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Welcome to atlanticelevatorconsulting.com, the internet home of Atlantic Consulting Inc. We are the mid-Atlantic’s premier vertical transportation consulting services firm.

UPDATE 04/03

With each passing week the demand for a greener world increases. People are starting to realize that all it takes is everyone doing their own small part, and more and more people are starting to ask how.

Often, it's simply a matter of changing a few habits and paying attention to things that previously went unnoticed. It's not much different with your building's vertical transportation systems.

The first thing you can do is take a look at your equipment, including what's publicly visible and -- with proper safety precautions -- what's inside the machine room. Look for things like leaking fluids (oil in particular), buildup of carbon dust, or any other situation that might lead to hazardous materials entering the building environment. If you note anything out of the ordinary, have your maintenance provider take a look.

We also recommend having your equipment audited for energy efficiency. Better efficiency can often be achieved through minor changes to your preventive maintenance program.

For more information on how vertical transportation systems play a role in your building's green status, give us a call or email us today.

UPDATE 01/03

All of us at Atlantic Consulting want to wish everyone success and good health in 2008. As we enter the new year, we have a few thoughts to share on the market in general.

Demand for leased space is starting to slow in all areas, but the inventory of buildings under construction and on the design boards is still high. This will eventually increase the vacancy rates and slow down demand. There is a similar trend in the residential market.

Orders for new elevators are just beginning to slow, and we project that towards the end of 2008 the elevator companies will see further slowing of orders for new elevators and perhaps for modernization of existing elevators. The benefits of this will not start to show until 2009, but it will lead to more competition in all areas of the business.

The elevator company trend to maximize and increase profits will continue through 2008, so the price pressure on maintenance and repair will continue and may increase. This is currently being experienced as less time in the buildings doing maintenance and an increase in proposals attempting to sell extra work to building owners and managers. Maintenance prices are also on the rise. We expect this will continue through all of 2009.

UPDATE 09/25

Machine Room Housekeeping

One of the most common issues we find during the course of our maintenance audits has to do with the cleanliness of the machine room. Too often, the machine room is allowed to become dusty and dirty, cluttered with junk and improperly stored spare parts, or both. A poorly kept machine room can present a safety hazard and, in some cases, even a violation of code. Such conditions can significantly shorten the life of your elevator equipment and contribute to increased downtime and inconvenience.

Your maintenance supplier is obligated to keep the machine room clean and up to code. This means (among other things) no excess dust and dirt, no improperly stored parts (all parts should be kept organized and labeled in a designated parts cabinet), no rags or trash laying around, and maintaining proper temperature and lighting.

If you have any concerns at all about the condition of your machine room -- even if it's just a hunch -- give us a call at 410-729-8982 or email us at info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com. We'll be happy to identify potential issues and help you get them corrected.

UPDATE 07/10

2008 Budget Info

Believe it or not, budget season is here again. As always, we’re happy to offer our annual opinion and update on the shape of the market and what you should expect for services in 2008. All prices are based both on recent project information and what we believe to be the trends in the marketplace.

Elevator Maintenance
The I.U.E.C. labor contract, which we mentioned in last year’s update, was renewed on July 5th, 2007 at basically the same terms as the old contract. Under the price adjustment terms of your existing elevator maintenance contract, you should budget 8% for the 2007 increase.

The current market-level prices for elevator maintenance in the Washington Metropolitan area are as follows, based on recent bidding:

Hydraulic Elevators: $290 - $340 per unit
Geared Traction Elevators: $475 - $500 per unit
Gearless Traction Elevators: $600 - $700 per unit

All prices are based on full maintenance service with overtime callbacks included.

We continue to see strong upward pressure in this area. As such, we continue to recommend you renegotiate or re-bid your maintenance contracts, lock in the prices for five years, and cap all future increases at a maximum of 5%.

Modernization
As with elevator maintenance, this area continues to escalate at rates above your other building costs, with upward price moves by major manufacturers continuing to exert heavy pressure. If you’re currently planning a modernization we suggest proceeding sooner rather than later to avoid the January price increases.

