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Being prepared in case you are ever in an elevator during an emergency is a good idea for everyone, not just those who have a fear of elevators. Whether you use an elevator every day or are an infrequent passenger, the following are some things you should know about elevators and emergencies.

Fire

If you are in a building that has caught on fire, do not take the elevator down to ground level. While it might seem like the quickest way out of the building, doing so could put you in a dangerous situation.

If you happen to be in the elevator when a fire begins, stay calm and wait for first responders to rescue you. If you have a cell phone, or if the emergency call button still works, call for help and let the dispatcher know exactly which elevator you’re in and approximately which floor you might be near.

Lightning Storm

Just like fires, lightning storms can cause a power outage, making the elevator stop mid-ride. If you are in the elevator during a lightning storm that makes it pause, call for help and be patient. You should never try to pry the doors open or escape another way. Emergency personnel will get there, so try your best to stay calm.

Earthquake

During an earthquake, if you are in an elevator, push every floor button so it will stop as soon as possible to let people out. After you are out of the elevator, shelter in place, which means to get yourself as low to the floor as possible and crawl somewhere you can seek shelter. This could be underneath a counter, desk, table, or other piece of sturdy furniture.

Malfunction

Sometimes an elevator just malfunctions. It may not be an actual emergency, but to the people stuck inside, it will certainly feel like one. Regardless of the reason you’re stuck, you should push the emergency call button for help. Resist the urge to pry the doors open. Instead, move to the center of the car and try your best to relax. You shouldn’t jump or wiggle the car and you shouldn’t climb on the railings to look for an escape route. When help arrives, emergency responders will get you to safety.

Learning More

To learn more about elevators and emergencies, seek the help of the professionals. Contact Keystone Elevator by calling 781-277-4655 or emailing us today.

If you manage a commercial building with more than one or two floors, then chances are it has an elevator. Over the past few years, you may have grown comfortable with outsourcing the work to professional engineers. Even so, it’s a good idea to understand some of the basics of your elevators and how they work.

This helps you play more of an active role in ensuring they are properly maintained over time. It also helps you to identify minor glitches versus serious problems that require shutting the elevators down.

Elevator Cabin

The cabin is the part of the elevator everyone is familiar with. This area transports people or equipment to different floors in your building. Some architects design the freight cabins to look different from the passenger cabins due to the likelihood of more wear and tear.

Elevator Doors

These govern the exit and entrance to the elevator cabin. When an elevator becomes stuck, especially mid-floor, these doors may get jammed. Note that there are typically two sets of doors: one on the inside and the outside.

Speed Governors

Some elevators are faster than others. The speed governors or governor rope is responsible for this. They control how fast an elevator travels, whether it’s climbing up ten floors or lowering five. The speed governors are usually found at the bottom of the car.

Buffers

This is also located at the bottom of the car and helps to slow an elevator during descent. This is especially important if an elevator malfunctions and plunges to the bottom of the elevator shaft. The buffers use dissipating or accumulating kinetic energy to bring the cab to a stop.

A little knowledge can go a long way when it comes to fixing elevators. However, you still need professionals to get the job done. The trick is finding the right company. Contact Keystone Elevator by calling 781-277-4655 or emailing us today!

Elevators are in use in your buildings virtually every day, whether it is a multi-unit residence, shopping mall, hospital, hotel, or office building. Unlike other equipment, such as copiers or computers, they require regular maintenance and detailed upkeep to meet safety requirements. Licensed specialists are critical to keeping your system running smoothly and efficiently. Most people don’t think about elevator upkeep until something goes wrong. However, there are several reasons to have a professional inspect your cabins and overall system on a regular schedule.

Meet Regulatory Requirements

Elevators in Massachusetts and throughout New England must pass routine inspections. Failing to meet the regulatory requirements can result in fines, passenger injuries, and other detrimental events. Not only must it be up to code, but it also needs a separate machine room and control room, specifically for this purpose. These areas must follow fire codes and meet independent tests with each elevator inspection.

Maintain Passenger Safety

Minor issues can become major problems quickly, creating potentially hazardous conditions for those who use it. Regular maintenance can help ensure it operates properly at all times. Not only are tenants, customers, and employees happy, but it also makes the building appear well-kept. As a result, it is more likely to be viewed positively by potential new clients, which helps the building hold or increase its value.

Get Longer Functional Life

Regularly maintained elevator systems can last for decades. Replacing parts as they begin to wear, keeping the cabin in pristine condition, and modernizing as needed can provide significant cost savings. Neglecting routine maintenance can result in complex repairs that become more frequent as the unit ages. Over time corrective and preventative maintenance is more affordable than emergency repairs or total replacement.

