According to the National Elevator Industry, Inc., there are more than a million elevators in the U.S. and Canada, which equals around one elevator per 350 passengers. The average elevator ride is four to five floors, with five passengers per trip. Each elevator carries, on average, approximately 20,000 passengers each year, equaling 18 billion trips each year.
Essentially, an elevator car is a metal box that transports goods or people between floors, levels or decks, in a building or ship. The operation of an elevator is dependent on a hydraulic system, balancing counterweights, an electric motor that hoists the car up and down, pulleys and cables, a braking mechanism, and various safety systems that protect the car’s passengers in the event of a malfunction.
Elevators undergo significant daily use and require ongoing maintenance and safety inspections to ensure safe and efficient operation. Commonly reported complaints and problems with elevators include slow operation and long wait times, overheating in the drive and control system, high energy use, and frequent breakdowns. According to elevator service companies, 75% of breakdowns are due to malfunctioning doors. Elevator doors absorb the bulk of daily wear and tear. Elevator doors become inflexible with age, at which point they often open and close improperly.
Preventative maintenance and regular inspections are the keys to ensuring smooth elevator functioning. Elevator Services in Washington DC, from companies such as Elevator Technologies Inc. performs these duties for their clients. Elevator installers and mechanics are responsible for the assembly, installation and replacement of elevators and elevator parts. Elevator mechanics receives extensive training and must complete a four-year apprenticeship under the guide of a journeyman. Maintenance and repair personnel are required to have a greater knowledge of electronics, hydraulics, and electricity than do installers & since the majority of elevator repair work involves troubleshooting.
The advantage of Elevator Services in Washington DC, is the assurance that a facility’s elevators are in compliance with NEC and ANSI 17.1 safety codes. This compliance virtually ensures that downtime will be minimized, accidents reduced, and the chance of a permanent shutdown unlikely. A building with well-maintained elevators pays off in the form of efficient operation, passenger safety, and money saved.
