How Tech Innovation Can Make Vertical Transport Greener

Rightly so, energy efficiency is a hot topic in all areas of the construction industry. It’s something we have always tried to focus on with regards to lifts and escalators, or indeed with any method of transporting people from A to B. More and more construction briefs will be centred around focussing on how they may build in such a way to reduce the impact on the natural environment around them, preserve or re-use resources and in all other ways keep their projects ‘green’. 

We previously wrote about this subject in the following posts “Vertical Transportation & Energy Efficiency” which you can find here  and “An A-Z of how Vertical Transport can help you go green”.

In January of this year SODIMAS Lift Manufacturers paid us a visit at Dunbar & Boardman HQ in London to discuss the 3 green solutions they’re working on inclusive of their Solar Powered Lift initiative.

Standby mode

For a co-owner type building, the lifts energy consumption is close to the consumption necessary to its standby mode, the lift remains on standby for the majority of the time.
On average, this kind of lift is used to a maximum of 1 hour per day.
The proposed solution is to install one or two solar panels, depending on the levels of sunlight in order to supply this standby energy.

Safety mode
 

The installation of batteries and solar panels supplies sufficient back up energy for the lift travel in the event of a power failure. When using this solution, the lift is automatically brought back to the nearest level and opens its doors allowing passengers to exit. It's then kept on standby until a technician reaches the site to repair/resets the lift.
 

Stand-alone mode
 

Completely stand-alone, the operating lift is independent with both mains and solar power supplies.  Switching from one energy source to another is automatic and smooth for the passengers. At any given moment, the lift is able to travel without having to rely on the proper working order of the power supply network.

The number of photovoltaic panels and batteries depends on the levels of sunlight and the necessary electrical power for the functioning of the lift in the absence of electrical power.

Through these technical changes, It is possible to develop an approach to eco-design and sustainable development in order to reduce its environmental impact.

Other manufacturers are also creating such Sustainable Development products such as Otis and Schindler.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: http://bit.ly/1SiunJL

Is Passenger Traffic Management at Holborn a Model for all Stations?

If you live in London or are a regular visitor to our nation’s capital you will most probably be aware that Transport for London (TFL) has been experimenting with different passenger traffic management systems and in particular, options for dissipating the large numbers of passengers waiting to board the escalators.  On November 25th last year TFL started a three week test at Holborn Underground station to ascertain whether it was more efficient to have passengers stand on both the left and right of escalators rather than passengers standing on the right and the left side remaining reserved for walkers. The results of the test were conclusive; traffic flow was increased by 30%. It is more efficient to have passengers stand on both the left and right side of escalators and to abandon the walk up ‘lane’ largely because it is under utilised.

The result of this test threw Londoners into a bit of a tailspin especially when it was communicated via Social Media. Did this mean that all underground stations would have to follow suit? Did this mean that walking up would be banned? It may seem strange to outsiders but this issue has probably led to more heated debate than the London Mayoral race.  Transport for London has decided to run another test, this time for 6 months. The second test starts in April and TFL will wait until it is concluded before deciding on any permanent changes to passengers’ journeys through London underground stations.

We have discussed the issue internally and our team expressed the following thoughts:

“I personally think that it is a good idea but achieving acceptance from the rushing commuters …could be the biggest challenge.  A scenario not dissimilar to when a lift system is converted from a conventional up/down landing call button arrangement to a hall call destination system; users take some convincing initially of the broader objective of their vertical journey.”

Gary Avis

“I believe that it is a good idea and where implemented in other cities has been proved to save the average person 's transit time.

However rather sadly we live in a culture where people are increasingly selfish and will undoubtedly mean individuals will be frustrated at the additional few seconds added to their time, despite the benefit of all passengers.

I also think that it will be a source of confusion for occasional commuters and tourists with different etiquette at different times and stations. If you are going to do it, do it everywhere.”

Tim Piggott

“In general the majority of people will not walk up particularly if it is a long escalator. If people stand on both sides the queue will dissipate quicker.”

Hamish McGlashan

What do you think? Is changing our use of escalators at Holborn station a master stroke or will it lead to more confusion? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or via Twitter and LinkedIn.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: http://bit.ly/1UJatO4

Who Built the First Solar-Powered Elevator?

