Constructionline Gold

Constructionline Gold Status

I am very pleased to announce that Ascendant Lifts have been awarded Constructionline Gold Status

Constructionline Gold status opens up greater opportunities within the Lift industry by being verified as Pas 91 and achieving common assessment standard

Health and Safety comes as a priority  to Ascendant lifts with no record of Accident of incident for over 1000 days its something we are very proud of.

Being contructionline Gold verified is of interest to many of our buyers, with Gold membership including further validation checks using an enhanced prequalification questionnaire that goes beyond PAS 91. our  company’s credentials for environmental management, quality management, equal opportunities, modern slavery act adherence and anti-bribery and corruption policies have all been verified to the highest standard.  Some of these policies form part of the Cabinet Office Selection Questionnaire (SQ), which the public sector is expected to comply with.

At Nationwide Lifts & Escalators, we put Health and Safety as the number one priority in anything we do. The health & safety of our clients, engineers and staff is of huge importance to Nationwide Lifts & Escalators Ltd and with our competence, professionalism and industry experience we ensure health and safety is never compromised.

At Nationwide Lifts & Escalators, we put Health and Safety at the fore front of everything we do and as such we would never compromise the safety of any party. The team at Ascendant Lifts & Escalators are well aware of their obligations under current legislation and every aspect of our work will be safely managed.

Every aspect of lift maintenance, lift repair or lift upgrade / refurbishment is subject to our safety management system to ensure our works are carried out with risks minimised.

We offer a nationwide service for all your Lift Maintenance, Lift Repair or Lift Modernisation requirements. We also offer the complete range of new lifts and full turn key packages that include lift removal, builders work and electrical work.

With offices located across the United Kingdom, we are able to provide a fully comprehensive package to all our clients. We also offer lift modernisations nationwide whether it is a new lift interior you need, new doors or the bits you might not see (control systems, hydraulics, motors) – we have a solution for you.

We have a comprehensive understanding of all health and safety legislation which relates to lift engineering works including but not limited to;

  • Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
  • The Lift Regulations 1997
  • BS7255 (Safe working on lifts)
  • BS EN81-1 &2, BS EN81-28, BS EN 81-58, BS 5655
  • Undertaking risk assessments in line with the Management Regulations.
  • Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
  • Provision and use of work equipment Regulations (PUWER)
  • Quality Assurance 9001
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations
  • CDM Regulations
Growth

Growth

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”

Growth is what 2020 has been about for Nationwide Lifts from a small office to approaching 20 staff , more engineers on the road more engaged  and hungry office staff. None of this is by accident it is only by working together and focus that breeds success.

2021 is going to be another year of growth for us and  we are delighted to announce the appointment of Suzanne Lisle who has joined Nationwide Lifts & Escalators as Service Director.

Suzanne comes to us with a great deal of Lift Industry Knowledge, as well as a vast amount of experience in Sales & Operations. As our business continues to grow, we will continue to focus on strengthening our team to ensure our customers receive high levels of service.

We will continue with our customer driven focus and strive to offer the best customer service in the industry through our dedicated customer care, we pride ourselves as your partner throughout the entire lifespan of your lift equipment. This on top of our recent acquisition of our New Yorkshire office in Sheffield shows our ambition. All this is backed up with a wealth of knowledge both on the road and in the office so no lift type or manufacturer is a problem whether it is 3am in the morning or 16:59 on a Friday evening we will be your partner through it all.

At Nationwide Lifts and Escalators traditional Lift servicing is at the heart of what we do. During a traditional maintenance visit, rest assured our experienced service engineers carry out a full inspection, test and comprehensive service, and make any appropriate adjustments to ensure optimum performance saving you money in the long run. Our Tailor-made services have been designed to keep your lift operating smoothly and efficiently for years to come

Light at the end of the tunnel

Light at the end of the tunnel

The first Blog of 2021 and it finds us again in Lockdown 3.0 but this time with light at the end of the tunnel in the way of the vaccine, I’m very excited to see what March brings and the doors being eased open to a real New Year. There is no doubt things have changed and our High street will never be the same as it was, as the armchair economy shines through with people moving to everything on line and being delivered straight from the screen to there doorstep. I can see the High street turning into a new young vibrant place and have no doubt it will come back and thrive.

