What is Ride Quality?
Elevator comfort and ride quality are the first indicators of quality design, installation, and service. They are two distinct and separate concepts that are very subjective but can also be very objective depending if you are a passenger, manufacturer, elevator consultant or building owner.
Elevator ride quality is defined by five primary measures:
1. Acceleration/Deceleration
2. Speed
3. Jerk
4. Vibration
5. Noise
Precise maintenance and control is required to maximize rider comfort, minimize rider anxiety and maintain overall equipment longevity. International standards exist to help elevator manufacturers improve passenger experience by recommending measurement and processing methods.
How is Ride Quality measured?
1. Elevator Technician
2. Testing Equipment Devices
Feedback on elevator ride quality usually starts with the users, who reach out when they sense something is wrong. The most common way to assess ride quality is for an experienced elevator technician or consulting professional to ride the elevator. However, there is a wide variety of specialized sensors for elevator service companies to use for a more sophisticated diagnostic method to identify potential issues more precisely.
Why is measuring Ride Quality important?
Measuring elevator ride quality helps evaluate and troubleshoot issues and analyze problems. Properly measuring ride quality can help:
1. Identify and locate rail and joint misalignment.
2. Diagnose bad roller guides.
3. Document pre/post modernization changes.
4. Evaluate safety and buffer tests.
5. Troubleshoot sheave, ropes, and counterweight.
6. Assess drive and controller function.
7. Document elevator performance baseline.
8. Year-to-year elevator operation comparison.
9. Elevator and escalator system quality control.
10. Identify failing and worn assemblies before breakdowns occur and safety is compromised.
Taking regular ride quality tests as part of your building maintenance program will let you identify latent problems, and fix them before they become serious, costly, and even life threatening.
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