about how we work with schools, colleges and universities, call 01543 273673 or email helpdesk@conceptelevators.co.uk.

If the UK is to meet its ambitious Net-Zero targets as part of a global push to tackle global warming then businesses are going to have to play their part. At Concept Elevators, we’re serious about doing our bit to tackle climate change. Not only is it better for the planet, but it’s also better for our clients and our business.

Sustainability is all about embedding good practices across the business, and we want our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint to be more than just greenwashing. With that in mind, we wanted an independent organisation to take a thorough look at the performance of our company.

Carbon Footprint provides a thoroughgoing assessment of a company’s carbon footprint, looking at what they’re doing well and where they can improve. We engaged their services to help with our plans.

Our Carbon Footprint

Our carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases our company’s activities produce. This is measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalents known as CO2e. Our company’s total carbon footprint is 462.79 CO2e with vehicle fuel usage accounting for 73.24% of that total.

Carbon Footprint has suggestions to help us reduce our carbon footprint, from providing training to help employees drive more efficiently, shifting to electric vehicles and installing EV charging points at work. They’ve encouraged us to investigate opportunities across our site to reduce energy consumption, through regular monitoring and an energy audit. They’ve also asked us to consider conducting a feasibility assessment to identify any opportunities we might have to install renewable energy generation on-site.

Concept Elevators are keen to engage positively with these suggestions and take practical steps to ensure that we bring down our carbon footprint over the coming years. With that in mind, we’ve set an ambitious target to become a completely carbon neutral business by 2040.

Why does it matter?

The impact of climate change has gathered pace over the past couple of decades, with average temperature records regularly being broken right across the planet. The evidence that human activity is playing a role in these increases in the climate, altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere and generating a build-up of greenhouse gases, is now overwhelming.

The consequences of climate change are already becoming clear, with extreme weather events becoming more regular. Unless significant action is taken as quickly as possible, the detrimental impact will gather pace. This means that the global sea level will continue to rise, local climate conditions will be altered which will, in turn, impact forests, crop yields and water supplies. Large parts of the world could become uninhabitable, leading to refugee crises, famine and potential conflict as resources become scarcer.

How we plan to reduce our carbon footprint

Concept Elevators have set an ambitious target to move our business towards carbon zero by 2040. Over the next 18 years, we’ll be taking practical steps to reduce our emissions year-on-year. To achieve this we’ve adopted four categories that will guide our target setting:

• Passive Reductions

These are the reductions that will happen without any action from our company, such as the electricity grid shifting entirely towards renewable sources of power generation.

• Market-Based Reductions

These are reductions that we can achieve by selecting energy tariffs that have lower emissions. In practice, this will mean ensuring that our energy comes from a renewable source.

• Active Reductions

These are the concrete steps that we can take within the business. These will be technological, behavioural, and operational choices that have a positive impact when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. Considering the role fuel plays in our overall total we aim to reduce the number of miles driven in company vehicles through efficient routing. We will also look at how we can use innovative technology to reduce our energy consumption.

• External Reductions

As we move toward net-zero emissions, we will look to use carbon compensation/offsetting to make an immediate impact on our overall carbon footprint. This will mean investing in carbon capture schemes and technologies that help to reduce the number of greenhouse gases being released into the environment.

Would you like to learn more?

If you’d like to learn more about what we’re doing at Concept Elevators to reduce our carbon footprint and what makes us a sustainable choice contact us today.

At Concept Elevators, we’re committed to playing a constructive role within our community. With that in mind, we’re proud to partner with housing associations to help install and maintain a range of access solutions for social and affordable housing.

Housing associations need to provide a range of accommodation to meet the different needs of a diverse range of clients. Alongside this comes a need for reliable access for a variety of residents and their visitors.

Residents and communities come first

Housing associations are a vital part of the country’s housing infrastructure. They build and maintain thousands of homes across the country, which are often let to people on lower incomes or those in particular housing need. They also provide an affordable means by which people can become homeowners with options to ‘staircase’ from renting to shared ownership.

Many of their housing options are higher density, with lifts being essential for residents and their visitors to come and go, quickly and safely. Housing associations will also provide accommodation for people with a range of extra needs, be they people with disabilities or elderly residents. These housing options will frequently need specialised solutions to aid mobility across the building.

Robust and affordable solutions

We work with housing associations to provide the access they need. We design, select, install, maintain and refurbish lifts across the housing association property portfolio. We work to ensure that our lifts are robust, reliable and discourage vandalism, and can cope with the demands that are placed on lifts in potentially busy environments.

Crucially, we work hard to drive down costs for housing associations without compromising on quality and safety. We believe that housing association tenants should have high-quality and reliable lifts with the risk of downtime and other issues being kept to an absolute minimum.

