In any commercial building, vertical transportation represents an important financial investment, as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars for just a medium-size building. With an asset this valuable, it is good business to have a well-defined program to ensure correct elevator maintenance.

Here at Enviro USA, Inc. we will help your company build a elevator maintenance program to make sure you get the proper maintenance and tests required for your specific type of elevator.

In this blog I will dive into types of test and the types of elevators, please remember all services on them needs to be done by highly trained specialists.

First we will go over types of elevators as these all require different maintenance and state required tests:

Each type of elevator has Category tests that must be done in the following recommended intervals; Category 1 tests is 12 months, Category 3 tests is 36 months, and Category 5 tests is 60 months. As well as Annual Load tests :

Category 1 Tests – Traction Elevators

Involve the following equipment:  

• Oil buffers • Safeties • Governor • Standby power operation • Firefighters’ service • Door closing force • Final and normal stopping devices

Category 5 Tests – Traction Elevators

Involve the following equipment:  

• Oil buffers • Safeties • Governor • Braking system • Emergency terminal stopping and speed-limiting devices • Standby power operation • Inner landing zone • Power opening of doors • Emergency stopping distance • Leveling zone and leveling speed

Category 1 Tests – Hydraulic Elevators

Involve the following equipment:  

• Relief valve setting and system pressure • Flexible hose and fitting • Hydraulic cylinder leak test • Standby power operation • Firefighters’ service • Power operation of doors • Normal and final terminal stopping devices • Emergency terminal speed-limiting device • Emergency terminal stopping device • Pressure switch • Oil buffer, Safety, Governor • Low oil test

Category 3 Tests – Hydraulic Elevators

Involve the following equipment:  

• Unexposed portions of pistons • Pressure vessels (hydrostatic test)

Category 5 Tests – Hydraulic Elevators

Involve the following equipment:  

• Oil buffer • Safety • Governor • Coated ropes • Rope fastening on pistons • Overspeed valve.

Other than having the state required tests you should have Monthly Maintenance which includes an inspection to make sure your elevators are running properly and safely.

Our techs will inspect everything from how long it takes the elevator to reach each floor to emergency lighting and communication.

Enviro USA, Inc. also provides the fastest emergency response time possible. We understand getting an elevator stuck in between floors can hinder your business so responding fast is extremely important.

Please call Enviro USA, Inc. today at 866-564-1414 to set up your Monthly Maintenance and Annual testing. The safety of your employees and customers is our highest priority