Elevator installation is a highly technical process, and it is critical to exercise diligence and precaution throughout the process. Inefficient designs may cause safety concerns, operational challenges, and future repair costs, even if they are minor. In this blog, you get to learn about nine mistakes made during elevator installation and how to avoid them. Correct elevator installation provides the foundation for effective elevator maintenance in the UAE throughout the service life of the equipment.

Lack of professionalism

There are times when it is more advisable to save money by hiring ordinary construction workers or handymen to do the installation of the elevator. However, qualified elevator contractors are the only ones who possess the proper skills, knowledge, and equipment to ensure they complete important phases of installation, such as the alignment of the shaft, the installation of equipment, and electrical connections, among others. More often, if the installation is done without the necessary expertise, it may lead to increased risks such as safety issues, equipment damages, non-compliance with the law, and your warranty being canceled and costing more.

Failure to Abide by Building and Shaft Specifications

Each building and shaft have unique characteristics for elevator installation, such as load-bearing capability, space, vertical alignment, etc. Failure to conduct a proper check before installation or overlooking certain problems can be dangerous. It may also include expensive corrections after the fact; prescriptions may also necessitate costly retrospective fixes. Professional contractors always do a site review first, determine what needs to be done to prepare the site, and guarantee that the area is ready for easy elevator installation in line with standard procedures. Taking shortcuts just to avoid preparation is strongly discouraged.

Not following equipment specifications

Every elevator model and brand has a vast database with specifications and restrictions on how to install it safely and efficiently. Some of the details may include the lift’s capacity, speed, floor space, electrical load, etc., in addition to special environmental considerations. The following are the potential dangers that users are likely to face when installing equipment pieces such as rails, motors, and controllers while ignoring these specifications, by sheer accident, or to save money: It also affects stability and work and will entail costly corrections at a later date. Regardless of the specificities of the manufacturers’ handbook, all technical requirements must be followed to the letter.

Lack of safety inspection and evaluation

Several safety tests must be conducted before an elevator that has been newly installed can be commissioned. Functional checks like the sensors, an emergency stop check, overspeed governors, brake engagement, load tests, and many more confirm operational readiness and safety features. It is highly risky and reckless to compromise on the quality assurance checks during the development phase or neglect the tests altogether. Elevator contractors who rely on these improper testing procedures are putting the lives of countless future users in danger. Mandatory safety inspections, therefore, cannot be compromised.

Failing to Obtain Necessary Permits and Inspections

Local authorities have detailed requirements concerning special permits and inspections of elevators at certain stages of construction and installation to guarantee compliance with safety, design, and performance standards before giving their nod. It is unlawful to fail to secure permits that are required or to omit inspections where they are legally required. It also increases safety risks because the information is unverified by any third parties. Any non-compliance discovered later can lead to lengthy shutdowns, the presence of heavy penalties, or the forced removal of newly installed elevators. Thus, all the necessary approvals and checkpoints should be properly designed and positioned.

Bad light installations and electrical wiring

Defective electrical work is one of the primary causes of elevator breakdowns and stoppages. Installing motors, lighting, controls, safety systems, etc. with under-rated or damaged wires, loose connections, or taking many shortcuts affects the life of the equipment and the safety of the users. Likewise, failure to provide sufficient grounding or guard against variations or spikes may harm delicate elevator parts or result in mishaps. All wiring should be done by licensed electrical technicians and in strict conformity with specifications, local wiring codes, and standards.

Inadequate structural support structures

The rails, mounts, and supporting structures have to be capable of supporting the dynamic loads of moving elevators for years without vibrations or realignment. There is always a likelihood of having geometric alignment issues that cause wear and tear. Substandard materials, aging load-bearing, or unstable ceilings and walls are some of the many risks. Ideally, the building structure should be strengthened to accommodate planned loads and usage cycles before installing the elevator. This means that adopting structural compromise in an organization in a bid to effect short-term cost-cutting will require a very hefty cost to be incurred in the future.

Ignoring environmental control needs

Electrical parts of the elevator, such as controllers and switching gear, require extensive environmental controls such as ventilation, humidity, and temperature. Not considering these requirements during installation and not providing proper cooling systems or machine room environments often results in frequent failures, wear and tear, and breakdowns, while also making passengers uncomfortable. Instead of struggling to install environmental controls later, as it often turns out to be a nightmare, such controls should be well provided from the installation aspect, looking at the expected equipment loads and operating conditions.

Lack of proper user training and documentation

User training and comprehensive documentation of the equipment and its functions are paramount to efficient daily use, cleaning, and in case of future malfunctions. Lack of training of key workers before handover on standard operating procedures, emergency drills, safety measures, maintenance requirements, warranties, etc. increases risks and creates many inconveniences later. Clean, comprehensive records of the equipment specifications, settings, problems, solutions, and even other miscellaneous settings are reference materials that the users and the maintenance teams require. Therefore, sufficient resources have to be earmarked for both fully training customers and offering adequate documentation.

Conclusion (Elevator Installation)

The above mistakes should be avoided so that optimum elevator performance and safety for users are achieved in the long run. While elevator maintenance in UAE planning as well as correct implementation of the entire plan may require more capital investment in the first place, it is always worth the investment because it will not constantly require replacements or additional expenditures throughout its lifetime. That is why, once best practices for elevator installation are set, clear maintenance routines can be established to provide the longest downtime.