A twenty-year partnership

Over the years we’ve developed an understanding of the unique requirements of housing associations. For nearly two decades we’ve worked with Walsall Housing Group Limited (WHG) in the management of its extensive lift portfolio. As well as providing a comprehensive maintenance service, we also regularly upgrade their lift portfolio introducing new technologies.

One such recent upgrade involved lift communication where we replaced fixed telephone lines with new GSM technology. Fixed lines are notoriously problem prone, requiring regular attention to keep them working as they should. Our upgrade removes these issues, reducing overall maintenance needs with all of the resulting disruption this means for residents. The upgrade also makes it easier for WHG to monitor all of the two-way communication in its lifts as well as enabling us to respond quickly to any faults.

As part of this ongoing partnership, Concept Elevators have signed up to be a part of Walsall Housing Group’s ambitious social improvement plan. A component of this plan is their tenant job finder scheme through which we appointed a new apprentice.

Another way in which we’ve helped is through our social value payback work at Bamford House. Unfortunately, the outdoor communal area had in the past been a victim of vandalism. Our hard working team rolled up their sleeves to remove the old benches and tidied up the vandalised area.

We also manufactured and installed two brand new benches. Through the thanks we received from residents we knew we’d made a real difference to their quality of life, opening up a space that had previously been a no-go area.

As our services to housing associations are ongoing we see this kind of engagement as vital, helping us to build relationships, deepen our understanding of resident needs and giving something back to the wider community.

Maintenance agreements for housing associations

Regular maintenance is vital to ensure the safe, consistent operation of lifts, particularly in busy residential settings. Our maintenance contracts ensure that not only do the lifts in your buildings receive regular maintenance we can also be on hand in the event of breakdowns.

The role of maintenance is to avoid down time which can be costly for the housing association as well as inconvenient for the residents. All of our maintenance packages are backed up by our highly experienced and dedicated managerial and administrative teams.

If you’re looking for a trusted and experienced partner to help your housing association deliver its objective while ensuring costs don’t run out of control, then Concept Elevators can help.

Call 01543 273673 or email helpdesk@conceptelevators.co.uk to find out more.

The UK population is ageing. With scientific breakthroughs and improvements in medical care, we live longer and, for the most part, healthier lives. While more of us will enjoy greater longevity it also means that increasing numbers of people will require some form of care in later lives.

Residential care in care homes and similar settings will be something that more people will experience. According to an estimate by Age Concern, there were 4,699 nursing homes and 6,023 residential Care homes in the UK as of 2017. If the country’s growing care needs are to be met these numbers will need to rise.

Care homes need to meet a range of standards when it comes to safety. Residents need to be able to move safely around the building, and with that in mind care homes will usually feature some kind of lift. It’s essential that the right lift is installed to meet the needs of a home’s residents, but how do you go about choosing the right lift for your premises?

The role of lifts in care homes

Accessible and easy to use lifts help to extend the mobility and independence of residents. For residents who require a high level of care, such as 1:1 or 2:1 carer assistance, using a lift helps to safely move residents around the building. Lifts not only assist residents, they also help carers to safely fulfill their duties, particularly when it comes to manual handling.

What types of lift are used in care homes?

The type of lift used in any care home will depend on the requirements of the residents and the layout of the building. There are two types of lifts that are most commonly used in care homes. While passenger lifts are the most desirable, a fact recognised in the building regulations, site constraints often mean they’re not practical.

Passenger lifts

Passenger lifts can accommodate a significant number of people and equipment. In care homes, the most common sizes are 13-person and 8-person models. These can travel efficiently over a number of floors allowing for safe, comfortable movement throughout the building.  Both have enough space to accommodate equipment such as a wheelchair.

Platform lifts

Platform lifts offer a potential solution where passenger lifts are not appropriate.  They can travel up to 12 metres, but at a steadier speed than passenger lifts, and are more suitable for occasional rather than continuous use. These can be a cost-effective option, but don’t offer as much space to transport residents and equipment throughout the property. Because of this, if it’s possible to install a passenger lift in your premises then it’s definitely desirable that you do so.

What to consider

There are a number of different issues you will need to consider before choosing a lift for your premises.

Firstly, what kind of mobility issues do you residents have? If mobility is very limited for some of your residents it’s important that the lift can accommodate their requirements when it comes to equipment and carers.

Residential care homes and nursing homes with a higher number of residents with severe mobility issues may not only require larger lifts, they may need a larger number of lifts to ensure that everyone can be moved around the building as efficiently as possible. It’s worth bearing in mind that accessing the lift space can take some time for residents with the most severe mobility needs.  In some instances, it may be urgent to move someone from one floor to another and if one lift is in use, this can lead to delays.

