Case Study: Stannah refurbs two lifts transforming high-rise living for residents
Residents of 84-apartment Eden Court in Lillington, Leamington Spa, now enjoy enhanced accessibility thanks to the comprehensive refurbishment by Stannah of two passenger lifts.
The works transforms the outdated 8-person passenger lifts and significantly improves safety by meeting the latest lift regulations.
The lift refurbishment at Eden Court is part of a wider modernisation programme with Warwick Council, involving the refurbishment of around 20 lifts in residential buildings to improve safety and efficiency.
The client
Warwick District Council relies on Stannah for routine lift maintenance inspections in line with legislative schedules to make sure there are no major faults with lifts in their social housing portfolio. The contract includes 24/7 call-out service for emergencies and breakdowns, protecting the council against the loss of reputation for an out-of-service lift that can inconvenience residents in a block of high-rise flats.
This project started in 2019, when Warwick District Council and Stannah agreed to improve lift performance and reliability, to not only provide safer lift access for residents but to also reduce future lift maintenance and running costs.
Due to the age of the lifts, they have become more susceptible to breakdowns with scope to be brought up to the latest lift regulations. Stannah conducted a comprehensive survey and provided a condition report for the wider 20-lift refurbishment programme, recommending which lifts in the portfolio should receive priority attention.
Work in Eden Court officially commenced in August 2022, with the initial lift refurbishment undertaken on-site in January 2023 through a phased approach.
The work
Stannah proposed a comprehensive lift refurbishment plan to Warwick District Council for the lifts at Eden Court, primarily due to their age and reliability. Rather than a completely new lift installation, a refurbishment plan was more suited for Warwick District Council to meet budget expectations.
The aim was to upgrade the lifts providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution that retains the safety of residents and service engineers when carrying out maintenance work.
The refurbishment spanned 14 weeks per lift, incorporating upgrades to the lift car, including a new full-car entrance. This included zone locking to prevent the doors from opening outside of a floor zone and a new toe guard to prevent falls into the elevator hoistway.
The lifts are programmed on a skip-stop system, with one lift serving the even floors and the other lift serving the odd floors. This setup allows for more efficient operation and reduced wait times, improving resident satisfaction.
To further enhance passenger safety, Stannah installed new traction machines for uncontrolled movement prevention and improved ride quality and an autodial unit that automatically calls for help when the alarm button is pressed. For better connectivity, a GSM unit replaced the traditional hard BT line, with a managed SIM card, futureproofing the lift ready for the digital phone line switchover due in 2026.
The lift shaft now features all-new LED lighting and new pit guards, providing improved safety for engineers during callouts and maintenance work.
Anti-vandal finishes were chosen for the new car operating panel, landing entrances and push buttons offering a robust and low-maintenance solution, ensuring longevity. The duplex lift architraves are also wrapped in new anti-vandal pattern stainless steel for enhanced durability and resistance to damage, maintaining the lifts’ aesthetic appeal.
The challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic initially posed a challenge, delaying the project as the budget was reallocated to other areas. However, once the budget was available again, Stannah worked within this to develop a workable solution.
Another challenge was carrying out work with residents still occupying the building, with safety and continuous lift access being top priorities. Throughout the refurbishment, Stannah emphasised safety.
Eden Court has two lifts, so Stannah implemented a phased modernisation approach, keeping one lift operational while refurbishments were carried out on the other, guaranteeing residents easy access to their homes.
With new technology and aesthetics, residents can sometimes feel overwhelmed by changes in how the lift operates. Once the lift was complete, Stannah left the site, leaving both lifts operational. This approach allowed residents to become accustomed to the updated lift, minimising disruption before Stannah engineers began refurbishing the next one. This staggered approach also helped Warwick District Council remain within budget.
The result
Bringing the lifts back up to the current safety standards at Eden Court demonstrates Warwick District Council’s commitment to ensuring that the lifts in the block are kept working and safe for residents.
The investment to upgrade the lifts with the latest lift safety features will pay off as lift modernisation reduces maintenance costs over time, contributing to Eden Court’s energy efficiency.
By programming the lifts on a skip-stop system, Stannah enhanced efficiency and accessibility throughout the building, an important aspect of the refurbishment project.
Stannah completed the step-by-step refurbishment of the two passenger lifts on schedule and within the allocated budget, implementing a phased approach to spread costs for the client and avoid disruption for residents.
The success of the Eden Court lift refurbishment sets out a promising outcome for the remaining lift modernisations. The wider refurbishment programme will strengthen the lifespan of approximately 20 lifts in the portfolio.
Stannah worked hard to make the work as affordable as possible. As this refurbishment project was part of a wider programme, we were able to provide an ‘enhanced pricing framework’ for the whole portfolio of lifts.
Martyn Stacey, M&E Energy officer, said: “The Stannah team has supported the council with lift, finish and cost recommendations consistently; even after we revised the project in 2021 prompted by COVID-19, they remained committed to delivering efficient, safe, and accessible lifts. Their lift expertise helped overcome any challenge encountered, and we now provide our residents with easy access to their homes, creating an inclusive environment for all.”
“As a result of the successful refurbishment at Eden Court, we have since completed the refurbishment of lifts at our other high-rise blocks at The Crest’s Ashton and Southorn Court and are developing a programme of refurbishment for our wider portfolio of lifts.”
To find out how Stannah can help with your routine lift maintenance, 24/7 emergency repair service, or undertake a modernisation project to keep your lift users safe, simply contact your local branch.