For 2008 we recommend the following budget prices:

Hydraulic elevators: $150,000, including the replacement of the underground cylinder.
Traction elevators: $220,000

All prices are per-unit and include an allowance for cab renovations, engineering and consulting services, and construction administration services. An allowance for code-required electrical, mechanical, and architectural services should be budgeted at $17,000 per elevator, exclusive of installing an emergency power generator.

Open Order Work
Given the diversity of this work, establishing a budget is not possible. However, we can say that these costs continue to increase at a rate of about 10% per year. For individual projects, contact us at info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com and we will be happy to provide guidance.

UPDATE 06/18

ACI is Going Green!

From the very first days of the company, Atlantic Consulting has made a point to stay on the cutting edge of developments in the vertical transportation industry. After all, we make our money by saving yours. To do both means we need to stay sharp. It’s all part of an ongoing commitment to giving our customers advice and expertise that’s going to be as valid tomorrow as it is today.

And now, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve Gone Green.

For us, that means adopting a fresh focus on environmental issues, energy efficiency, and LEED standards as part of all of our work products. It means that all of the modernization projects we oversee will result in vertical transportation systems that conform to Green Building standards, and that all of our audits and evaluations will include Green recommendations.

It means that when you work with ACI you’ll find the information you need to make 21st-century decisions about your facilities and equipment.

Want to learn more about making sustainable practices a part of your long-term vertical transportation initiatives? Give us a call any time at 410-729-8982, or send an email to info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com.

UPDATE 04/25

More Lessons Learned

Most people are probably aware that attempting to free someone trapped in an elevator is never a good idea. But did you know that relying on the fire department is also not ideal?

Elevator systems are highly complex, and difficult operations should only be performed by technicians who have been thoroughly trained and qualified. Should you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of having to handle a trapped passenger situation, call your maintenance supplier immediately. Let them know what's going on and explain to them that it is an emergency. You'll be doing yourself and the passenger a huge favor.

UPDATE 03/15

Lessons Learned

The following thoughts on emergency communication were submitted by an ACI client:

There are so many different types of phones and services, I believe that the managers should take an interest in checking this system weekly. If a battery is used for backup then they should have a plan in effect regarding when these batteries will be changed. We have found that some systems are designed with a rechargeable 9-volt battery, which the mechanics are replacing with regular batteries. This defeats the design and leaves you without communication for months on end.

ACI agrees that each building should have a plan for checking the elevator emergency communications system. Such checks should occur on, at minimum, a monthly basis. In general you should be looking for a clear line with good voice quality and volume. The person answering should be able to tell you where you are calling from (building address) and the specific elevator you are in. They should also be able to call back to the specific elevator after the phone is hung up.

Also check the indicator lights on the phone. Typically they are supposed to flash when the call is answered, but they often fail to work properly. Read the instructions on the phone or the faceplate to see how the specific phone is supposed to work. If you notice anything that seems out of order, raise the issue with your maintenance contractor as soon as possible.

UPDATE

Trends for 2007

As we wrap up 2006 and start to look ahead to next year, now is a good time to give some thought to the state of the vertical transportation industry and how it might affect your on-the-ground reality.

As expected, we are continuing to see strong upward pressure on prices in all areas, including maintenance, modernization, new construction, and repair. Furthermore, the industry is facing a significant bit of uncertainty regarding upcoming labor negotiations with the mechanics union. Attention to detail is always important, but it looks to be even more so in the year to come.

We recommend that building owners and managers verse themselves in their elevator and escalator maintenance contracts and become familiar with how responsibilities are delegated. In particular, be aware of the elevator company’s existing obligations – never take the word of their representative without first checking to see if the service you need is already covered.

We also encourage implementing strong oversight of any repair or modernization project, and of all contract renewals. Effective management and due diligence can go a long way toward mitigating upward price trends.

ACI specializes in providing services that make difficult processes easier, and ultimately save you time and money. Please give us a call at 410-729-8982, or email us at info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com for more information.

UPDATE

Make no mistake about it: the single most important thing to consider in terms of your elevators and escalators is maintenance. You need vertical transportation equipment that is safe and reliable, and it starts with a comprehensive maintenance program.

Your supplier should be following a detailed program of cleaning, adjustment, parts replacement, and record keeping. Proper attention to these practices saves money and substantially reduces the likelihood that your tenants and guests will be inconvenienced.

