Maintenance Options

Other elevator manufacturing companies actively pursue maintenance contracts for elevator equipment they did not manufacturer. The service contracts they offer are comparable to service contracts you would consider with the actual OEM manufacturer of equipment in your building. An advantage of using another manufacturer may be to save money or obtain better service in a specific geographic area. Most manufacturers also offer a variety of discounts for contracts covering multiple buildings with the same owner or property manager. Independent Elevator Maintenance Independent elevator maintenance companies are located in most areas of the country.

Independents often charge less for their maintenance programs than manufacturers. When considering an independent you will want to investigate the company's level of technical expertise and ability to provide spare parts to avoid extended downtimes.

Self Maintained

Today, many large facilities such as universities and medical facilities provide in-house maintenance for elevator equipment to reduce overall maintenance costs. Your decision to self maintain elevator equipment should be based on economics and the availability of skilled labor.

Other factors to consider include your ability to obtain spare parts and manage major components repairs. In addition, you will also need the necessary infrastructure to process and react to customer questions or complaints.

Due to the increased liability exposure and technical expertise needed to maintain the elevator equipment properly, we recommend using other maintenance options for most customers. Many elevator companies will not service elevator equipment that is being maintained by non-certified elevator mechanics due to increased exposure to lawsuits. What type of maintenance agreement will work best for your elevators?

 Knowing the different types of elevator contract options can greatly increase your chances of saving money and finding a maintenance agreement that meets your building's requirements. The more risk you are willing to assume, the lower the cost of services will be. Most elevator companies offer four types of elevator maintenance contracts. These contracts offer you a range of coverage options and discount opportunities.

Full Maintenance Contract (FMC)

A full maintenance contract is written to allow an elevator service company to take total responsibility for the elevator equipment identified in the maintenance agreement.

Oil and Grease (OG) or Examination & Lubrication Contract

OG contracts include lubrication of moving parts and minor adjustment on a regularly scheduled basis. When additional services are needed, the mechanic reports potential problems to the property manager who then schedules all repairs to be paid by the building owner. The cost for the OG contract is relatively low but when you include repairs, the entire yearly cost is usually much higher and more complicated to budget. OG agreements also generate additional paper work, as the property manager must coordinate with the maintenance provider on all repairs. Liability exposure to claims in the event of accidents or injuries are even greater than a POG contract because the owner is responsible for having parts repaired and replaced. Customer satisfaction with this type of agreement is usually very low.

Survey and Report Contract?

Coverage under a survey and report contract consists of quarterly, semi-annual or annual inspection of all major equipment components. The inspection does not include maintenance, repair work or dismantling equipment. Maintenance or replacement recommendations may be completed by the owner or by selected contractors under the property manager's coordination. This type of contract also makes it extremely difficult for a building owner to avoid liability if an accident should occur. Understanding maintenance contract terms and conditions. Once you have decided which maintenance contract will work best for your property you will need to find an elevator company. The company you select will then perform maintenance services under the type of contract you have specified. But here's where your troubles can begin. You must understand what is not covered and how those services will be billed and what steps can be taken to control overall maintenance costs. Important questions to ask potential maintenance provider. Managers should understand the circumstances under which they will be invoiced for costs in addition to the contract price. Before you accept any maintenance agreement your service company should answer the following questions:

When does overtime apply under the contract?

What are the differences between overtime trouble calls and overtime repairs as they relate to the contract?

Is travel time a consideration because of location or union agreement?

If maintenance is missed or incomplete are you entitled to a refund for that month?

Do trouble calls count as a regular monthly service call?

What is the response time for a trapped passenger?

What is the availability of spare parts?