At Keystone Elevator, our expert technicians are trained and licensed. We have the experience necessary to guarantee proper service, repair and installation of new, as well as existing systems. Our employees stay up to date with the ever-changing codes and requirements, to provide the best service available. Call 781-277-4655 or email us to learn more about our state elevator testing, repair, and maintenance services.

If you want to keep your elevators functioning properly, then you need to make sure that you have routine maintenance performed. The routine inspections are not only for preventative measures. In fact, these inspections can highlight larger problems that may occur later on. The earlier you catch a problem, the more likely you are to fix it before it becomes too costly. If you maintain your elevator, it increases its longevity while saving you money. Even with routine maintenance, here are some of the most common problems that professionals catch.

Sheave Problems

Your elevator sheaves suspend the elevator and carry it. These sheaves may become worn over time and this will put extra wear on the ropes. If you take care of the problem early enough, then you shouldn’t have to deal with hoist rope failures.

Power Problems

Elevators use up a large supply of power. If you make any changes to the building’s utility system, it can affect the motor and lead to elevator damage. You can have a power quality survey done to figure out if the elevator received over or under voltage. It’s crucial that you prevent burnout of any system components.

Bearing Problems

The bearings are important to the motor. A sign of bearing malfunction is noisy bearings. If you install inductive absorbers or replace the bearings, you can prevent currents from forming. Likewise, it keeps your energy costs low.

Oil and Lubricant Contamination

Elevator systems need oil and lubrication to run properly. However, it is possible for metal particles to make their way into the liquids due to wear. When you receive professional maintenance, they will check the metal levels and replace them if there are any potential problems.

When it comes to elevator maintenance, you need to stay up to date on it. Routine maintenance is crucial to the longevity of your elevator, not to mention, maintenance keeps small problems from growing. To keep up with regular maintenance, contact Keystone Elevator by calling 970-409-1245 or sending us an email today!

A new elevator in a commercial building has the ability to transform the lobby into something special. Whether it’s in an office building, shopping mall, hospital, or hotel, an elevator can be a sign of prestige and importance. How long it takes to install an elevator can depend on several factors. These include what the structure is like, how modern the building is, the type and size of the elevator being installed, and the number of installers involved.

The important thing is not to rush matters and make sure safety and quality are the guiding principles.

 

How High Will the Elevator Go?

An elevator installation in a building with five floors will go in a lot quicker than a building with fifty floors. In new buildings, the elevator shaft will be part of the original blueprint, making it a part of the entire building process. If the elevator is being installed afterwards, the building will have to meet specific requirements.

 

What Is the Installation Process?

Several steps make up the installation process. The following are a few of the important steps in the process.

• A concrete pit will be poured
• Fire extinguishers and a sprinkler system will be installed
• The integration of the electrical system will have to be coordinated
• Telecommunication lines will have to be connected

 

As the work goes on, all state and federal codes must be followed, with special attention to safety regulations.

 

What Options Are Available?

Not all elevator cars are created equal. A larger elevator built to carry freight, may take longer than a car that transports people from floor to floor. The details of the car may affect the timeframe as well, especially if the lights and control system are all customized to fit the building.

 

Call Keystone Elevator to learn more about elevator installation and what your options are. Contact us by calling 781-277-4655 or sending an email today!

 

 

 

Deciding which elevator is best for your building is not as easy as pushing the “up” button. When considering between traction or hydraulic elevator, a few factors such as space, cost and how it will be used may simplify the decision-making process.

Hydraulic vs. Traction

Commercial hydraulic and traction elevators may both lift passengers and cargo, but they do it in very different ways. A hydraulic elevator uses an electronic pump that pushes oil into a cylinder where the pressure is increased, pushing a piston and causing the elevator to rise. A traction elevator, on the other hand, uses a system of cables, pulleys, and counterweights to lift the cab.

Space Requirements

One deciding factor in choosing an elevator may simply be the amount of space you have. Many hydraulic elevators can be installed with the machine room at the top of the shaft. This is helpful not only as a space-saving technique but also in keeping the temperature of the oil high enough that the machine runs smoothly. Traction elevators, even the newer machine room-less style, require much more space.

Cost Differences

The cost differences between hydraulic and traction elevators are not black and white. Though a traction elevator is more expensive to install, once in place, it is more energy efficient than hydraulic elevators because it uses counterweights rather than an electric pump to lift the cab. However, a hydraulic elevator costs less initially and is usually less expensive to maintain.

Common Uses

Though hydraulic elevators do not provide as smooth a ride, they can carry much heavier loads than a traction elevator. They are also slower than their traction counterparts, which is why they are commonly used in buildings with five stories or less, while traction elevators are often used in mid- to high-rise buildings where speed is more essential.

Contact Keystone Elevator by calling 781-277-4655 today for help in deciding which elevator will meet your buildings needs.