Blog Post

Whilst most Australians have welcomed the NBN rollout, lift owners are likely to be somewhat less welcoming...

Tim Steenkamp • Jul 10, 2019

The reason? ... Current lift emergency phone technology will be made redundant with the new NBN services, and lift owners will need to invest in new wireless technology and services to remain compliant.

Existing lift phones use analogue technology and rely on line voltage from the service provider (e.g. the Telstra or Optus land line), however, the NBN fibre optic cables require communication devices to use IP technology. Combined with the fact that the NBN will not work in a power outage, it is not considered to be safe or reliable enough for emergency communication.

As a consequence, lift manufacturers, telcos and monitoring services companies are all rolling out their own wireless solutions to work around this problem, with a myriad of technical solutions at vastly disparate costs of equipment and ongoing service.

So how do owners determine the most cost-effective solution for their building?

Simply, by getting an independent consultant to arrange a site audit to provide the best option(s) available.

Please Beware - one size does not fit all.

Many solutions are proprietary, not future proof, or just do not take into account specific requirements; ultimately costing considerably more than necessary (or result in non-compliance issues).

Equity Elevator Consultants are not aligned to any supplier, and for as little as $650 your site will have a full comms audit, this includes investigating and/or testing:

·The type and model of your existing lift emergency phone systems.

·The type of wiring used between the lift car and the phone connection point (traveling cables).

·The distances between the different lift shafts (as applicable).

·The signal strength of the available wireless networks.

And comes with our recommendations for the most cost effective and compliant solution available.

Equity Comms Audit & Reports have consistently saved lift owners money while achieving the right solution for a site’s specific needs .

For more information please contact us or phone for an obligation free chat.

People with masks on in public
By Tim Steenkamp 10 Sep, 2021
As the overall duration of the restrictions remains uncertain, there is potential that your planning for a lift replacement program may be severely delayed as a direct consequence. Therefore, it is critical that you consider the likely implications of the current uncertainties now and act accordingly to minimise any impacts on your property.
By enquiry 28 Apr, 2021
As the saying goes, “all good things come to an end”, and your once reliable building elevator is no exception to the rule.....
11 Nov, 2020
As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. How long is your lift supposed to last? And when do you know it’s time to act. Equity Elevator Consultants can help you with advice on ways to extend the lifespan of your lift, and help you decide when it’s time to move on…
By Tim Steenkamp 24 Jul, 2019
The idea may appeal to the yogis among us, but no one wants to be trapped in a pitch-dark lift with no light or emergency phone. The chances of this happening to you are not as remote as you may think. As lift consultants, more than 20% of lifts we inspect have no emergency light and/or phone that works when the mains power goes down, this despite it being legally required and a critical safety feature too! To add to this, your lift emergency phone connection will need to change ahead of the NBN arriving in your building. The worrying truth about your lift phone(s) ahead of NBN Roll-out. Most lift phones aren’t compatible with the NBN, so new Australian guidelines recommend that building owners install a dual path communication system when Telstra disconnect your existing lift emergency phone lines. Sensing the business opportunity, phone companies and some major lift companies have come up with solutions along with their sales pitch and marketing jargon. Navigating through all this can be confusing and may not result in the best, safest or most cost effective option getting selected for your particular situation. In most cases, the safest and simplest solution is a dual sim, dual modem 3G wireless device which simply replaces your old phone line connection. These devices can be supplied either by a phone company or your lift company. Be wary if you are offered more than this and bear in mind some of the suppliers’ will use proprietary technology, meaning you will have issues when you need to upgrade (4G will replace 3G in a few years) or if you decide to change your service provider down the track. We have come across certain situations were a more complex solution is appropriate, for example, where mobile signal strength is poor or the layout of the lifts within a building is unusual. In most cases, the dual sim, dual modem 3G wireless device is all you’ll need. For more information contact us for an obligation free chat.
By Tim Steenkamp 22 Jul, 2019
My business partner and I recently participated in a strata industry owner’s event where we enjoyed fielding lots of interesting questions, but there was one question, in particular, that stood out.
By Tim Steenkamp 09 Jul, 2019
At A recent seminar, I ran through Strata Owners' responsibilities when it comes to lifts. Several delegates asked me to put up the list on our website, so here we go......
Share by: