Africa Surveyors September- October Digital issue 2021

ENGINEERING
Additionally, the entire building (including the ceiling
and floor systems) must be considered during the
testing process to ensure the integrity of the entire
system. Ultimately, any part of the system that
malfunctions poses a risk to those who may be using
the elevator. For example, if the elevator's motor is
not strong enough to lift the load at the appropriate
times, or if the elevator encounters a technical glitch,
an emergency stop can be triggered and the load can
be lifted and moved out of the way.
If an Engineered Elevator is used for transporting
people, then maintenance is even more important. An
entire building can become seriously damaged by not
paying attention to small details. A large part of the
system is the counterweight system. This contains the
machinery necessary to lower and raise the load, and
it also requires precise force from the motor itself. If
anything is not working correctly, it can cause serious
damage to the structure of the building or, in the
worst case scenario, collapse. Such damage can be
avoided if the employees know what to look for.
Moreover, any employee in charge of maintenance
should carry an annual safety certification.
The training process varies from location to location,
but a basic outline of what is required can usually
be found online. Such training sessions should
cover preventive maintenance, inspection and any
other relevant information. It is also important that
the employees know what to do in the case of an
emergency and how to act in such an event. By taking
the time to learn about such basic maintenance
and procedures, a business can greatly decrease the
amount of unexpected downtime, and the resultant
cost.
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Semptember-October issue l 2021 25