Elevators are amongst a building’s critical assets. Modernising to meet the needs and expectations of today’s tech-savvy employees and public comes with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, sustainability, aesthetics, and high people flow.
Beyond the groundbreaking innovations in mechanics, the technology of smart lifts is driving great advancements. In this article we explore the ins and outs of elevator modernisation and its impact on redefining elevator systems and passenger experiences.
Safety first
Seemingly well operating elevators that haven’t been upgraded in the last ten years may theoretically meet global essential safety requirements (GESRs). But any severe consequences of a mechanical or environmental elevator accident would be inexcusable with current solutions, like earthquake-detecting seismic sensors and built in emergency escape routes.
Maintenance, repairs, and cabin redesign can go a long way in extending the lifetime of elevators that aren’t ready to be more seriously upgraded. Safety codes also require durable, fire-proof materials like the ‘Ultrarope’ with a carbon fiber core surrounded by a high-friction coating used by KONE. Metal-coated cross-laminated timber also protects against heat and moisture.
Our tesa® 45001 Flame Retardant Tape is a simple yet effective way to improve safety not only in the elevator cabin, but also the building as a whole.This tape can be used to bond stiffener bars to elevator landing doors. These doors play an important role in fire protection, and they need to comply with fire and safety regulations.
All material used within the doors needs to comply with these regulations as well, which is why tesa® 45001 Flame Retardant PE Foam tape is the perfect choice for stiffener bar bonding.
Elevator landing doors have to prevent the fire from spreading to multiple floors via the elevator shaft, which is a leading cause of widespread fire damage. As research has shown, smoke can fill up a 12-storey elevator shaft in less than 1.5 minutes after a fire starts, while temperature in the shaft can be higher than 187°C in 5 minutes.
While not every lift requires exhaustive safety technology, according to leading elevator manufacturers Otis, transforming existing elevator performance and reliability technology can reduce callback rates by as much as 50%.
Eco-efficiency as standard
Consumers and governments are actively factoring environmental awareness and sustainable development into all modern technological advancements. Meeting green technology standards is important for genuine impact as well as employee and partner perception, not to mention reductions in running costs.
“Green elevators” reduce the overall carbon footprint from manufacture to installation and beyond. Think gearless motor systems that reduce energy consumption by more than 50% compared to geared systems, and AI control systems that facilitate energy recovery.
IoT and connectivity
There’s plenty that can be done to modernise older lifts, but smart elevators are fast becoming commonplace in cities worldwide. Connectivity enables people-flow solutions, like regulating rush hour cycles according to the traffic trends of a building, remote diagnostic troubleshooting, and proactive repairs. Artificial Intelligence and augmented reality are also game changers for elevator maintenance and service efficiency.
Passenger experience
Modernisation undoubtedly enhances the passenger experience. Practical benefits include reduced wait times in peak hours and the peace of mind of touchless access. Contactless display mounts offer enriched interactivity, sharing building information and multimedia content or dynamic full-wall ads. Interior design brings sensory experiences to the cabin through lighting design, customisable soundtracks, glass panelling, and mirrors. Accessibility is also getting attention, through partnerships with apps like Blindsquare for blind and visually impaired people. Collectively, these elements shape people’s mindsets and influence their day to day in terms of utility, convenience, and security.
If you would like to take your elevator design to the next level with a customised adhesive solution, get in touch with us using the link below. You can also download our ebook unpacking the latest trends in modern elevator design.
