Again, the year has come to a rushing conclusion, as people seem in disbelief that it is December “already”; despite Christmas being advertised for several months now.
We have once again been asked for our predictions for 2025 for this month’s article in Flat Living magazine. However, before we do so, it is useful to reflect on 2024 and the challenges/successes faced by the lift industry.
There have been significant changes in the focus on fire and rescue in the past 12 months, primarily led by the Grenfell Enquiry; but the focus on Evacuation Lifts was already on the London Plan prior to the tragedy that befell the residents of Grenfell.
Evacuation Lifts are now being considered for every new development, whether over 18m tall and considered “high-risk” or not. Buildings over 18m are equipped with Firefighting Lifts as standard, with the Firefighting Lift doubling as the Evacuation Lift in emergency (as the lifts share common traits, such as secondary power supplies and communication devices); however the new rules dictate these should be two separate lifts (to ensure the evacuation can take place even after the Fire Service have arrived and commandeered the Firefighting Lift).
These rules (and rules on existing Fireman’s/Firefighting Lifts) have been under scrutiny following the disaster, as the lifts in the high rise tower were not designed to be firefighting units and whilst they played no active part in the events in West London; all building services are being seen with fresh eyes in a case of lessons learned (hopefully meaning future disasters can be averted and the tragic circumstances are not in vein).
Property Managers, building owners and responsible persons now have more onus than ever to ensure their buildings (and by proxy, their lifts) are compliant; regularly tested and any shortfalls are reported to local fire authorities. This extends to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), a body to review projects in “High Risk” buildings (i.e. those over 18m tall) – whether new or existing.
Our comments in the April Edition of Flat Living should direct you to more information, but this subject evolves constantly, as all parties get to grips with the ramifications, as the focus from 2024 on this subject will only increase into 2025.
At Ardent Lift Consultancy the team has grown once again with more administrative support added to our head office team. This, coupled to our strong field-based team has seen another record year for Ardent in terms of surveys undertaken, projects overseen and satisfied customers. We cannot wait to get up and running in January, as we have 15 lift modernisation projects commencing in the first two weeks of the year, which will help us work off any festive fug!
The following points are some potential changes we will see over the coming year (or longer) …
- Lifts as Smart Devices: The rise of “smart” lifts in the UK will be accelerated. These lifts will be integrated with building management systems (BMS) to optimise traffic flow, monitor energy consumption, and adjust performance in real time.
- Carbon-Neutral Lifts: As the UK pushes toward its net-zero carbon goals, lifts and escalators will evolve to become more energy-efficient. Regenerative drive systems, which capture and return energy to the grid, will become standard across new installations and seen in major modernisation schemes.
- Green Certifications: The demand for environmentally conscious buildings will continue to grow, especially with the increasing adoption of green building certifications like BREEAM and LEED. Lift companies in the UK will need to offer products that help developers achieve these certifications, including energy-efficient solutions, low-emission designs, and systems that contribute to overall building sustainability.
- Security Features and Touchless Systems: The demand for contactless technology will remain high, and lifts will increasingly feature touchless interfaces, such as motion sensors or smartphone-based controls. Additionally, the integration of more advanced security features, such as biometric access (fingerprint or face recognition) for secure buildings, will potentially become more common, particularly in secure offices, and high-end residential developments.
- Remote Monitoring and Control: Lift systems in the UK will increasingly be equipped with remote monitoring capabilities, enabling service providers to track performance, detect faults, and carry out diagnostics without physically visiting the site. This will enhance maintenance efficiency and reduce response times for repairs.
- Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy: The use of sustainable materials will increase, with more lifts made from recycled, recyclable, or low-impact materials. Manufacturers will also adopt circular economy principles, offering take-back schemes and ensuring that old lifts and components are responsibly recycled or repurposed.
The final item on this list is an area we are particularly passionate about at Ardent Lift Consultancy, where we advocate modernisation over full replacement wherever practicable to do so. The Flat Living edition from August identified the benefits of this approach.
As always, we welcome emails and phone calls from the readers of Flat Living to reach out with their questions or comments, as we are always happy to offer advice and guidance whenever possible.
All that is left is for me and all the team at Ardent Lift Consultancy would like to wish you all a happy festive period and best wishes for 2025.
