Age of The Device Elevator and escalator consultants look at the age of the elevating device and put a score in this category. 25 – 30 years is typically recommended for class A building. 30 – 35 years is typically recommended for other buildings and hydraulic elevators. 40 – 50 years is typically recommended for escalators. Elevators older than 30 years old, score 30 as well. For escalators, the highest number is 50. There is no higher number than 30 for elevators and 50 for escalators in this category. The closer you are to topped out number, the closer your devices are reaching the end of their useful life cycle. Please select the year when the device was installed. 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965

Building Class Now, we are going to determine the building class. Is the building where the device installed categorized as a Class A Building?

Device Type Now, we are going to determine the device type. Is the device Escalator?

Obsolescence Obsolescence is a major issue and a driving force behind the decision to modernize. This is based on the need to replace parts that are no longer available or provided by elevator companies or third party suppliers. Where it is not feasible to buy parts because they are not available, then modernization makes sense because the cost to repair the elevators becomes eventually more expensive than modernization. We also look for components or drives more than a “stand alone” part that can be upgraded on its own Obsolescence score 1 point for each year the elevator is in use. For example, 20 year old equipment with obsolete parts would score 20 points. In your case, do you think Obsolescence is an issue?

Equipment Limitation Some elevator controllers or machinery are poorly designed, but deployed nevertheless. These components become problematic to maintain and retain. Hence modernizing them is in the best interest of the building manager and owner. For example, some low rise controllers are modified to work in a high rise application and hence they get a reputation for “experimental” design. Elevator control design is not the only determination for equipment limitation, motors or machines, designs like the machine-room-less also come to mind and hydraulic designs on elevators and chain design or drive design on escalators. Where equipment limitation is a factor, we add 1.5 points for each year the elevator is in service. For example, elevators or escalators that are 10 years old, we give them a score of 15. In your case, do you think Equipment Limitation is an issue?

Population Density or Design Some buildings are not well designed or significantly change their population density model after they are built. Therefore, the existing elevators would not be capable of handling the traffic in these buildings. Some elevator designs are also marginal and cannot handle a significant population density change. Therefore, in some instances, if the building traffic study necessitates a change in dispatching and this capability is not available in the existing equipment, modernization is recommended and is required. Where population densities change, and the situation is bad, the decision to modernize versus rework the existing design would be based on the age of the equipment and a rule of thumb is 2 points for every year. Equipment that’s 20 years will score 40 points. In your case, do you think Population Density or Design is an issue?

Expertise Another factor to consider with respect to the maintenance of the equipment is the availability of personnel capable of maintaining the elevators and escalators. Service personnel capable of performing many of the adjustments necessary to keep elevator equipment operating properly are hard to come by. Therefore, where equipment is complicated to adjust like a selector or uncommon to the industry (like a foreign model), then the expertise factor does come into play and should be considered in addition to the parts availability. Where expertise is a factor in maintaining the elevator or escalator equipment, a half a point score is given to this element based on the age of the equipment. While it can be argued that some of the new equipment installed lack the training and expertise, we would not endorse modernizing these controllers or equipment as a result of that. Hence, if the equipment is 20 years old, it scores 10 points. In your case, do you think Expertise is an issue?

Performance or Reliability Performance and reliability are major factors leading to modernization. After all, no one needs an elevator that traps passengers or is always shutdown. Therefore, callbacks are measured and should be noted as part of the analysis for the building. Remember, elevators should not and cannot be modernized (in our opinion) on callbacks alone. You can have a new elevator with numerous callbacks and issues and it may take time to clear them depending on expertise and company capability. What elevator and escalator consultants are trying to do is retain most of the salvageable value. For older equipment callback ratio for all types should not exceed one callback every two months per elevator (ratio = 0.5) and for escalators, one callback every three months (ratio = 0.33). With the "Guide To Callbacks" table on the "Modernization Drivers and Contributors" article, if the elevators and escalators are not meeting these criteria, then no points should be given for elevators less than 10 years old and half a point for each year thereafter. Hence, an elevator that’s 20 years old not meeting these performance parameters, would score 5 points. In your case, do you think Performance or Reliability is an issue?

Power Savings If there is a need to upgrade the elevators, the current system power usage and profile could be improved using new dispatching and drive technology. However, is some cases, upgrading a geared regenerative elevator system to the new SCR drive system will actually have a worse impact on the power profile. Therefore, when considering the power aspects alone, the upgrade may not be a good enough incentive unless your energy profile is going to improve. Therefore, with respect to the power saving aspect, we provide zero points for the first 10 years and 5 points is provided in the remaining years. Where a technology leap is provided and is confirmed (i.e. going from hydraulic to machine-room-less elevator or from a non-regenerative to a regenerative system). In your case, do you think Power Saving is an issue?

Act of God or Damage Where there is an issue with the equipment’s performance due to an act of god, or if the elevator equipment is damaged, then this should be considered in the evaluation process. As mentioned, the damage must not be localized as in rusting pit equipment of guide rails or other fixtures that would not impact callbacks or performance. This would be something directly related to the equipment’s ability to perform and for some reason (either neglect or prolonged exposure), it was not or could not be covered under insurance. Another example of this would be the cylinder is knocking due to earthquake or other underground condition. Then an upgrade may be recommended and the score is zero points in the first 20 years and 5 points in the next 20 to 30 years and 10 points in years 30 to 40. If an elevator 22 years is impacted by this scenario, then the equipment has an act of god score of 5. In your case, do you think Act of God or Damage is an issue?

Proprietary Controls There are some elevators controllers which are very difficult to maintain due to proprietary design. Components could have been added to the base design or an experimental system is integrated to the base design which makes the elevator proprietary and difficult to deal with. For example, there are special tools needed to reset the levelling encoder count or adjust the drive or reset the shutdown timer. In situations like these, the elevators are typically harder to maintain in the first 20 years then it is in the remaining years because it is assumed that the more of the proprietary elevators are installed, the more likely that mechanics become familiar with it or that can maintain it. Also, with the number of installations, some of the elevator contractors may attempt to reverse engineer the design and provide new tools or alternative methods to maintain it. If controllers are proprietary, then the following count is suggested: zero points for the first 10 years as it would be practically unthinkable to upgrade an elevator 10 years young; 20 points for years 11 to 20; 15 points for years 21 to 30; and 10 points for years above that. In your case, do you think Proprietary Control is an issue?