24 Nov Why Routine Lift Maintenance Protects Your Business, Customers, and Bottom Line
For architects, facility managers, and commercial property owners in North Texas, accessibility lifts are more than equipment. They support mobility, building access, and compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS).
When managing Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs) and LU/LA Elevators, maintenance should be viewed as a strategic investment. Routine service can help protect your property from unexpected downtime, costly repairs, and avoidable safety risks.
I. The True Cost of Neglect: Reactive vs. Proactive Maintenance
Commercial lift management often follows one of two approaches:
- Reactive Maintenance: Calling for service only after the lift breaks down.
- Proactive Maintenance: Scheduling routine preventative maintenance to address wear before it escalates.
Reactive maintenance may seem convenient, but it often results in higher costs. Emergency repair rates, expedited parts, and after-hours callouts can create large, unplanned expenses. Proactive maintenance, by contrast, helps reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and can support more predictable operating costs over time.
How Preventive Maintenance Supports Cost Control
A structured maintenance program can help reduce lift-related expenses by addressing issues early and extending the lifespan of key components.
Avoiding emergency premiums
Routine visits allow technicians to correct minor issues at a standard rate. This helps reduce the need for urgent service calls, which often carry significantly higher labor costs.
Supporting longer equipment life
Tasks such as lubrication, calibration, battery checks, and cleaning can help reduce accelerated wear. This may delay the need for major repairs or large modernization projects that typically become necessary when equipment has been operated without routine care.
II. Protecting Your Business: Compliance and Liability Reduction
In North Texas, accessibility compliance is closely monitored. Neglected lift maintenance can expose building owners to liability, fines, and operational limitations.
1. Texas Requires Annual Inspections
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) requires elevators, LU/LA elevators, and certain platform lifts to undergo a full safety inspection every 12 months.
Key requirements include:
• A Qualified Elevator Inspector must complete the annual inspection.
• The building owner must submit the inspection paperwork and fees to TDLR.
• A current Certificate of Compliance must be posted or filed as required.
Failure to complete or submit these requirements can result in late fees and administrative penalties. Repeated noncompliance may result in higher fines and potential enforcement actions.
2. Reducing Legal and Safety Exposure
A documented maintenance program can help support your due diligence as a property owner or manager.
Supporting a due diligence defense
If an injury or incident occurs, maintenance records help demonstrate that the building owner took reasonable steps to maintain safe operation. Lack of documentation can increase exposure in a premises liability claim.
Reducing ADA lawsuit vulnerability
An out-of-service lift creates an immediate accessibility barrier. In commercial environments, this may increase the risk of ADA complaints or legal action. Routine maintenance can help reduce downtime, supporting continuous public access.
III. Protecting Your Customers: Reliability and Brand Reputation
Whether the facility is a church, retail center, office, school, or community building, reliable vertical access is part of the public experience. A lift that is consistently out of service undermines trust and can limit who can use the building.
1. The Operational Impact of Lift Downtime
A malfunctioning lift affects business operations and customer experience.
Decreased satisfaction
Customers who rely on mobility equipment may choose not to return if the lift is frequently unavailable.
Loss of access
A broken lift may prevent individuals from reaching certain areas of the facility, impacting the building’s intended use and accessibility obligations.
2. What Preventive Maintenance Typically Addresses
Routine maintenance helps technicians identify and correct the common issues that lead to shutdowns.
A comprehensive preventative maintenance visit may include:
• Verification of safety systems, including emergency stops, alarms, and interlocks
• Inspection and cleaning of pits, guide rails, rollers, and sump pumps
• Electrical checks, including travel cable inspection and testing of battery lowering systems
These tasks support continuous lift operation and help reduce unexpected downtime.
IV. Actionable Steps for North Texas Builders and Facility Managers
To improve reliability and reduce long-term lift management costs, focus on the following best practices:
1. Work With a TDLR Registered Elevator Contractor
Texas law requires all installation, repair, and routine maintenance on commercial lift systems to be performed by a TDLR-registered contractor. This helps ensure that technicians understand the equipment, code requirements, and safety standards involved.
2. Build the Right Maintenance Contract
Maintenance frequency should match the building’s usage patterns. A high-traffic LU/LA elevator may require more frequent checks, while a lightly used VPL may not. Review contracts to ensure clear service response times and that the agreement reflects your equipment’s actual needs.
3. Use Inspection Reports for Long-Term Budget Planning
Annual inspections and maintenance reports are valuable planning tools. They help identify parts nearing the end of their useful life and support budgeting for modernization or replacement before unexpected failures occur.
Lift-Aids, Inc. has been a licensed Texas Elevator Contractor and trusted accessibility partner in North Texas since 1968. We support architects, builders, and facility managers across the entire all of North Texas include the cities and sourrounding communites of Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, Tyler, Lufkin, Longview, Marshall, Texarkana, Sherman, McKinney, Plano, Denton, Wichita Falls, Abilene, Lubbock, Childress, Amarillo, Canadian, Big Spring, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Kermit, and El Paso with commercial lift planning, maintenance, and repair services.