Elevator Interiors

Elevator Interiors

Today’s essay will be a short word about elevator interiors.  Most owners have heart palpitations when they find out what it will cost to redo the interior of an elevator car. In the past all of the interiors were special materials handmade and installed by experts. Today the elevator contractors are able to reduce the costs a bit by going to specialized firms that sell only elevator interior materials. They measure the cars and order the precut material and assemble it inside the car. The contractor can order panels fabricated in a factory with formica, mirror, wood, simulated granite or a number of other finishes. Those panels just clip on to the frame of the car.  Of course this work must be done by certified elevator personnel in most places because of the potential for injury that could result. For instance,  in some elevators there is nothing behind the panels.  Removing them gives access to the shaft,  if the car should move it would be a very simple matter for someone to lose a limb by sticking something out the hole in the side.  In addition most elevator buttons work off of 120 volts and someone who doesn’t know that and is trying to remove a control panel is in for a shock.

Even if all precautions are taken such as shutting down the unit and locking it off it should still be performed by qualified personnel.  One huge issue that needs to be taken into account is the weight of the new interior materials. Many property managers like the simulated granite used to replace panels but the extra weight can render the elevator system dangerous.  The same goes for adding panels usually made up of pressboard. The pressboard is so dense and heavy that it adds additional weight to the cab and can cause the system to malfunction over time.  Think of it as trying to pull a semi trailer with an ordinary ½ ton pickup. In most cases it will move the load but after a short while things like the engine, transmission and other components will start to fail. The same is true of an elevator system. It was designed to carry so much of a load and overloading will cause you the owner to suffer consequences at a later date.  A certified contractor will take those things into account and not jeopardize his license by not performing calculations. 

To take it even further if you replace the ceiling it’s always best to run new wiring to the lights. (Most elevator lights being used today are LED units which require rewiring and some of that is done from outside the car.) The contractor also has to be familiar with the codes because there are rules for lighting in an elevator car.

Most service contractors don’t like to install flooring but again because of weight restrictions they should be the ones doing it. In addition an experienced service contractor knows the structure of the floor and subfloor in the car to make sure that the material installed is flush with the sill eliminating a tripping hazard.  Never install flooring material over a damaged floor. In time the material will deteriorate and possibly crack off in pieces causing obstructions to the door and costing you for the callbacks.

A new trend taking hold today uses wrap technology to replace older dated looking interiors. Computer printed images printed on plastic sheets designed to wrap around the panels and doors of an elevator can give a new look to a scratched or faded interior. Although the life of a wrap interior will not be as long as a full new interior, the reduction in cost can justify the decision easily. Many owners are opting for advertising and changing the wraps on a regular basis. This keeps the elevators looking new and can be a small source of revenue.  For old nasty looking doors it’s a perfect fix.  That’s inside the car and outside as well.

I think I have just about timed out for today. Look for my next post soon.

As always if you have any questions, or comments please let me know. Some of your emails have been very entertaining.  I have been thinking about possibly working on some software that can write your maintenance plan and tailor it specifically to your equipment and conditions. Please let me know if this is something you may be interested in.  Also if there are any subjects you would like me to tackle next don’t hesitate to comment or email. Otherwise I plan to write a bit about elevator controllers in the next posting.  For questions or comments please contact me at elevatorernie@hotmail.com.

Thank you,

Ernie

Today’s quote is from Albert Einstein

“ When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second.  When you sit on a hot cinder a second seems like an hour. …..That’s relativity.”