If you are a regular reader of this blog you’ll know that we like to highlight the people and companies responsible for industry firsts. This week is no exception, we return to the theme of solar-powered forms of vertical transportation. Given the desire of society in general and the vertical transportation industry in particular to increase our use of solar power as an energy efficient solution it is perhaps surprising that the first solar-powered elevator was installed as recently as 2013. 

Who built the First Solar-Powered Elevator?

It was Schindler who built the first solar-powered elevator during 2013. The solar-powered elevator was installed in a building in Barcelona and is an adapted version of Schindler’s 3300 model elevator. It can operate solely on solar power or powered by the grid or a combination of both.  Schindler have been pioneers in the creation and then installation of solar-powered elevators in Europe and they also installed the first in America too. The first solar-powered elevator installed in the United States was installed at the Akridge commercial real estate firm in Washington DC in 2015.  Schindler are at the forefront of solar technology. They are also a partner in the Solar Impulse Project, which is a project developing a solar powered aeroplane to fly around the world.

How does it Work? 

Solar panels are installed on the roof of the building to produce the power for the elevator. The size and exact specification of the solar panels was determined only after the anticipated passenger traffic and energy usage has been estimated. The solar panels capture energy that can be used immediately or stored in batteries or resold to the national grid. Solar-powered elevators are able to work off stored power in the event of a power outage.

What are the Benefits of Solar-Powered Elevators?

A solar-powered elevator reduces energy costs and avoids peaks in power usage that usually occur at the start and end of the working day in commercial buildings. In addition, solar-powered elevators can continue to function using stored energy in the event of a blackout. 

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.
 

Image credit: Schindler.com

Who built the First Magic Carpet ® Ski Lift?

 

In our last post we told the story of the first ever solar-powered ski lift. If you missed that you can read it here.

This week we are staying with the skiing theme because we have turned our attention to a ski resort conveyor belt vertical transportation systems known as a Magic Carpet. Magic Carpets are surface lifts, which are a form of cable transportation used by skiers and snowboarders. Riders of surface lifts remain on the ground and are pulled uphill.  One of the earliest known surface lifts was invented in Truckee, California in 1910 and was initially called a Toboggan Tow. Toboggan Tows became known as Ski Tows and contributed massively to the increasing popularity of skiing throughout North America and Europe. Ski slopes were now accessible to more people. Rope Tows, T-Bars, J Bars and Platter Lifts followed Ski Tows; all of these are different variations of surface lifts.

What are Magic Carpets?

The first ever Magic Carpet lift was launched in 1990 in Denver, Colorado by a company called Rocky Mountain Conveyor & Equipment (RMCE). Founded by Dave Kelly the company has since changed its name to Magic Carpet Lifts. Similar to its predecessors mentioned above the Magic Carpet is a surface lift. Compared to ski tow devices Magic Carpet lifts are considered more user friendly and therefore ideal for novice skiers and children. It is because of this they are often deployed in beginner and novice areas.

How do they Work? 

Magic Carpets are conveyor belts at the level of the snow. Some constructions include tunnels. Passengers position their skis or snowboard facing forward, and then the moving belt pulls the passengers uphill. At the top the Magic Carpet pushes the passengers onto the snow and they slide away.  Magic Carpets move at a slow speed and can only be uses over a limited distance.  Gondola lifts or chairlifts are now more commonly installed in more advanced ski areas.

What are the benefits of Magic Carpets?

* Easy to use for all types of riders (skiers, snowboarders)
* Straightforward installation, the galvanized steel frame is durable and requires very little maintenance
* Modular construction means that height and length can be modified to fit the installation.

Since its first installation in 1990 Magic Carpets Lifts have installed well over 300 Magic carpets in eight countries around the world. They have expanded beyond the winter sports market and have also completed installations at water parks and theme parks.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment  consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via  garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: bit.ly/1QLi4Vs

Who built the World’s First Solar Powered Ski Lift?

Ski lifts are a niche within the vertical transportation industry.  In recent years the vertical transportation industry has explored a number of ways to increase energy efficiency in all scenarios where vertical transportation is deployed and solar power has proven to be one of the most popular methods. When it comes to solar power the local climate has a huge impact on the viability of a project as does access to financial resources. Solar-powered installations are usually considerably more expensive than conventional versions of vertical transportation.

Who built the world’s first solar powered Ski lift?

Given these considerations it is surprising that a small Swiss town called Tenna in the Safien Valley is the location of the world’s first solar powered ski lift. That’s right, the world’s first solar powered ski lift is not in Aspen, Colorado or  Val-d'Isère. It was built in 2012 is in a small Swiss town with a population of one hundred and twelve people. The Tenna ski lift project received many generous donations that literally enabled the project to get off the ground.

