+ What is lift maintenance?
It is a series of periodic visits to guarantee your lift is in perfect working order.
It comprises a preventive service of the lift´s components, in particular safety elements, in addition to cleaning and greasing, as a means of ensuring the lift can be used in complete safety.
The owner of the lift is required to enter into a maintenance agreement with a duly authorised repair and maintenance company.
+ What does a lift maintenance agreement include?
A lift maintenance agreement must include at least the following:
- The execution of periodic maintenance services in accordance with the specified timeframes.
- A guarantee, within a maximum period of 24 hours, to dispatch competent personnel, when requested by the owner or the personnel entrusted with the standard lift service, to correct any faults that have caused it to break down.
- Immediate assistance in the event of a lift breakdown with people trapped in the cabin, accidents or similar emergencies.
- The written notification of the owner of the lift of the components that need to be replaced, in the event they fail to meet the conditions required to guarantee a good performance, or if the lift fails to comply with the applicable conditions in force.
- The interruption of the lift service when there is a serious and imminent risk of an accident, until the due repairs have been carried out.
- In addition to all the obligations applicable to repair and maintenance companies pursuant to Royal Decree 88/2013
+ How often should maintenance be carried out?
Preventive lift maintenance should be carried out in accordance with the following:
- Lifts in single-family homes and lifts with a speed of no greater than 0.15 m/s: every four months
(For these purposes, a single-family home is understood to be that located on an independent plot of land serving as a habitual, permanent or temporary residence for a single family). - Lifts installed in community buildings for residential use with up to 6 stops and lifts installed in public-use buildings with up to 4 stops, and which are under 20 years old: every six weeks.
- Other lifts: once a month.
+ What does lift stops mean?
This means the number of floors in the building served by the lift.
+ What is a regulatory Periodic General Inspection?
Known by the acronym PGI, these inspections are carried out by an Authorised Control Body (OCA) to check the lift´s operating and safety conditions are met. It is similar to the ITV inspection for automobiles.
+ How often should a PGI be conducted?
In accordance with the type of lift in question, regulatory Periodic General Inspections should be conducted pursuant to the following timeframes:
- Lifts installed in buildings for industrial use and public places: every two years.
- Lifts installed in buildings with more than twenty residences or more than four floors served: every four years.
- Lifts not included in the aforementioned categories: every six years.
+ What qualifications should a maintenance technician have?
Maintenance technicians are officially known as lift maintainers and are individuals with the sufficient knowledge to conduct maintenance work. Their qualifications are regulated by ITC MIE AEM1, approved by Royal Decree 88/2013.
Lift maintainers are required to work for a licensed lift maintenance and repair company and need to meet one of the following requirements in order to do so:
- Hold a university degree the curriculum of which covers the subjects specified in ITC AEM1 "Lifts" of the Regulations on Lifting Devices and Maintenance.
- Hold a professional training degree or a certificate of professionalism included in the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications, the scope of which is consistent with the subject matter of ITC AEM 1 "Lifts" of the Regulations on Lifting Devices and Maintenance.
- Possess proven professional skills acquired through work experience, in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 1224/2009 of 17 July on the recognition of professional skills acquired through work experience, in the subject matter of ITC AEM 1 "Lifts" of the Regulations on Lifting Devices and Maintenance.
- Be accredited by the company at which their services were provided or by the competent body in the corresponding Autonomous Community, have at least three years professional experience in lift maintenance work prior to 23 February 2013.
+ Type of lift and regulations to be complied with
The regulations or standards with which lifts need to comply depend on the year in which they were installed and placed in service, as follows:
+ Lifts installed between 01/04/1967 and 25/03/1992 (according to RAE)
R.A.E.: Regulation of 1966
Royal Decree 57/2005
+ Lifts installed between 26/03/1992 and 30/06/1999 (according to ITC)
Royal Decree 2291/1985, approving ITC MIE AEM-1
Royal Decree 57/2005
+ Lifts installed between 01/07/1999 and 30/08/2017 (according to Royal Decree 1314/1997)
UNE-EN 81-1 Electric lifts
UNE-EN 81-2 Hydraulic lifts
+ Lifts installed between 01/09/2017 and the present day (according to Royal Decree 203/2016)
UNE-EN 81-20 AND EN 81-50
+ What is BINSA?
We at General Elevadores always want our clients to be fully informed of the activity performed on their lifts and lifting equipment. This is why we have placed the BINSA platform at the disposal of all our clients.
This platform provides information on preventive and corrective services in real time, including the reports issued. This information consists of the date on which the lift was serviced or repaired and the time taken from us receiving the notification of the breakdown to rectifying the problem.
+ What are the advantages of our 24-hour service?
Our 24-hour, 365 days a year telephone service sets us apart.
We have more extensive and more flexible breakdown notification times and we will take your calls to the company from Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., in addition to our 24-hour rescue and emergency service (365 days a year).
Moreover, you will not be charged extra for the visits paid to provide this service.
+ Where can I put my lift?
If you need to install a lift in your home or building, we will conduct an analysis of the different possibilities first of all.
Our Isolift R model is designed for buildings which don't have a lift, for small shafts and where the building will need to be redeveloped to install the lift.
In the case of buildings with no lift shaft, we will install the lift on the outside of the building on the facade or slightly away from it and linked by a walkway.
+ How do I disinfect my lift?
We use UV-C light to disinfect your lift in a safe manner.
Shortwave UV radiation with a maximum of 257.7nm (UV-C) is used for germicidal tasks and is guaranteed to kill or disable bacteria, viruses and other primitive organisms. Less than a minute is required to disinfect all the surfaces and the air in the cabin, and it is suitable for all types and brands of lifts and lifting equipment.
+ How can I become a General Elevadores distributor?
You can distribute our products and services if you are a lift company located anywhere in the world, with the exception of Spain, and we will provide you with comprehensive technical, commercial and management support. Join us by writing to info@generalelevadores.com