Monthly Archives: January 2018

top image Steel sleeve pressed into place, liner being readied for lowering into sleeve · bottom image Steel liner welded and ready for lowering into the sleeve

BACKGROUND

Originally installed in the early 1990s, the four scenic lifts were all experiencing problems with water ingress into the boreholes, resulting in lift break-downs due to overheating (despite 12kW oil coolers being fitted).

The building owners had become concerned about the level of water ingress into two of the four boreholes and the high energy consumption. The lifts are situated in pairs at each end of the atrium and the water ingress problem affected all four lifts, however, the problem was most acute on the two lifts which diagonally opposed each other.

OUR BRIEF

Hydratec was tasked with replacing the liner. Over the years, Hydratec has re-lined several boreholes using MDPE piping where there has been a problem with water ingress.

The process is straightforward, the water in the borehole is pumped out, the new liner is installed in sections which screw together with silicone to seal the joints. The liner is then weighted with water and once fully assembled, it is plumbed.

Bentonite pellets are filled around the annulus (between the old and new liners) and left to swell overnight to seal the liner in position. Once the bentonite has sealed, the water holding the liner in position can be pumped out of the liner and the new cylinder can be installed.

To view the full case study, and Hydratec’s solution, download a PDF of the case study here.

BACKGROUND

Over the past two years, Hydratec has been working with one of its major customers to improve the reliability of two hydraulic Machine-Room-Less (MRL) lifts in a private residential block.

Working with our client, the reliability has been improved, but there were still ongoing complaints from the residents about the excessive noise created by the power units during up travel. The noise was transmitted throughout the building and was disturbing residents’ sleep to such an extent that the majority of them, who were able, were using the stairs.

The design of the original building gave rise to some of the noise problems; the lift well is a steel structure within a steel stairwell with thin sheet cladding on the outside. The cladding provided little in the way of an acoustic barrier, and as previously mentioned, the
original power units were very noisy during up travel.

OUR BRIEF

Hydratec was tasked with significantly reducing the noise levels whilst at the same time improving the reliability and safety of the lifts. This created several challenges:

• The original power units were of a vertical design with a very small footprint of 400mm square
• The noise levels of similar hydraulic systems were very much in line with the existing unit
• No option to relocate the power unit outside the lift well
• Restricted space for the new controller

To view the full case study, and Hydratec’s solution, download a PDF of the case study here.