Tower Lifts
Tower Lifts
Time to Consider a Lift Upgrade?
Lift Modernisation vs. Replacement – Is an Upgrade a Smart Investment?
The dilemma between upgrading or replacing often comes down to one thing – uptime. A full replacement can take your lift out of service for over a month, whereas a targeted modernisation delivers 90% of the same performance benefits in a fraction of the time. So, time to consider a lift upgrade?
Rather than bracing for the “inevitable” cost of a new lift, building owners are now choosing to modernise their vertical transport. This approach tackles modern safety standards and energy efficiency head-on, effectively resetting your lift’s lifecycle for another decade.
With more than 10 years of experience across the UK, Tower Lifts brings a specialist’s eye to every lift modernisation. We understand aging systems and the pressures of building management. By choosing us, you’re hiring a team that cares about prioritising your building’s uptime, and that provides honest, data-driven advice to help you make your decision.
Is a Full Lift Replacement Really Necessary? Making the Right Choice for Your Property
Are you at a crossroads right now? Most building owners, on reviewing the details, find that a full replacement is an unnecessary disruption. Below, we provide the information you need to secure your building’s accessibility and asset value without the six-figure price tag of a total reset.
1. Targeted Lift Modernisation (The Recommended Choice)
- Capital Expenditure – Typically 40% to 60% lower than a full replacement, as you are able to recycle the structural skeleton of the system.
- Building Downtime – Significantly reduced. Most upgrades are completed in 1 to 3 weeks, allowing your building to remain operational with minimal disruption.
- Property Impact – Targets noise, floor levelling, and speed to provide a 90% improvement in ride quality and user experience.
- Compliance Status – Fully addresses the 2025 PSTN digital switch-off and modern safety standards like EN 81-80 without requiring structural alterations.
- Sustainability – A lift upgrade is the ‘greener’ choice; by reusing the car frame and guide rails, you reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
2. Full Lift Replacement
- Capital Expenditure – A total reset involves significant hardware costs and potentially expensive structural building works.
- Building Downtime – Extensive – you can expect the lift to be out of service for 6 to 10 weeks.
- Property Impact – Provides a completely new ‘look’ and mechanical system, which may be necessary if the existing structure desperately needs a facelift.
- Compliance Status – Meets all current building regulations and codes from the ground up.
- Sustainability – Involves high ‘embodied carbon’ due to the removal and disposal of heavy steel components and the manufacture of a completely new system.
5 Signs Your Lift is Ready for Modernisation
Don’t wait for a total system failure in order to make your decision. A diagnostic approach helps you distinguish between a simple repair and a necessary upgrade. If your lift exhibits any of the following symptoms, it is likely to be reaching the end of its original design life. Modernising these specific areas restores an ‘as-new’ performance without the price tag a new build attracts.
The Signs:
- Increasing Call-Out Frequency – If you are averaging more than four breakdowns a year, you are already paying for a lift upgrade in ‘emergency repair’ instalments.
- Inconsistent Floor Levelling – If the passenger cabin stops even slightly above or below the landing, it presents a significant trip hazard and violates the Equality Act 2010.
- Obsolete Communication Technology – If your emergency phone still relies on a copper line, it urgently needs updating. Changing to a GSM digital solution is now a compliance priority for you.
- Excessive Noise and Vibration – Grinding sounds or jerky starts are usually symptoms of worn-out drive components or outdated control systems.
- Unavailable Spare Parts – Is your maintenance provider struggling to source components? If so, your lift is technically obsolete. Modernisation replaces these ‘end-of-life’ parts with readily available alternatives.
Your Lift Upgrade – Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we answer the most questions our clients ask most regularly when moving from a ‘patch-and-repair’ situation to a modernisation plan.
A standard modernisation focuses on the “brain” and “heart” of your system. This includes replacing the control system for better traffic management, upgrading to a high-efficiency drive (such as a gearless traction motor), and installing a digital GSM autodialler to replace obsolete analogue phone lines.
We also often upgrade the door operators and safety gear to ensure the lift meets modern EN 81-80 safety benchmarks while retaining the existing structural car frame and rails.
While a refresh of the car interior and lighting can be included, it is not the primary aim. A lift upgrade is mechanical reset. The primary benefits are technical: improved levelling accuracy, smoother ride quality, and a reduction in energy consumption by up to 70%.
By replacing aging components with non-proprietary parts, we also ensure that your maintenance provider can source spares easily, future-proofing your lift against obsolescence.
This is an important compliance issue. Most older lift emergency phones rely on traditional copper lines which are currently being decommissioned across the UK. An upgrade includes the installation of a GSM/4G gateway, which provides a more reliable, wireless digital connection. This guarantees that your emergency communication remains active 24/7, keeping your building safe and fully compliant with current safety regulations.
One of the biggest advantages of an upgrade over a full replacement is the reduced downtime. While a total replacement can take 6 to 10 weeks, a targeted modernisation is typically completed in 1 to 3 weeks.
We work closely with property managers to schedule work during low-occupancy periods, ensuring that the impact on your tenants and building accessibility is kept to an absolute minimum.
Planning Your Lift Upgrade
Planning your lift upgrade shouldn’t disrupt your property’s operational flow. We manage the entire lifecycle—from technical procurement to final safety testing—with a focus on speed and transparency.
Our status as a LEIA member and Constructionline Gold supplier proves our commitment to industry-leading standards. By integrating ISO 9001:2015 quality management and ISO 45001 safety protocols, we turn your aging lift into a high-value asset, providing the professional confidence you require.
Contact Tower Lifts today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let’s discuss how a lift upgrade can transform your operations and enhance your property – 01525 601099
Tower Lifts London lift team can design and install a varied range of lifts throughout the UK including:
Domestic Lifts • Food Lifts • Bespoke Platform Lifts • Service Lifts • Platform Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts • Heavy Duty / Car Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • MRL Lifts • Fire lifts • Residential Lifts • low-Headroom Lifts