Take a moment to think about your elevators and escalators, and ask yourself these questions:

- Is the equipment “invisible”? Properly maintained equipment shouldn’t get your attention – it should just work.
- How often do service interruptions occur?
- When interruptions do happen, are they resolved quickly?
- Do problems happen once and get repaired, or are they chronic?

Thinking about your elevator and escalator equipment in this way can help you identify potential maintenance shortcomings. If you think something’s not right, trust your instincts. Finding out now might save big dollars and big headaches down the road.

Need more info? Contact us at info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com

UPDATE

Our Annual Budget Recommendations

With budget season here again we’re happy to offer our yearly opinion and update on the shape of the market and what you should expect in 2007. All prices are based both on recent project information and what we believe to be the trends in the marketplace.

Elevator Maintenance
The I.U.E.C. labor contract is up for renewal in July of 2007, but for all of 2007 we can expect to see a market driven by existing labor contract costs. Therefore, under the price adjustment terms of your existing elevator maintenance contract, you should budget 8% for the 2007 increase.

The current market-level prices for elevator maintenance in the Washington Metropolitan area are as follows, based on recent bidding:

Hydraulic Elevators: $275 - $325 per unit
Geared Traction Elevators: $420 - $490 per unit
Gearless Traction Elevators: $570 - $690 per unit

Prices are based on full maintenance service with overtime callbacks included.

We are again seeing strong upward pressure in this area, and we continue to recommend you renegotiate or re-bid your maintenance contracts, lock in the prices for five years, and cap all future increases at a maximum of 5%. This can help protect you against the outcome of upcoming labor negotiations.

Modernization
Recent price moves by major manufacturers are exerting upward pressure on prices, and costs in this area are likely to rise at higher rates than you'll see with most other building costs. If you're planning a modernization in late 2006 or 2007, we suggest proceeding sooner rather than later to avoid the January 1, 2007 price increases.

For 2007, we recommend the following budget prices:

Hydraulic elevators: $135,000 (including the replacement of the underground cylinder)
Traction elevators: $200,000

Prices are per-unit and include an allowance for cab renovations, engineering and consulting services, and construction administration services. An allowance for code-required electrical, mechanical, and architectural services should be budgeted at $15,000 per elevator, exclusive of installing an emergency power generator.

Open Order Work
Given the diversity of this work, establishing a specific budget is not possible. However, we can say that these costs continue to increase at a rate of about 10%/year. For individual projects contact us at info@atlanticelevatorconsulting.com and we will be happy to provide guidance.

UPDATE

Basic Safety Rules

(continuing our multi-part series on elevator and escalator safety)

Generally speaking, elevators are extremely safe. Millions of passengers are transported each day in buildings across the world without incident. When accidents do occur, too often they are a result of a failure to follow basic safety precautions. To help reduce such instances, the Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation - an excellent resource which we encourage you to visit at eesf.org - provides the following safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Enter and exit carefully.

2. Be mindful of closing doors, and only touch or try to stop them if it's absolutely necessary.

3. Never, under any circumstances, try to force the doors open.

4. In the event of a fire, use the stairs.

While this list is not exhaustive, it is an excellent place to start. A small amount of education and forethought can go a long way to eliminating the possibility of tragedy.

UPDATE

Elevator Safety Myths and Facts

One of the best ways to ensure the safety of the elevator and escalator riding public is to help educate building owners, managers, and staff members about the equipment. One outstanding resource for this kind of information is the Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF), whose mission is "to educate the public on the safe and proper use of elevators, escalators and moving walks through informational programs." Their website has a wealth of informational resources that we think are both interesting and useful. For example, these tidbits from the section on elevator safety myths and facts:

MYTH: Some people believe that an overcrowded elevator will fall.
TRUTH: This will not happen. An overloaded elevator will usually not move. The doors will stay open and a buzzer may ring until enough people get off the elevator to reduce the weight.

MYTH: Some people believe they have been in an elevator where the elevator car fell several floors and then "caught itself".
TRUTH: This feeling is a mystery. Elevator experts believe people may think this happened because they 1) got on an elevator going in a different direction than expected, or 2) saw the elevator floor indicator lights flash by quickly which gave the visual impression of falling.