LB Insights: Lift Modernisations in Historical Buildings

In early 2020, Lerch Bates Europe was engaged to provide fee proposals for surveys and reports on a limited number of lifts across various historical building sites in England and Wales, on behalf of a UK government department.  

Retained top floor landing gate

Among these assets were lifts located in Grade 1 listed buildings, which are structures of architectural or historic interest. In this class of building, interior finishes cannot be disturbed, and existing fixings and surrounds must be retained. For instance, during the replacement of a disabled platform lift, our team reinstalled the ornate metal landing gate on the top floor, as it was deemed an integral part of the building’s historic fabric.

Following this initial engagement, we were commissioned to survey an additional 13 lifts and issue fee proposals for their modernisation or replacement.  

As a result of our team exceeding initial expectations, Lerch Bates received further instructions between 2020 and 2023. These included surveys of additional lifts, the modernisation of eight lifts and the replacement of 64 units.  

One initiative in securing further work was advising our client on potential energy savings. We highlighted that replacing hydraulic lifts with machine-room-less traction lifts typically yields energy savings of 50-75%. Upon presentation of these findings, the client allocated additional budget for several lift modernisations and replacements.  

Typical lift car interior

Lerch Bates confirmed that further energy savings could be achieved through lift modernisation strategies, due to the standby shutdown of drives, controllers & lights and the use of LED technology in the machine room, shaft, car top, pit and car lights.

Most recently, we have completed an instruction to survey and report on a further 290 lifts. We additionally advised the client on the need to upgrade lift communication systems, specifically that they need to introduce GSM units on all lifts that have an analogue telephone line in anticipation of these becoming unavailable which will render autodiallers inoperable.

Our long-term collaboration with this client continues to strengthen, and we look forward to further opportunities as part of this ongoing partnership.

New lift car interior

Article prepared by Greg Harris, Technical Director, Lerch Bates Europe.