Elevator Maintenance Checklist

Why Do You Need An Elevator Maintenance Plan?

Elevator maintenance is similar to regular maintenance of cars. Cars need routine maintenance when they run to a certain stage. The same goes for elevators as mechanical transportation products. So, it’s important to create a before-hand elevator maintenance checklist.

If an elevator runs in a 10-story residential building, it rises and falls about 300 times daily. After years of operation, the loss of parts and components is inevitable, so regular maintenance of elevators is crucial to the stable operation of the elevator, extending its service life and ensuring the safety of passengers.

Let’s uncover the essentials for the maintenance process.

Inspection Planning

Elevator maintenance is not just a ticked box in your regular checklist, it’s more than that. It is a proactive measurement that prevents you from any loss.
To avoid any inconvenience, it is necessary to make a plan before elevator maintenance.

Your plan must include:
● Initial inspection with documentation of the details about the elevator
● Keep the maintenance history
● Oiling the mechanical parts
● Changing the broken parts
● Checking electrical components like sensors, etc.
● Safety features such as brakes, communication devices, and emergency call-ups
● Checking the overall performance

So, what should be the checklist items for elevator maintenance?

Machine Room

1. Examine the performance of the smoke and fire detectors.
2. Check all the wires and replace any damaged or frayed wires.
3. Ensure lubrication where required and check the oil levels.
4. Make sure there is no clutter, except for tools necessary for inspection and maintenance.
5. Ensure the machine room is well-ventilated and dry, and eliminate any possibility of rain or snow intrusion.
6. Check electrical components for noise, malfunction, and heat generation.

Inside the Car

1. Check the operation of the buttons in the car.
2. Make sure that the elevator doors operate smoothly.
3. Make sure the emergency phone is correctly connected for emergencies.
4. Inspect walls, ceilings, and handrails for any signs of damage.
5. Operate the elevator in both upward and downward directions, and confirm that it runs normally.
6. Ensure that the key switches, light switches, and fan switches make good contact.
7. Inspect the display in the elevator car for any discrepancies with the floor indication.
8. Check whether there is any swing, vibration, or noise when the car is running.

Outside the Car

1. The elevator’s safety system and fire alarm system must function.
2. The buttons outside the cabin should also be in good working condition.
3. Check the hall lights.
4. Check the door panels.
5. Clean the door guide rail to ensure smooth and flexible door movement.

Top of Car

1. Inspect the rails, ropes, and all their attachments thoroughly. If any damage is found, it should be repaired.
2. The exit hatch should be accessible.
3. Check the signs of destruction or damage.

Elevator Pit

1. Check pit for standing water
2. Check whether the pit lighting, indicators and sockets are working properly.
3. Clear the pit of debris
4. Check whether the pit ladder can be used normally or not
5. Check whether the action of the tensioning device is normal
6. Check whether the limit switch is in the positive position, if not in the normal position, it should be pulled back.
7. Check the clearance between the compensation chain and the ground, the distance between the compensation chain and the ground is 300MM or more.
8. Check whether the buffer distance of counterweight is normal, the buffer distance of hydraulic buffer is 250-400mm, and the buffer distance of polyurethane or spring buffer is 150-350mm.
9. Check whether the spring buffer has signs of rust and corrosion
10. Check the wire rope for wear and tear.

Guide Rails and Guide Shoes

1. Check the tightness of the guide shoe
2. Check the cooperation between guide shoes and guide rails
3. Check the amount of oil in the oil box of the guide shoe. The oil level should be kept at about 2/3 of the height of the oil cup. The oil is clean and the oil box is firmly fixed.
4. Lubricate the rails and give a test for control checks.
5. Check the gap between the guide shoe lining and guide rails. The bigger the gap, the more vibration there will be.
6. Check the buffering performance on both sides of the rails.

Traction Machine Reduce

1. Inspect the gears because if there are any tears or gaps, they won’t work smoothly.
2. The oil tank should not leak. Clean it with kerosene oil, refill the tank with pure oil, and balance the thickness of the oil pool of the reducer.
3. Check the bolts on the base of the traction machine and tighten each bolt.
4. It is important to maintain the oil temperature below 60 degrees.
5. Maintain the temperature of the components of the reducer up to 80 ℃.

Elevator Brake

1. Clean the dust and buildup from the brakes.
2. Check the brake disks for any breakage and fix it.
3. Check the brake fastening bolts for any signs of looseness and tighten them.
4. There must be acceptable air space/gap between the brake pad and discs, it is recommended up to 0.02”.
5. Check the fixing screws joining the brakes to the end shield of the motor and loosen them to adjust.
6. You can also check brake response timings, the break controlling system, and brake tension for better work.

Traction Sheave

1. Check whether the working surface of the sheave groove is smooth.
2. Check whether the depth of the wire rope lying in the groove of the traction sheave is the same.
3. Check whether the wire rope in the sheave groove falls to the bottom and slips.
4. Perform a slip detection test on the traction wheel to check the condition of the bearings and shafts.

Speed Governor and Safety Gear

1. Safety gear and connecting rod mechanism should be lubricated with engine oil once a month
2. Clean the safety gear regularly to ensure flexible movement of the clamp block.
3. Make sure the rope extension of the speed limiter does not exceed the specified range.

FAQs

Can elevator maintenance tasks be carried out by building staff?

Tasks like cleaning and clearing dust and debris can be done by the building staff. But for technical maintenance, a qualified staff should be hired.

How long does the regular checking and maintenance take?

It depends on the complexity and the seriousness of the task. It can vary from a few hours to a longer time. Normal checking takes two hours, but it can be extended.

What is the role of the building owner in elevator maintenance?

The building owner or the manager must ensure the elevator maintenance’s scheduling, regularity, and documentation. What is the cost-effective way of elevator maintenance? Ans. You must have early detection of the issues and make a proper preventative plan.

Conclusion

In final words, we would suggest more emphasis on planning and scheduling the elevator maintenance beforehand because a well-executed checklist is a secret that ensures seamless working. We have mentioned the top items in the elevator maintenance checklist to ease your process.

It is crucial to check all the elevator’s safety features and technical operations. We suggest having a post-service test to ensure the elevator works, as it is a commitment to safety and reliability.

Dazen is a specialized elevator manufacturer and maintenance service provider with installation teams operating in over 50 countries worldwide. If your elevator requires maintenance, please reach out to us, and our experts will offer you the optimal solution.