Elevator tips during COVID-19

Source: KONE Inc.

It can be tempting during these unprecedented times to switch off your elevators, escalators or autowalks, believing it to be the right thing to do during this pandemic. Quick pause, please!

In cases where the building is totally shut down, this may be unavoidable. Wherever possible, it is advised to not shutdown vertical transportation. It can be incredibly costly to get them back up and running. KONE recommends the devices should be cycled or exercised wherever possible to keep them in solid working order for when the building repopulates.

Tips:

  1. If the building is non-populated by the public but you have stand-by staff, have them safely use the elevators on different floors every day to keep them healthy and running.
  2. If you need to isolate elevators, please do so correctly using Priority Service and still cycle the assets as above and not just turning off at the disconnect.
  3. If your building is populated, ensure that contact surfaces are biologically cleaned daily.
  4. If your building is populated, consider using caution tape to mark out social distancing marks on elevator floors.
  5. Physically prevent any people using stopped escalators from being used as “stairs” by placing approved barriers at both ends, or have your elevator contractor do so as this is an unsafe practice and can lead to injuries.
  6. Schedule the maintenance visits as normal, observing all social distancing and safety protocols to keep the assets healthy and compliant.
  7. Consider using this opportunity to get any regulatory testing, major repairs or directives completed where safe and prudent to do so.
  8. Do not reverse the direction on the escalators or autowalks unless this has been routinely done in the past as it can potentially cause massive internal damage and is incredibly costly to rectify.