DIFFERENT TYPES OF ELEVATOR SERVICE CONTRACTS

Whether it’s a residential elevator or a commercial one, many people depend on it for safe and convenient vertical transportation. It is therefore essential to ensure that it is operating correctly and is free from any sort of faults. It is the responsibility of building owners to make sure that the elevators are regularly inspected and maintained so that the tenants, visitors, or guests do not face any difficulty while travelling through the buildings. Elevator service contracts are offered by many installation companies, manufacturers, and private elevator service companies. However, deciding on an efficient maintenance company can be a complicated task.

There are several elevator manufacturer companies out there that actively pursue service contracts for elevators they did not manufacture. These service contracts are comparable to the ones you would consider with the actual elevator manufacturers. Two of the major advantages due to which people may sign a service contract with another manufacturer are lower cost and better service. If they find that another service company is providing the same services at a lower cost or better services at the same cost, or even in some cases better services at a lower cost, they go to that company for elevator services instead of going to the actual elevator manufacturers. Most of the manufacturers and elevator service companies also offer various types of discounts on contracts that cover multiple buildings with the same property manager or owner.

TYPES OF ELEVATOR SERVICE CONTRACTS

If you are planning to install an elevator in your home or building or already have one installed, it is important for you to know different types of elevator service contracts for future inspections and maintenance. As different buildings have different requirements, they need a customized plan for maintenance. Finding a maintenance contract that fulfils all the building’s requirements can be very difficult at times and may require a lot of research. You may have to contact several service providers and manufacturers, and evaluate different service plans before finally choosing one.

Here we have explained different the types of elevator service contracts to help you understand them better:

• Survey and Report Contract This contract covers quarterly, semiannual, or annual examination of all major components of an elevator. However, it does not include repair work, maintenance, or dismantling equipment that require elevator mechanics. Replacement or maintenance recommendations may be completed by the building owner or by the hired contractor in coordination with the property manager. However, as most of the owners demand at least basic elevator servicing, this type of maintenance contract is not suitable for them. Also, this type of contract makes it very difficult for the owner to avoid liability in case an accident occurs.
• Oil & Grease or Examination and Lubrication Contract Oil & Grease contracts mainly include lubrication of the moving parts of an elevator and minor adjustments on scheduled basis. In case any additional services are needed, the elevator service company reports the issue to the client along with an estimated cost. Once it is approved by the building owner, they schedule all the repairs and start their work. In this agreement, it is near to impossible for the owner to avoid liability in the event of accidents, injuries, or shut downs as he himself is responsible for approving the repair and replacement of parts. Due to this reason customer satisfaction is very low with this type of contract.
• Full Maintenance Agreement (FMA) A full maintenance agreement allow the elevator service company to take care of all the elevator equipment mentioned in the maintenance agreement. FMA is like an insurance policy and allows the building owner to pay a yearly cost and free himself from the concerns relating to elevator maintenance. In this contract, the service company takes the responsibility of any accident that may occur, so the owner doesn’t have to bear any liability.