With a lot of offices closed and the hospitality industry shut down and a lot of homeworking for the time being, the return to the workplace will see a lot of lifts that haven’t moved for extended periods but there is light at the end of the tunnel

Like a car a lifts left for long period will need a bit of TLC before they expected to run multiple times an hour, If you leave your car parked on the drive for weeks on end and expect it to start it is likely it will struggle. The tires might be flat, the battery ran out of charge the handbrake stuck on the brakes Seized  – so to prevent any issues you might go for a 15-minute drive in it every week or so.

The same principle applies for a lift. On a hydraulic lift, buffers compress and ropes stretch the ram can creep, buffers compress and oil becomes cold. On traction lifts it means ropes can flatten where the counterweight hasn’t moved . And on both drive types guide rollers can become damaged.

If at the beginning of lockdown you switched it off, then, unfortunately without checking the lift over you don’t know what breakdowns your going to walk into when you put it back in service

Ascendant Lifts are offering a FREE site survey and quote  to make you aware of any issues and that might arise and repairs you will need to put the lift back in action across the whole of the UK and an interim service to make sure your lift is in tip top condition ready for when your doors open.

Ascendant Lifts & Escalators Ltd provide traditional lift maintenance across the UK. We can offer preventative planned packages for all types of passenger lifts, goods lifts, platform lifts, dumbwaiters, stairlifts and all types of access products. With over 50 years of experience, we have serviced and maintained all types of lift equipment Nationwide.

Winter Lift Maintenance

Winter Lift Maintenance

Winter Lift Maintenance

Lifts are the workhorse in transporting people and goods within your organisation and in winter they  can be affected by the changes in the weather. There are a few components and extra measures to take for your lift to limit disruption during the winter all taken care of with Ascendant Lifts traditional lift maintenance giving your winter lift maintenance an extra little boost.

Sills
As people are walking in from the outside, it is likely that snow and grit will travel in with them. When they use the lifts, the snow will melt and the grit will be left behind which can clog up the sills and prevent the door from opening and closing making the lift unable to travel from floor to floor. Removing any grit and water will make sure that does not happen.

Lubrication                                                                                                                                                                                         The cold dry air can affect the lubrication on the guide rails of the lift, affecting the efficiency of your lift(s) and their overall performance. Lubrication will reduce the friction between the guide rails and the lift during operation. Another way of reducing friction is keeping the hydraulics between 29°C – 35°C, which is their ideal temperature.

Consistent Temperatures
If there is a drastic change in temperature from inside the lift to the shaft then condensation can build up. This moisture can then find its way to electrical components and cause component failure and the shutting down of the lift, resulting in disruption within your organisation.

Climate Control
An alternative to having a climate-controlled lift car is to park it on a floor which has climate control when the lift is not in use. If the building is located in a cold area make sure there is enough insulation in the machine room, especially for the hoist way and tank, and that all the insulation is intact.

In case of a power cut during the harsh weather, your lift’s batteries should be fully charged so that people can still move around and nobody gets trapped in a lift, limiting disruption and costs.

Regular maintenance of your lifts can reduce future disruption within your organisation by covering all the bases to ensure the efficient smooth running of your lifts by remedying any issues before they become too costly and big.
Ascendant Lifts & Escalators Ltd can provide maintenance for your lifts with our in-house engineers who carry out their work with professionalism and to the high standards required by the industry.

illusion of Control

Illusion of Control

Illusion of control: Why the world is full of buttons that don’t work

Have you ever pressed the pedestrian button at a crossing and wondered if it really worked? Or hit the “close door” button in an Lift, while suspecting that it may, in fact, have no effect whatsoever? You’re not alone, and you may be right. The world is full of buttons that don’t actually do anything. They’re sometimes called “placebo buttons” — buttons that are mechanically sound and can be pushed, but provide no functionality. Like placebo pills, however, these buttons may still serve a purpose, according to Ellen Langer, a Harvard psychologist who pioneered a concept known as the “illusion of control.” “They do have a psychological effect,” she said in a phone interview. “Taking some action leads people to feel a sense of control over a situation, and that feels good, rather than just being a passive bystander. “Doing something typically feels better than doing nothing

The button you find at traffic lights will only light up the ‘Wait’ signal but it is down to an algorithm to change the lights. When there are many cars it will choose the least congested time to change to amber then red, which is why you may find yourself waiting an eternity for them to change so you can cross.

