MAINTENANCE REMAINS A PRIORITY
Ernst also offers a bit of advice for elevator service contracts: Don’t get locked into a single elevator mainte- nance provider, as some equipment is more proprietary than others. Any one provider may not be certified to repair an elevator without adversely affecting an existing agreement between the eleva- tor company and building owners. “A consultant can help you select the most non-proprietary equipment available that will give you options down the road if you become dissatis- fied with the current elevator mainte- nance provider,” he says. As time passes, building owners should reach out to an elevator consul- tant to anticipate costs when repairs are needed. “Oftentimes, an owner is interested in knowing when the elevators should be considered for modernization and what they should budget for that capital improvement project,” says Ernst. For a condition assessment, he recom- mends every component of an elevator be inspected to determine what can be
The design of HART’s West O‘ahu rail stations, such as the Honouliuli-Ho‘opili Station, combine sun protection, elevators and stairways with colors that blend well with the iron-rich, red soil that surrounds them. PHOTO COURTESY HART
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
retained as-is, what can be refurbished and what needs to be replaced. And since elevator and building codes change often, Ernst says owners need to under- stand what upgrades are required when elevator modernization is considered.
Fortunately, elevator companies are always ready for these types of conversations. “Regular maintenance sched- ules increase the lifespan of eleva- tors, and ensure passenger safety and comfort,” according to Margie J. Harvey, director of market- ing and corporate social respon- sibility for Mitsubishi Electric US Inc.’s Elevator/Escalator Division. “Mitsubishi is proud to have our elevators used in multiple buildings in Hawai’i.” Case in point: the Sheraton Waikīkī — the world’s busiest Sheraton resort property — where 21 Mitsubishi eleva- tors safely transport guests up and down the hotel’s 25 stories. “Our technicians service the Sheraton Waikīkī’s guest elevators and they were modernized between 2008 and 2018 with updated parts and hardware to improve the passen- ger experience and enhance safety,” Harvey explains. A 2021 installation of Mitsubishi elevators at Pacific AquaScapes’ new office and warehouse space in Kapolei also utilized equipment that fit the reli- ability, comfort and design needs of the three-story building’s owners. “Our elevators and escalators are used in a wide range of project types, including highrise, hospitality, multi- family residential, retail and more,” says Harvey.
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