Monthly Archives: May 2019

Over the past years, there has been a significant amount of non-resident managed retirement homes being built. So when lifts become unreliable, they present a real problem for residents, facility managers and service organisations alike.

This was exactly the case for a two-storey, 17 apartment retirement home in Essex, where the property managers decided it was time to undertake a modernisation of the failing lift. Working with the primary lift service provider, Hydratec was commissioned to undertake this project which included the decommissioning and removal of the existing lift.

The hidden part of the modernisation, that was essential for the property managers, was to improve reliability. This was achieved with the Hydratec smart™ modular solution utilising a Bucher hydraulic iValve and a Lester Controls EN81-20 custom-built Almega II control system. A key the benefit of the Hydratec smart™ is that it provides improved floor levelling and energy efficiencies, both of great value to those living in retirement homes.

For the residents, we undertook the aesthetic part of the project which included, a new lift car and finishes, car lighting, new landing entrances and car doors along with installing new car operating panels and landing signalisation. We also cleaned and redecorated the adjacent drive/tank room.

Throughout the modernisation, we had regular contact with the primary lift service provider and the residents to ensure inconvenience was always kept to a minimum.

Before we handed the lift back to the building’s facility managers, we carried out the statuary lift testing requirements required for a passenger lift.

Download PDF version here.

Housing associations and authorities that own or manage lifts in multiple occupation (HMO) buildings, particularly those with a diverse range of needs, require lifts to perform safety and reliably each and every time they are used.

This was not the case for a hydraulic lift, installed in a five-storey attendant supported accommodation based hostel in Tunbridge Wells.

As with all of our projects, we work as subcontractors to a primary lift service provider and in this case, following a detailed lift condition survey and conversations with our customer, the decision was made to refurbish and modernise the building’s lift. The entire project was based around a Hydratec smart™ modular solution, in this instance, utilising a Bucher hydraulic iValve and a Lester Controls EN81-20 custom-built Almega II control system.

Hydratec’s first job was to decommission and remove the existing lift. We then cleaned and redecorated the lift shaft and drive/pump room that was adjacent to the lift shaft. Our installation engineers replaced all of the hydraulic equipment in the shaft, including the ram and installed new shaft lighting.

We then proceeded with the installation of new landing entrances and car doors, relining the lift car and installing energy efficient lighting along with a new car operating panel and landing signalisation. The entire modernisation took eight weeks and was completed on time and to budget.

Before we handed the lift back to the building’s facility managers, we carried out the statuary lift testing requirements required for a passenger lift.

Download PDF version here. 

Situated in one of Tunbridge Wells’ strikingly earlier developments, of one of Kent’s original post office buildings, the residents of one of the residential properties in the Post Office Square were experiencing reliability issues with their lift. The original failing lift was installed during the period of the building’s re-development in early 2000’s and served two floors of an apartment block.

Due to Hydratec’s experience with hydraulic lifts, the primary lift service provider approached us to establish budget costs for a full modernisation of the lift. Members of our senior team then met with the service provider on-site, to undertake a full lift survey and discuss time frames for the modernisation. With this undertaken, we provided a full cost breakdown and programme of works for approval. Our proposal was based around a Hydratec smart™ modular solution and our client chose a Bucher hydraulic iValve and a Lester Controls EN81-20 Almega II lift controller for their drive and control solution.

After receiving instructions from the lift service provider, we decommissioned and removed the existing lift and its ancillary equipment. Our installation team cleaned and redecorated the lift shaft and drive/pump room, located in the buildings gated car park. We replaced all of the hydraulic equipment in the shaft including the ram and installed new shaft lighting. Also, we installed new landing entrances including builders work and car doors, new lift car and finishes, energy efficient lighting along with a new car operating panel and landing signalisation.

During the entire modernisation, the building was fully occupied and Hydratec engineers worked carefully to avoid excessive noise and disruption to the residents. On completion, we also carried out the statuary lift testing requirements required for a passenger lift.

Download PDF version here.