With thermostats in an office the heat may be getting too much for you so you go and turn it down not realising that it is most likely a dummy thermostat. By turning it down it is believed to give you a placebo effect as you think you have had an impact on the temperature and begin to believe you are cooling down.

These things aren’t just limited to buttons however, many devices emit artificial noises to reassure the user that the device is operating as it should. An example of this is Skype, when a call goes silent a pre-recorded noise such as a car door slamming will be emitted to tell the users that the call is still active and hasn’t been dropped.

Unlike these other placebo buttons, the ‘Close Door’ you’ll possibly find in a lift is real and will close the doors quicker, in the UK anyway. In the USA they are false since they have a disability law that states the doors must be open for a certain amount of time before closing.

The buttons that are fake are designed to provide the feeling of control over the action you are preforming. It was found that control is a reassuring feeling over the course of your actions throughout the day and provides you with a sense of safety so these measures were implemented.

Ascendantl Lifts & Escalators Ltd provide lifts that meet all the relevant safety legislation and our in-house engineers conduct their work to the high standards of the industry with professionalism. No matter the lift you have we will ensure it is safe for all and all the buttons will work.

Major Modernisation

Major Modernisation

Just this week we have handed over a major modernisation to a Hydraulic passenger lift for a Residential Care Home in Cumbria which is looking fantastic and functioning without a squeak much to the delight of the staff and residents causing minimum disruption to the every day life of the residents.

With regular servicing a lift can last many years. However, once a lift becomes a certain age replacement parts are rare to find and expensive to purchase. That is why a lift modernisation would be more cost effective for you in the long run as well as being cheaper and less time consuming than installing a new lift. With a lift modernisation the reliability of your lift is increased, therefore your organisation can move freely and unrestricted for longer. Your modernised lift will also reduce the costs of maintenance and look more appealing to those who use it.

None of these can happen with out working closely with our fantastic supply Partners Shorts Lifts, supplying the parts first time on time and offering a wealth of technical knowledge and unprecedented support on jobs large and small anywhere in the Country

Nationwide Lifts & Escalators Ltd offer complete lift modernisation packages including:

The turn key solution includes builders-work and electrical work as part of our package. Our intent is to get your lift fully modernised with a new interior and all components within 2 weeks.

Since we only supply and fit open protocol parts we not only give you flexibility on your lift but peace of mind as well.

Some reasons for a lift modernisation are:

  • Current lift does not comply with new regulations.
  • Current lift shows signs of wear and tear.
  • Drains power or is sluggish.
  • Experiencing frequent issues resulting in call outs

 

THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS

Thorough examination

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations consist of regulations to ensure the safe use of lifting equipment in the workplace. LOLER also commonly known as thorough examination covers a wide range of equipment including lifts, hoists and mobile elevating work platforms. This also includes lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eye bolts etc.  However, escalators, moving walkways and simple pallet trucks that lift their load only a few inches do not apply under LOLER.

Nationwide Lifts & Escalators Ltd can perform LOLER inspections or commonly knows as  thorough examination for clients throughout the UK.

LOLER inspections should be performed on lifting equipment:

  • Before it is first used
  • Immediately after the repair or replacement of an essential component
  • Whenever it is removed and re-fitted to the original chassis
  • Within 12 months of its last examination

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. If the lift equipment is used for work then the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) will also apply. As qualified personnel our engineers will be able to plan, appropriately supervise and carry out the operation in a safe manner. LOLER examinations are also mandatory and must be conducted thoroughly in order to determine whether the lift is suitable for operation and assess the significance of any defects.

LOLER also requires that all equipment used for lifting is fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and, in many cases, subject to statutory periodic thorough examination. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to both the person responsible for the equipment and the relevant enforcing authority.

If you are responsible for a lift then you are a duty holder. Roles of the duty holder include:

  • Maintaining the lift so it is safe to use
  • Selecting and instructing the competent persons
  • Ensuring the lift is examined at statutory intervals
  • Keeping the competent person informed of any changes in the lift operations
  • Making all relevant documentation available
  • Acting promptly to remedy any defects
  • Ensuring that all documentation complies with the regulations
  • Accurate record keeping

 

Any business or organisation whose employees operate lifting equipment on the job are required to comply to these regulations, which come under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

LOLER, Competent Persons and Duty Holders explained.