As well as considering mobility issues, it’s also important to bear in mind that residents can have sensory impairments or cognitive issues that present challenges when it comes to using lifts. Issues such as dementia in particular can make lift use problematic and worrying. In all of these circumstances the specification of the lift can have an impact. Controls should be easily understandable, and handrails clearly visible. Care should be taken with announcements so they’re not startling to residents with dementia.

Professional advice and guidance from Concept Elevators

If you’re considering installing lifts in your care home, Concept Elevators can provide professional advice and guidance. From installation to maintenance and modernisation, we provide our care home clients with a comprehensive service to support them in delivering care to their residents.

Contact us today to find out more.

Lifts make a building more accessible and easier to navigate. They’re convenient and, if they’re regularly maintained, can be relied upon to work consistently for many years. As with anything, however, time will eventually take its toll on even the most diligently maintained and repaired elevator.

Replacing a lift completely can be costly and isn’t always necessary. A lift can be given a comprehensive refurbishment or modernisation that can give it a new lease of life, ensuring it remains in good working order for years to come.

Refurbishment versus modernisation

Lift refurbishment and modernisation are both designed to give a new lease of life to a lift in a building where it might not be possible or appropriate to install a new lift entirely. In many cases, a new lift won’t be necessary. Instead, either refurbishment or modernisation might be the best way to proceed.

The two approaches are slightly different. A refurbishment will be less comprehensive than a full modernisation. It might include the travel speed, automatic re-levelling, and replacement of some components. It may also involve some general aesthetic improvements.

Modernisation, on the other hand, is where obsolete parts are replaced and will usually be a more extensive undertaking.

Here are 6 indications that it might be time to start thinking about refurbishing or modernising your lift.

Regular breakdowns

The most pressing reason that an organisation might opt to have their lift either refurbished or modernised is because your lift is breaking down regularly. The call-out, repairs and parts costs can all add up as well as being inconvenient. If your lift is regularly breaking down then it makes sense to book a detailed survey to find out what might be the best way to proceed.

Looking tired and worn out

Lifts take a lot of punishment and daily wear and tear, particularly in busy buildings. It’s not surprising therefore that the finish in the car itself can soon look tired and dated. Refurbishment might be appropriate to give your lift a modern, fresh feel making it a better experience to use.

No longer complies with current safety regulations

The safety regulations surrounding lifts are complicated and continuously evolving. Lifts and elevators are complex pieces of machinery that need to be operating safely to ensure the wellbeing of those that use them. Many of the safety requirements also help to ensure that the lift itself can be relied upon. 

Regular maintenance can flag up areas where your installation is no longer compliant. It’s illegal to operate a lift that doesn’t comply with safety regulations so you risk not only endangering the safety of users but also facing prosecution.

The lift is noisy

Given a proper installation, regular servicing and maintenance, lift operation should be reasonably silent. If a lift has become noisy when it’s operating but otherwise has no other problems it shouldn’t be ignored. Not only can it be distracting, it can suggest that there’s other problems that may need to be addressed. A maintenance visit from a qualified lift engineer should be booked as soon as possible to get to the bottom of the issue. 

Problematic operation

If the lift is operating but is presenting problems, such as stopping at the wrong floor or otherwise failing to work as was intended, then a survey should be booked as soon as possible. It may be that a refurbishment is more appropriate and will ultimately prove more cost-effective than a basic repair.

It’s reached the end of its life expectancy

Even the best maintained lifts will ultimately reach the end of their life expectancy. For a hydraulic passenger lift this will usually be around 15-18 years, a traction passenger lift will last around 20-25 years. 

With modernisation these life spans can be extended considerably. A detailed lift survey will give you some idea about the life expectancy of your lift, how it might be modernised and the impact this will have on its future lifespan.

Concept Elevators offer a complete maintenance, refurbishment and modernising service for your lift.

At Concept Elevators, we have over 25 years’ experience installing, maintaining, refurbishing and modernising lifts. We can conduct a detailed survey of your lift and advise whether refurbishment or full modernisation might be appropriate. 

Call 01543 273673 or email helpdesk@conceptelevators.co.uk to find out more. 

If you have lifts in your property then the importance of having them regularly serviced cannot be overstated. To extend their operational life and ensure that they can be relied upon it’s crucial that you have them serviced. Breakdowns can be costly as well as inconvenient. The good news is that professional servicing and maintenance can ensure the risk of serious downtime is minimised.

What are the benefits of regular lift maintenance and what should you expect from your service provider?

What are the benefits of regular lift maintenance and servicing?

Firstly, lifts need to be maintained in order to comply with the relevant Health and Safety at Work legislation. Regular maintenance increases safety standards for users, and other occupants of the building. Having clients, staff or visitors stuck in an old or slow lift is something that should be avoided.

