

Many people ask us “how long does a lift last?” It’s an interesting question.
Depending on the type of equipment installed, a lift is generally expected to have a lifespan of between 15-25 years. Owners need to take this into account and plan for the future of their buildings.
We often encounter lifts that are 40-50 years old, many still running without ever having been upgraded or “modernised”. While it is a testament to the quality of the original equipment, unfortunately, most of these lifts are no longer reliable, nor safe when compared to the modern technology lifts installed today.
What are the signs that your lift is past its’ the use-by date?
1: Frequent breakdowns or passenger entrapments
2: Extended ‘outages’ due to a lack of spare parts
3: High repair costs due to obsolete equipment (contract exclusions)
4: Poor ride quality & dangerous floor levelling (trip hazard)
5: Disabled accessibility (DDA) Non-compliance
6: High electricity usage costs
Outdated lift technology and components will stop being manufactured over a period, usually 10-15 years from the original release date. After this date, components are considered ‘obsolete’ and in many cases will no longer be covered under your comprehensive maintenance contract.
Once parts can no longer be easily sourced, it’s a common place for salvaged ‘used’ parts to be utilised to repair your lift. Eventually, when these can no longer be found, and your own faulty parts cannot be “rebuilt”, the sad truth is, your lift may not be able to be repaired. You definitely don’t want to find yourself in this position, as your lift may be out of service for 6-12 months before it equipment can be sourced from a factory to complete either a major modernisation, or full replacement of your lift.
Not sure what condition your lift is actually in, or how much life it has left in it?
Equity Elevator Consultants can help Owners by providing a General Assessment Report for your lift. This is a general ‘health check” that will identify any issues, provide advice on ways to improve your lifts reliability or manage any risks that can’t yet be eliminated. The General Assessment also includes a lifecycle planning section so you can ensure your sinking fund is sufficient and you’re not caught out when the time comes to upgrade. Based on our report, you’ll know exactly when you need to have funding available.
So what if it’s time to upgrade or replace right now? What are your choices?
Firstly, we can help you manage your current lift maintenance and/or repairs with your current service provider to make the lift as reliable & safe as possible until you’re able to proceed with an upgrade.
Depending on the type of equipment installed, and the number of floors served, a partial upgrade may be all you need. This could be undertaken by your current service provider, or we could assist in obtaining quotes from other lift companies too.
Should a major modernisation be required, it’s very important to seek independent advice to ensure the solutions chosen are the best ones for your Owners (and not the most profitable for the lift company). Equity can assist in designing an upgrade specification that will provide you with the best value solution, with optimal lifespan and technology that can be cost effectively & reliably maintained by any of the major lift companies.
Of course, as with many major ‘renovations’, sometimes it may be more cost effective to completely remove the old elevator and install a brand new one. A brand new lift may be able to provide you technology & energy effieicency that can’t be achieved through a traditional ‘modernisation’ and the cost of both options is often comparable. A complete lift replacement solution may not be suitable for all buildings however Equity are experts in this field and will help guide you through the process. We can provide budgets for all available options, along with advice on the ‘pros & cons’ of each, and a recommendation on the solution that will best suit your building.
Regardless of whether you upgrade or replace your lift, considerable planning will be required during the transition. The lead times for new elevator equipment is generally around six months, and during the process, your building may be without a lift service. We can help you with advice to minimise any difficulties or inconvenience.
Once your project has been completed, you can look forward to many years of reliable lift service, and your new or upgraded lift will be smoother riding, more energy-efficient and safer for all.
Making the right choice on an upgrade or replacement can be very difficult. It can also be extremely expensive (for many years) if you get it wrong. Equity Elevator Consultants are experts in the elevator industry, and you can count on us to give you the right advice to suit the specific requirements for your building.
Equity will provide you with independent advice, and we’re here to protect your interests.
Contact us now for an obligation-free chat.