As COMPETENT PERSONS we are able to carry out THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS on your lifts. We have included below some information which we hope will be of assistance if you are a lift owner or the person responsible for the safe operation of a lift used at work, for example a facilities manager or supervisor.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), which came into force on 5th December 1998, were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act). LOLER implements the lifting provisions of the Amending Directive to the Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED) (951631EC).

LOLER consolidated the requirements for the safe Provision and use of lifting equipment. Regulation 9 of LOLER requires that all lifts provided for use in work activities be thoroughly examined by a COMPETENT PERSON at regular intervals.

This applies to lifts and hoists used to lift people or loads.

 

Challenge

Challenge

So last night I woke up at 3am and couldn’t get back to sleep so I picked my phone up to check Facebook and stumbled across a video of Pure inspiration that man was Cliff Devries a man who beat all the odds, go check him out, over came a massive challenge and didn’t let anything stop him

Challenge is something a lot of us face every single day some are unknown to people but its something as a lift company we have to think about every day, a lift is a lot more than the shiny Silver box that sits in the corner,

When it doesn’t work its a young family that are late for school or an appointment because they have to get a buggy down 5 flights of stairs, it’s an 80 year old lady who has to walk up 8 flights of steps to get back to her flat, it’s the disabled person who is now stuck in there flat, the elderly man who hasn’t spoken to anyone in a week missing his weekly trip to a social club, a Care home struggling as they can’t get food out in there service lift.

We hear so many stories and it makes it personal to us, that’s why we respond quickly to any callouts that’s why we are upfront and honest about the lifts and what it needs, that’s why people stick with us it’s not just a Silver box in the corner it’s a life line, a way of life having or not having a lift impacts on people’s life’s In a big way, that’s what inspires us everyday to leave no stone unturned to get that lift back in service and well maintained to the highest standard a challenge to overcome

Nationwide Lifts & Escalators work with a wide range of clients on both Commercial Lifts and Residential Lift, offering Lift servicing, lift repairs and full modernisations across the whole of the UK Including an unrivalled selection of New lift products across the world top brands.

At Nationwide Lifts and Escalators traditional Lift servicing is at the heart of what we do. During a traditional maintenance visit, rest assured our experienced service engineers carry out a full inspection, test and comprehensive service, and make any appropriate adjustments to ensure optimum performance saving you money in the long run. Our Tailor-made services have been designed to keep your lift operating smoothly and efficiently for years to come.

97% of our lifts are fixed on the first repair call it’s our first fix policy to ensure we locate the cause of the breakdown and repair it first time, with no repeat visits for the same fault. Through our dedicated customer care, we pride ourselves as your partner throughout the entire lifespan of your lift equipment, with offices across the UK in key locations we can provide a fully comprehensive package to all our clients.

We have dedicated Key Account Managers, who pride themselves on excellent customer service , full knowledge of your account and lift, this in turn leads to retaining a loyal customer database, due to a familiar voice with a wealth of Knowledge. At Nationwide Lifts and Escalators Communication is key to everything we do; our Customer promise makes Nationwide Lifts & Escalators a unique company in the marketplace.

Our Head office can be found in The North East (Sunderland), with further offices in The Midlands Yorkshire and London

 

Passenger and Platform Lifts

Valued customers

If i have learnt anything over the last 12 months its to be you own cheerleader and celebrate any win, its been a tough 2020 especially as we go into lockdown 2.0. Its even sweeter when praise comes in from one of your most Valued customers.

Sam said We are a really good company, customer service was excellent, she commented we get the engineers out quick and the work is good. She said she has had problems with lift companies in the past and any new job are always passed to Nationwide”.

At Nationwide Lifts & Escalators our customer service is real passion for us and what stands us apart from other lift companies, there is no calls missed no matter the time and we work tightly as a team and nobody goes home until every email is answered it sounds  very cliché but I’m going to say it we care. For every lift that is broken down its not just a machine, its a young family with a buggy that cant get down stairs or a pensioner who has to walk up 5 flights of stairs, or a service lift that has real impact on a Business and staff, we see things differently and that’s why we get the praise we do and retain a large portfolio of valued customers.