How does it work?

The ski lift is 450 metres in length and has around 80 solar panels directly integrated into it.  The solar panels on the ski lift have an ideal south-facing angle of 30 degrees and rotate uniaxially along with the sun, tracking it across the sky. The solar panels produce about 90,000 kWh per year. Approx. 22,000 kWh is required for the operation of the ski lift and the rest is sold to EW Tenna (local power grid). EW Tenna then sells this power to environmentally conscious parties who wish to purchase solar energy. According to estimates* the solar panels on the ski lift produce 21% more current than customary rooftop panels, because the efficiency of photovoltaic cells is the greatest when the sun shines vertically on them. The ski lift is capable of pulling 800 skiers up the mountain per hour. 

Is there a back up power supply?

Yes, if there is prolonged period of bad weather or storms the ski lift could be powered by electricity because it is also connected to a local power supply. 

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment  consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via  garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: bit.ly/1Tvix3e

Source: bit.ly/1QwTcHk

New Staff: Who are our new Arrivals?

We are pleased to officially welcome three new members of staff to our team. They started last month but this is the first opportunity we have had to mention them in the blog. In no particular order we extend a warm welcome to David Hodges, Julian Caudle and Brian Manning.

David Hodges - Lift Engineer

 

David joins us with over thirty- five years experience. He started as an apprentice at Otis before moving onto Lift Cran Ltd and then spending most of career as Service Director at Elite Elevators, a company that he co-founded. When Elite was sold, David moved into consultancy roles that benefited from his wealth of experience.  Outside of work he enjoys reading, mountain bike riding, (over easier terrain now) going to my gym and swimming. He also enjoys watching live football and travelling both locally within the UK and abroad. 

Julian Caudle - Lift Engineer

Julian joins us after almost thirty years working for Schindler.  Schindler holds special significance for him because his father worked for Schindler before him and so did his wife's father; in fact that is how he met her. It was the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the consultancy business, the property industry and the vertical transportation industry outside of Schindler that finally prised him away. He is now working with the Dunbar and Boardman team and is able to offer his input and expertise.

Brian Manning - Lift Engineer

Brian spent almost twenty years at Stannah Lift Services Ltd, starting as an apprentice and then working on installations, special lifts and in the service department. He left Stannah to move to Pickering Lifts Ltd where he was responsible for major regeneration projects throughout the South. He is grateful that his career gave him the opportunity to work in countries in Europe and Africa. Outside of work he was an active sportsman who participated in many sports and played rugby for many years. Travelling is one of his leisure pursuits 
too; Greece and its Islands being among his favourite destinations. He also enjoys cooking and entertaining at home.

Dunbar and Boardman welcomes you all!

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment  consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve  vertical transportation?  We would be happy to discuss with you. Give  us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via  garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Elevators: What are Priority Controls?

In last week’s blog we discussed how the vertical transportation industry had introduced measures and technology to better prepare elevator systems in the event of an earthquake. To read about Seismic Switches for elevators click ‘here’. This week we will focus on a preventative measure available in the event of unauthorised persons gaining access to a building and attempting to gain control of its elevator systems. Fortunately this is an eventuality that has been considered by the industry and there are solutions available. One of these solutions is called Priority Controls.

What are Priority Controls?

Priority controls are one way to enhance security for elevators systems. Once priority controls have been installed operators can remotely dispatch and park all lifts away from the main building floor. Priority controls have also been referred to as ‘riot controls’.

How do Priority Controls Work?

When a remote switch or alarm control is activated by a building’s security team, the lifts will all go and park with doors open at a preset floor, away from the main building entry floor so that unauthorised persons cannot force entry into the building and use the elevators to disappear into the building.

What are the Benefits?

The primary benefit is enhanced security for the building and protection for elevator systems. Unauthorised persons will not be able to access other floors of the building subject to stairwells also being secure. Often priority controls are part of a building’s plans and are installed as one of a range of security measures to protect buildings. Priority controls have been installed in many buildings in central London and around the world.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation? Do you want to install priority controls? We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: www.apexelevatordc.com

Who Invented the Seismic Switch for Elevators?

 

What is a Seismic Switch?

