As of 2022, there were 20,601 elevator companies in the U.S., up 2.9% from 2021. This growth indicated a sustained demand for elevator services during that year.
In commercial buildings, elevators help make sure that everyone, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and those with heavy or bulky items, can easily move between floors. This is essential for inclusivity and adhering to accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you’re building a commercial property or facility, you might be considering having an elevator engineer on your design team. Dive in with us to see why hiring one can be one of the smartest moves you can make.
Safety Prioritization
Each commercial building is different, and so are its safety needs. An elevator engineer can make a plan just for your building. Whether it’s a tall office building or a big shopping center, they can choose an elevator location and design an elevator that suits the people using it and keeps them safe.
In emergencies like a power cut or equipment problems, elevators need strong safety features. Engineers add things like emergency brakes, backup power, and alarms. This keeps people safe if they need to leave the building quickly or if there’s a problem.
Elevator engineers know a lot about safety rules. They make sure your elevators follow these rules to keep everyone safe. From start to finish, they check everything about the elevator to make sure it’s safe and works well.
They also think about how to make elevators that last a long time and don’t break down easily. They choose strong materials and parts to reduce the chance of problems and accidents. This helps you achieve elevator safety certification.
Efficient Operation
An elevator engineer designs elevator systems to work efficiently. This means the elevators move fast, so people don’t have to wait long and can move around your building quickly. In buildings where lots of people come and go, like offices or malls, it’s really important to get people where they need to go fast.
These engineers also make elevators work with other systems in the building. For example, they can connect elevators with security or energy-saving systems. This makes everything run more smoothly and efficiently.
Also, an elevator engineer can make an elevator system that’s just right for your building. They can handle busy times when lots of people are using the elevators, make sure elevators work well in very tall buildings, or help move things around inside your building easily.
Energy Savings
Elevators can be significant energy consumers in a building. This is where an elevator engineer can help. They know how to use the latest technology to modernize and save energy in elevators.
For example, there are systems called regenerative drives. These take the energy used when an elevator slows down and put it back into the building’s electricity. This cuts down how much energy the elevators use and helps the whole building use less energy.
Making elevators more energy-efficient is a big job for elevator engineers. When buildings use less energy, they are better for the environment. People who care about the planet like energy-efficient buildings.
Elevators with these energy-saving technologies, like regenerative drives, use less electricity. Using less electricity means lower electric bills. Over time, this can save a lot of money.
Investing in these types of elevators can be a smart choice. It can save you money on running costs in the long run.
Problem Identification
An elevator engineer pays close attention to details. This is crucial for finding problems early, especially during the design process. If these small problems aren’t fixed, they could turn into big breakdowns later. Stopping these problems before they start is key to avoiding the trouble and hassle of broken elevators.
Commercial elevators should also be well-maintained. A good elevator engineer doesn’t just put in the elevator system – they also help plan a regular maintenance schedule.
Keeping up with maintenance means the elevator works well and doesn’t suddenly break down. This involves regular check-ups, fixing things quickly, and making updates to keep the elevator working well for a long time.
Elevator engineers make systems that are strong and don’t need a lot of fixing. By thinking ahead, they help cut down on how often and how much it costs to fix the elevators. This means the elevators are less likely to have problems that disrupt the building.
Capacity Optimization
If your building doesn’t have enough elevators, or if they’re too small, they get used too much. This means people wait longer and the elevators wear out faster. They will need fixing more often and won’t last as long.
On the other hand, if you have too many elevators, or they’re too big, it’s not good either. It costs more to start with, takes up too much space, and uses more electricity over time.
An elevator engineer can figure out just the right number and size of elevators for your commercial building. They look at how big your building is, how many people are in it, and what it’s used for. This could be different types of commercial properties, including offices, retail shops, restaurants, or multi-dwelling units like apartment buildings.
A good elevator engineer thinks about what you need now and what you might need later. They plan so your elevators are used just right – not too busy and not sitting empty. This helps prevent long waits and too much wear but also makes sure you don’t waste money and space.
Qualified Elevator Engineer for All Your Commercial Elevator Needs
From ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency to optimizing the capacity and energy usage of your elevators, an elevator engineer is an invaluable asset to any commercial building project. Their expertise not only makes your building function well but also looks its best.
Our team of skilled elevator engineers at Murphy Elevator Company can take on any elevator job, big or small. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to see how we can help, whether it’s a new installation, a complex retrofit, or ongoing maintenance.
Travis graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Entrepreneurship before joining Murphy Elevator as an accounts receivable associate. Since then, Travis has worked as an Estimator and Marketing Director before ascending to the role of VP of Administration in 2006. He also serves as our Safety Director, and leads IT and accounts receivable.