Through our dedicated customer care, we pride ourselves as your partner throughout the entire lifespan of your lift equipment, with offices across the UK in key locations we can provide a fully comprehensive package to all our clients. We have dedicated Key Account Managers, who pride themselves on excellent customer service, full knowledge of your account and lift, this in turn leads to retaining a loyal customer database, due to a familiar voice with a wealth of Knowledge.

We are forward thinking  Lift company  with  traditional Lift servicing at the heart of what we do. During a traditional maintenance visit, rest assured our experienced service engineers carry out a full inspection, test and comprehensive service, and make any appropriate adjustments to ensure optimum performance saving you money in the long run.

At Nationwide Lifts and Escalators Communication is key to everything we do; our Customer promise makes Nationwide Lifts & Escalators a unique company in the marketplace.

 

 

Veterans in Crisis

Veterans in Crisis Sunderland

A group of veterans volunteering for the multi-award-winning organisation Veterans in Crisis Sunderland (VICS), which helps armed forces veterans in Sunderland, have raised more than £2,000 to launch a crowdfunding campaign for the Sunderland organisation. Fourteen volunteers – in socially distanced groups of six – cycled from Sunderland to Hartlepool.

They were met by the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor David Snowdon, who has a holiday caravan in the town.

‘The people of Sunderland are incredibly generous, and they look after each other,’ said VICS founder and CEO Ger Fowler. ‘Thanks to them, we have enough furniture and white goods – even toys – to furnish whole houses for veterans and their families in need. The trouble is, we don’t have a van big enough to transport it all.’

VICS is seeing an ever-increasing demand for the services they provide to veterans in need of support. The support provided is crucial in stabilising veterans lives and getting them and their families back on track.

The ultimate goal of the charity is to create jobs for veterans. In order to achieve this, members of VICS are constantly counselling veterans, rehousing these veterans and their families is one step further to recovery. The next step is to then turn that house into a home using the donations to decorate.

By donating you are not only assisting in the purchase of a van, you are also laying the ground work for a veteran and their family to progress their way on to a new life by providing the means to decorate a house. You will also be aiding in the development of jobs for veterans and volunteering opportunities in the future.

VICS is launching a crowdfunding campaign with the help of Crowdfund Sunderland, which is backed by the Council and the health service in the city.

Using the hashtag #VanForVICS, Ger and his team are hoping to raise £11,000. For more information and to donate, go to www.spacehive.com/a-van-for-vics

Here at Nationwide Lifts & Escalators Ltd we are proud to support Veterans in Crisis Sunderland (VICS). It is an honour to have such an incredible charity doing tremendous work so close to home.

Background information

Veterans in Crisis is a Community Interest Company.[1] It was established in 2018 by Ger Fowler, a veteran of the First Battalion, Light Infantry. His experiences in Northern Ireland left him with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic back pain and depression. He became addicted to the drugs he was prescribed to help the pain.

‘A key driver of my recovery was a passion to help other veterans in my home city. I founded Veterans in Crisis (Sunderland) in January 2018 so that I could help veterans who suffer like I did.  My mission is simple: to help veterans to help veterans. I know how veterans feel and what they are going through, because I have been there myself.’

The veterans VIC supports must be from Sunderland. They may be homeless, unemployed, addicted to drugs or alcohol or have mental health needs; VIC’s role is to help them to stabilise their lives and we work with them to build a new future.

VICS has more than 300 members and is growing rapidly.

VICS has won four awards during this year:

  • Health Service Journal Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award
  • Sunderland Echo Special Community Award
  • Newcastle Evening Chronicle Armed Forces Champion Award
  • Springboard North East Supporting Partner of The Year
  • VCAS Open Arms Awards 2020: Influence and Collaboration Award (for Ger Fowler), Community Places and Spaces Award (for our headquarters, the ERV), Partnership Award and, for Gloria Middleton, Volunteer of the Year award

 

Contacts:

  • To speak to Ger Fowler, call 07850263421
  • For more information about the campaign, call John Sargent on 07974 070 471

[1] A community interest company is a business with primary social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.