Elevators, more stylishly referred to as “vertical transports,” are something many of us use and take for granted every day. Whether it is an elevator to take us to our hotel room and back to the lobby, a transport elevator to deliver products, a service elevator to move personnel through a building to accomplish their tasks, or one to take you to your penthouse or apartment, there is one thing that all elevators have in common – you want them to be safe and reliable. There are several things to consider to achieve that goal.

First, elevators must be designed properly so that they’ll last a long time. Designing the right type of elevator is critical as it must stand up to the anticipated usage and work well in the environment involved. An engineering firm that is experienced with elevators should be consulted at this stage, not only to ensure safety, but also a long elevator life cycle.

Maintenance is the next important factor. Elevators are required to be inspected based on the regulations in your area, but that shouldn’t be the only attention you give your elevator. Having a consistent maintenance schedule will not only ensure safe operation, but also improve efficiency and lower operational costs. Elevators are like life. They have their ups and downs. Pun aside, your goal is for your elevators to operate smoothly – up and down – so that occupants are not fearful and materials aren’t jostled and potentially damaged. Putting an “out of order” sign on an elevator can make people pause at the idea of using any of your elevators, so do everything you can to avoid the need. A “paused for maintenance” sign is far less worrying, so don’t skip maintenance. In addition, don’t trust anyone but experienced engineers when designing elevators for your building.