Elevator consultant

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An elevator consultant is someone who specializes in the design, testing, and maintenance inspection of elevators, escalators, moving walks, and many other conveyances that move people. They are not to be confused with Elevator Mechanics. Consultants, unlike Mechanics do not actually perform work on conveyances. Some elevator consultants are referred to as elevator inspectors, while others do not serve as elevator inspectors.

[edit] Job Duties

Elevator Consultants work for Property Owners, Developers, Building Tenants, Architects, Engineers, Municipal Code Enforcement bodies, and insurance inspectors for the following purposes:

Identifying Elevator system options for Developers in order to create the most efficient transportation solution for a specific building.
Designing Elevator Systems for Architects and Engineers including: elevator bank traffic studies, component specifications, and providing blueprint drawings for incorporation into contract bid packages.
Performing ASME A17.1 QEI-1 certified inspections under the auspices of the Municipal Code Enforcement Officials (in the USA).
Providing maintenance audits to verify contract compliance with the maintenance provisions of the contract, confirm compliance with the ASME A17.1 maintenance provisions, and determine the long term viability of the equipment as required by the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) maintenance requirements.
Enforcing Municipal code upon conveyances, ensuring the public's safety, although these inspections are frequently performed by elevator inspectors employed by public agencies.

Elevator Consultants can be a helpful resource to those who are involved in the design of new buildings and the management of existing buildings. An Elevator Consultant will typically not perform work on a convenyance; if they were to notice a serious hazard it is their ethical responsibility to take action appropriate to the degree of hazard, including shutdown of the device in the event of hazard to life and limb.

[edit] Education Background

There are no specific university programs to train an Elevator Consultant, although many are trained in mechanical and electrical engineering. Many Elevator Consultants are former salespersons who worked for a major manufacturer, but have little technical background in the design and construction of elevators or buildings. Elevator Consultants most frequently gain skills through experience in a variety of conveyance-related work. Over time, the Elevator Consultant should gain specific experience in elevator construction and modernization, familiarity with model codes and standards, familiarity with local codes and laws. Some Elevator Consultants will branch into inspection and, through testing by certified ASME licencing bodies will gain QEI-1 credentials to make paid inspections on elevators and escalators.

Although some Elevator Consultants are certified as inspectors, few if any are licensed to practice as Elevator Consultants.

In the past, elevator manufacturers maintained a trained staff of highly technical sales personnel and support engineering staff to assist in the design of elevator and escalator systems. Over the past twenty years, the elevator manufacturers have gradually eliminated such positions in a continuing quest to reduce overhead and to sell a highly standardized product.

The demands of the real estate business have promoted the growth of the elevator consulting field, largely because one of the most expensive parts of the elevator is the space taken in the building. Careful design of the elevator system can both minimize the cost of elevators and improve the efficiency of the building. As well, the lack of well-trained staff from the manufacturers have helped to create a demand for elevator consultants which would not exist if design or operational questions could be easily answered by the elevator manufacturer's representatives.