Communal Areas – Lifts
This month’s Flat Living article looks at communal areas and outside spaces. Whether this is within a residential building, or an office space, lifts often serve as crucial access points to the shared areas, allowing residents/workers to move easily between different levels where these shared spaces are located. Therefore, the efficient operation and maintenance of both lifts and communal areas is essential for the comfort, convenience, and safety of those occupying the building.
Maintenance of lifts is crucial to ensure their safe and efficient operation, below are our recommendations for ensuring that your lift service doesn’t let you down.
- Regular Inspections: Scheduled inspections by qualified technicians are essential to identify any potential issues before they become serious problems.
- Routine Maintenance Checks: Lifts should undergo routine maintenance checks according to manufacturer recommendations. This includes lubrication of moving parts, checking electrical connections, and verifying the functionality of safety features.
- Cleaning and Lubrication: Regular cleaning of lift components and lubrication of moving parts helps prevent wear and tear, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns.
- Testing Safety Features: Periodic testing of safety features such as emergency brakes, door sensors, and overload detection systems ensures they are functioning properly.
- Upgrading: Lift technology evolves, and older lifts may need upgrades to meet current safety standards or improve energy efficiency. Upgrading can also enhance performance and extend the lifespan of the lift.
- Emergency Response Planning: Maintenance should include provisions for emergency response, such as ensuring emergency communication systems are operational and that technicians are available for prompt repairs in case of breakdowns.
- Compliance with Regulations: Lift maintenance should comply with local regulations and standards set by authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and adherence to legal requirements.
- Documentation: Keeping detailed records of maintenance activities, inspections, and repairs is essential for tracking the lift’s performance and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Monitoring Performance: Utilizing modern technology, such as remote monitoring systems, can help track the performance of lifts in real-time, allowing for proactive maintenance and early detection of issues.
All office blocks and residential buildings should already have a maintenance contract in place to make sure all of the above is covered, however, this is usually based on a fixed term/fixed fee basis, and it may be worthwhile ‘shopping around’ if the agreement is coming to an end, to ensure that you are receiving the best possible service and pricing. Ardent can help with this, we can undertake a site survey to ascertain the current condition of the lift, confirm if the maintenance levels have been appropriately carried out, and make suggestions should refurbishment/replacement be required.
Outside Spaces
While lifts are essential for vertical connectivity within buildings, they also play a role in integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Many modern buildings are designed with both internal and external elements – such as terraces, gardens, balconies, and rooftop spaces, that enhance the quality of life of their occupants. Lifts are increasingly used to provide easy access to these outdoor spaces, especially in high-rise buildings or urban environments where public outdoor areas are limited.
In high rise buildings for example, lifts might provide direct access to rooftop gardens, terraces, or even observation decks. These outside spaces are invaluable for offering stunning city views, promoting outdoor socialising, and offering opportunities for relaxation and recreation without leaving the building. By allowing easy access to these spaces, lifts help foster a sense of well-being, improve the quality of life for residents, and encourage greater interaction with the surrounding environment.
If you have any concerns or queries regarding your lift(s) all of the team at Ardent like to chat, so we are very happy to run through any concerns you may have before committing to the cost of a site survey, so please give us a call or send us an email and we will do our best to help you.