One of the general public’s biggest fears, related to vertical transportation, is the prospect of being trapped inside an elevator during an earthquake. The industry has dedicated time and resource to reducing the likelihood of this happening. The earliest earthquake detection devices were called Seismoscopes and were invented in China during the second century, long before vertical transportation was an established industry. In the twentieth century earthquake detection became part of the vertical transportation industry in the form of a Seismic Switch. A Seismic Switch is a device that can disable or de-activate an elevator in the event of an earthquake. Seismic switches can enhance elevator passenger safety by the early detection of earthquakes.

How Do Seismic Switches Work?

A Seismic Switch works by monitoring seismic energy made up of Seismic Waves. Seismic Waves are waves of energy that travel through the earth’s layers and are the result of an earthquake, volcano or an explosion. When the device detects fluctuations above a certain level it returns the elevator to the nearest floor and the doors open allowing passengers to get out. The switches are triggered by the preliminary P-waves of an earthquake. P-waves arrive before the more dangerous S-waves arrive. Seismic switches are also known as seismic triggers.

Who Invented the Seismic Switch for Elevators?

Larry D Miller invented the Seismic Switch for elevators in 1975. His US patent filed in that year described his invention as a ‘Tuned ground motion detector utilizing principles of mechanical resonance.’ This was to become the vertical transportation industry standard, CHV -1. Larry was chief designer at Seismic Switch Inc., a company that has since installed over 10,000 devices. Other manufacturers within the vertical transportation industry including industry giant Otis have created and installed their own versions of Seismic Switches. Otis’ product is called a Seismic Sensor.

Since the 1970s Seismic Switches have become a mandatory requirement in earthquake prone countries for buildings with elevators. Most earthquake activity occurs in the following regions: West coasts of South and Central America and from the Northern USA to Alaska, the Aleutians, Japan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australasia. Japan is possibly the most earthquake prone country in part due to its 110 active volcanoes and the fact that 4 of the world’s tectonic plates converge in Japan. Seismic Switches have become an integral part of elevator systems in all of the countries mentioned.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation? We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Image credit: bit.ly/1QueuSc

How Does A Nickel Help Create the World’s Smoothest Elevator Rides?

The global size of the vertical transportation market is predicted to reach $111 Billion by 2017*. There has always been fierce competition among elevators manufacturers to secure the most prestigious projects and to deliver the world’s leading elevator systems. In recent years the race to build complex elevator systems for taller buildings has intensified but height is not the only specification that is important. Elevator speed and ride quality are also key considerations. It is no coincidence that the majority of the world’s fastest elevators are located in Asia. This prompts the question, what process do elevators manufacturers in Asia have that are not being used elsewhere?

The building that currently has the world’s fastest elevators is Taipei 101 in Taiwan.  Taipei 101 is 508 metres high or 1,670 feet and is currently world’s eighth tallest building. Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest at 828 metres or 2,717 feet.  When it comes to elevator speed Taipei has a considerable advantage over Burj Khalifa because its two high speed Toshiba elevators installed at a cost of $2million each travel at 3,313 feet/min, 37.7 mph. This is almost double that achieved by the Burj Khalifa’s elevators that travel at a rate of 1,968.5 feet/min, 22 mph.

How have Toshiba been able to produce elevators that can travel so fast while maintaining ride quality? One explanation for this technical superiority can be provided by a coin. Let me explain, a Nickel is a coin worth five cents in the United States. In Japan the major elevator manufacturers: Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba and Fujitec have their technicians conduct a ‘Nickel Test’ when then they are developing new elevators. This ‘Nickel Test’ consists of standing a nickel on its side inside an elevator car and then sending the car from top to the bottom. If the nickel is still standing at the bottom the elevators has passed the test. This ‘Nickel Test’ seems overly simplistic but it is part of a robust testing process. It is not the only test for new elevators.

The Japanese vertical transportation industry has historically placed a greater emphasis on ride quality than other countries because the Japanese population has greater cultural demands with regards to ride quality. Minimum requirements for ride quality were introduced in Japan in the 1980s. In 2003 a global standard for the measurement of lift ride quality was set out with the publication of an ISO Standard for: Lifts (elevators) ISO 18738. ISO 18738 defined how to measure ride quality but it did not define what is good. There is currently no international standard that defines what good ride quality is for elevators. After its introduction manufacturers in other countries followed the Japanese lead in giving ride quality greater consideration.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. Are you currently planning a project that will involve vertical transportation? We would be happy to discuss with you. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via garyavis@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

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