Poorly maintained lifts project a poor impression of the company. A reliable lift that’s pleasant to use helps to create a good overall impression.

Regular maintenance reduces the risk of breakdown and serious downtime which can be costly as well as inconvenient. Well-maintained lifts will usually have a longer service life than those that are poorly maintained, meaning that potential replacement costs are removed.

The benefits of regular lift maintenance and servicing are clear, but what should you expect from a lift servicing service

What to expect from a lift maintenance service?

A lift maintenance service should at a minimum ensure the proper functioning of the lift, but a comprehensive lift maintenance service will usually go much further than that. Maintaining passenger lifts will usually entail keeping the exterior clean, this is particularly important if your building has external platform lifts. This routine is about more than just aesthetics, it also prevents the doors from getting stuck while the lift is in use.

Professional lift maintenance will also involve lubricating all movable parts, and any adjustments that are required to guarantee a reliable and optimal performance. Any problems will be identified, parts replaced and renewed, and any faults in the system repaired.

The main objective of passenger lift maintenance is to ensure the lift is safe and comfortable to use and not prone to breakdowns. Regular safety maintenance will involve a comprehensive assessment routine. This should ensure that the user experience is consistent and convenient, and that the users of a building can maintain access to all of the facilities and services that they need.

Reliable repairs and unscheduled maintenance

A maintenance schedule should be drawn up from the moment a lift is installed. If an older lift doesn’t have an agreed maintenance schedule then it’s important to have the current condition of the lift assessed by a professional lift engineer and a schedule drawn up.

A schedule allows you to prepare a maintenance budget. This should cover pertinent aspects such as replacement parts and any internal adjustments required. This should be undertaken at least every six months, depending on the amount of use the lift has.

Lifts may also be subject to unscheduled repair and maintenance. In such instances, you need to be confident that your lift maintenance company will be on hand in a timely manner to take care of any breakdowns. Downtime can be inconvenient as well as costly, so a standby maintenance team should be with you in good time to ensure that usage is restored within the shortest time possible.

Maintenance and repair services you can count on

If your building has a lift installed it’s crucial that you have a maintenance and repair service you can rely upon. All too often, maintenance services offer the bare minimum and there can often be delays in responding to emergency repairs. If this sounds familiar then it may be time to review your service provider.

Preventative maintenance from Concept Elevators can extend the life of your lift and reduce your overall costs due to unnecessary breakdowns requiring repairs. With three levels of maintenance package available you can choose a service package that matches your maintenance schedule.

Our experienced, fully qualified engineers have the necessary technical skills to keep your lift operating as intended. If your lift does breakdown, then you need a reliable repair service that can respond quickly.

Concept Elevators has a 24/7 call centre and we give our clients direct access to our engineering teams who will be on site promptly to rectify the issue and get your lifts working again.

Call 01543 273673 or email helpdesk@conceptelevators.co.uk to find out more.

Further to recent government guidance relating to the re-opening of buildings and workplace safety. Concept Elevators would like to assist its customers in delivering practical solutions that will improve social distancing and lift hygiene.

For more information please click here to see our flyer and contact our sales teams.

By day he is keeping our customers lifts in excellent condition but in his spare time he is helping in the fight against Coronavirus. Our technician Phil Hewer has set up his own 3D printing production line to manufacture face masks for frontline NHS and social care staff.

The face shield comprises of two parts, the headband which is the 3D printed part and is reusable by an individual and an A4 plastic sheet acting as a visor which covers the eyes, nose and mouth which reduces the risk of expelled droplets infecting users with the virus.

He originally put a post on a local Facebook group asking if there was any need for them locally and the response he received was surprising with requests coming from NHS staff at hospitals and doctors surgeries, local care homes, vets and even a local animal rescue. So far since he started a week ago, he has produced over 300 face shields and supplied over 600 visors, over 50% of those have gone to front line NHS workers.

He quickly realised that a single printer was going to be insufficient for the required amount of face shields needed, with each printed part taking approx. 35 minutes to print, so he brought another one so he could get the face shields out to those who needed them as quickly as possible. Concept Elevators are now helping with the supply of raw materials and is speaking to its own clients in the health and care industries to see if we can help.

If you know of any NHS or care organisation that Concept Elevators can help then please contact us direct.

As part of their social value initiative Concept Elevators worked with one of its long standing partners, WHG in Walsall. They worked closely with their specialist employment and training officer to identify opportunities within the community for recruitment.

Mitchell has settled in very well at Concept and is learning about the trade everyday from experienced engineers.

Mitchell commented “I’m loving my apprenticeship and every day is different. I’ve always wanted to work in engineering and was over the moon to be offered this opportunity.”