Tip of the Season Prepare Elevators for Winter Conditions
Preventative Maintenance The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Code & Industry Trends ASME & NEII
Consulting Corner Embedded Expertise on a Landmark Project
Design Services Spotlight Re-imagining a New York Icon
Lunch & Learns Elevate Your Team's Expertise
Seasonal Tips
Cold temperatures can affect elevator performance, leading to slower door operation and thicker hydraulic oil. To maintain smooth and safe operation during winter, schedule preventive maintenance that includes:
Check machine room heating and humidity levels
Inspect door sills for ice or debris intrusion
Verify emergency power systems and battery backups
A proactive winter readiness check helps ensure reliable operation and avoids costly mid-season shutdowns.
Preventative Maintenance
The Good
This is what every car top and pit should look like: clear of debris, free from oil accumulation, and with wiring neatly secured. A tidy environment makes it easier for technicians to perform safe, efficient inspections and helps prevent premature wear on sensitive components.
🛠 A clean space is a reliable space!
The Bad
Dust buildup, of this magnitude might not seem urgent, but may signal that regular maintenance is slipping. These conditions can mask developing issues or create hazards for service personnel.
⚠️ Small oversights often become big service calls.
The Ugly
Standing water, trash, or excessive grease in pits aren’t just unsightly; they’re safety violations and fire risks. Poor housekeeping accelerates component damage, can void warranties, and may trigger failed inspections or shutdowns.
🚫 If it looks unsafe, it probably is, and it’s costing you more than you think.
Code & Industry Trends
ASME A17.1-2022 / CSA B44-2022
Though published in 2022, this edition of the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators is only now being adopted by many states. As jurisdictions update from older versions, building owners will see new requirements around cybersecurity, flood operation/flood mode, remote-interaction operation, full hoistway illumination, and other signal/sensor upgrades. The next update, ASME A17.1-2025, is expected later this year, introducing further advances in safety and remote monitoring.
NEII 2025 Industry Resolutions
The National Elevator Industry, Inc. is pushing adoption of newer code editions and additional safety features. For example, items under consideration include pit guarding, counterweight warning systems, and protection of openings in the floor of overhead machine rooms.
Also, NEII is advocating licensing for elevator mechanics in more states.
Emergency Comms/Two-Way Video & Text
Updated building/elevator communication requirements now increasingly require emergency phones in elevators to support not just voice, but video and text-based two-way communication.
This tends to affect new installations or major upgrades, depending on the jurisdiction’s adoption of IBC / ASME standards.
UPCOMING WEBINAR
Mastering Elevator Compliance: A Focus on Maintenance & Inspections
VDA is helping drive results for a major modernization project involving over 70 vertical transportation units, with full-time, on-site project management support led by Regional Vice President Bruce Barbre.
This hands-on approach ensures seamless coordination, enhanced oversight, and consistent progress across every phase of the modernization, giving the client peace
of mind and confidence that their goals are being met with precision and care.
Discover how the VDA team is redefining client collaboration on large-scale modernization projects through on-site, daily, expertise.
The historic Waldorf Astoria at 301 Park Avenue has long been one of Manhattan’s most recognizable landmarks, and now, after nearly a decade of transformation, it has reemerged with a renewed sense of luxury and function.
VDA was proud to partner with the architectural team at SOM to provide vertical transportation design services for the property’s extensive renovation, which converted levels 12–43 from hotel to residential condominiums.
The redesign included the installation of 28 new elevator and lift systems and the modernization of four existing units, balancing the demands of modern high-rise living with the preservation requirements of this landmarked building.
Learn how VDA’s design expertise helped bring a 1931 classic into the 21st century.
Our Lunch & Learn sessions bring VDA’s elevator and escalator experts directly to your team, in person or virtually, for engaging, educational discussions on topics like design best practices, modernization planning, maintenance strategies, and why you might need a consultant by your side.
Whether you’re a property manager, building administrator, or any other type of business professional, these sessions are a great way to learn about the industry and gain practical insights straight from VDA’s consultants.
Interested in scheduling a session?
Learn more and register your team for an upcoming Lunch & Learn!
