Passenger lifts are the most common types of lifts in use today. Under the broad category of passenger lifts, there are also subsets of different types of lifts categorized according to the kind of function it has been set to perform. The most common designs of these lifts include traction and hydraulic lifts, panoramic lifts, firefighting and evacuation lifts and as well as many customized solutions. The panoramic lifts can be commonly seen in malls and other affluent residential homes or big hotels. In these types of buildings, it is also common to find one or two other of these lift have been custom manufactured to suit the overall architectural style of the building.

The fact that passenger lifts carry people on a semi-continuous basis means that it is essential to ensure the lifts perform to their level best it must be reviewed and inspected for any damage or problem. The evaluation of the performance of the lifts will have to go hand in hand with the maintenance of the lift systems. Therefore, the best time to review the performance of the lifts and elevators is during the time of lift maintenance. The lift maintenance and performance review can be done by lift maintenance service providers that deal specifically with lift installation and maintenance.

There are various activities that can be performed to check on how well the lift is functioning. These steps are important for the smooth running of the lifts. For the most part, the performance level of the lift will be done by timing and checking how each of the various aspects of the lift functions.

·Time the floor to floor runs – it is important to note the amount of time taken by the lift to move from one floor to another. This is measured from the time the hoistway door closes to the time it opens in the next floor.

·Time the performance – the performance of the lifts is calculated from the time the door begins to close on one floor to the next floor when the door has opened completely.

·Check the start time of the lift – this is also measured from the time the lift door actually starts to close to the point that starts to move to the next floor.

·Find out the brake to brake time – this is often measured on a one floor run basis, and it is timed from the time the lift starts to the time it makes a stop to the next floor.

·Check the door open time – measures the time the door takes to open. It is timed from the time it actually starts to open to the time it is fully opened.

·Find out the door dwell time – the lift door will remain open for a few seconds. It is this duration that has to be timed and how the opening and closing of the door are affected by the cancellation features of the lift.

Passenger lifts need to be made safe and healthy for use at all times. The best way to ensure it performs to the maximum is by making regular performance checks and make the necessary lift modernization.

Carla Jack is the author of this article on Lift modernisation. Find more information, about Lift Maintenance here