Why Building Owners and Managers Need to Stay Informed About Their Elevators

Elevators are among the most critical—and often most overlooked—systems in a building. Whether transporting tenants, patients, guests, or employees, elevators play a direct role in a facility’s safety, accessibility, and day-to-day functionality. Yet many building owners and managers don’t pay attention to their vertical transportation systems until there’s a problem.

Staying informed about the condition, performance, and regulatory status of your elevators isn’t just smart—it’s essential. At KDA Elevator Consultants, we’ve seen how informed ownership leads to better decision-making, reduced costs, and improved building operations.

Why It Matters to Stay Informed

1. Elevators Affect Safety Your elevator is a complex system that operates under significant mechanical and electrical forces. Small failures—like worn components, outdated safety features, or poor maintenance—can lead to serious incidents. Knowing the current condition of your equipment allows you to proactively address risks and protect building occupants.

2. Regulatory Compliance Is Always Changing Elevator codes and standards change frequently. New mandates like Door Lock Monitoring (DLM) in Florida and New York City or updated fire service requirements mean that building owners must stay current to avoid violations and costly retrofits. Staying informed helps ensure ongoing compliance and keeps you prepared for future upgrades.

3. Maintenance Accountability Elevator service contracts are often complex and difficult to interpret. Without a clear understanding of your system’s needs and service provider performance, it’s easy to overpay or accept subpar maintenance. Being informed empowers you to hold vendors accountable and ensure that you’re getting what you pay for as most elevator service contracts are written with the service providers interests in mind. It is important to get unbiased advice to protect your interests.

4. Cost Control and Capital Planning Elevator repairs and modernizations can be major capital expenses. By staying aware of system age, condition, and potential upcoming costs, you can plan effectively, minimize surprises, and spread investments over time.

5. Tenant Satisfaction and Retention Slow, unreliable, or out-of-service elevators lead to tenant complaints and hurt the building’s reputation. Informed managers can stay ahead of issues, prioritize service quality, and maintain a positive tenant experience.

How KDA Elevator Consultants Help Keep You Informed

At KDA, we work as an extension of your team to provide expert-level insight into every aspect of your elevator operations:

  • System Assessments – We evaluate your elevators for performance, safety, and long-term condition.
  • Maintenance Reviews – We audit your service provider’s performance and ensure they’re meeting their contractual obligations.
  • Code Compliance Monitoring – We keep you up-to-date on current and future code changes affecting your equipment.
  • Capital Planning – We help you budget for repairs, modernizations, or replacements well in advance.
  • Owner Advocacy – We represent your interests—not the elevator company’s—so you get honest, unbiased advice.

Knowledge Is Power—and Savings

Being informed about your elevators doesn’t require you to be an expert—but it does require a trusted partner who is. At KDA Elevator Consultants, we help building owners and managers understand their systems, avoid costly surprises, and make confident, data-driven decisions.

Stay in control of your elevators—don’t let them control you. Contact us today to learn how we can help you stay informed and in charge of your building’s vertical transportation systems.