In the past, for the more deluxe cab interiors, elevator companies would typically buy the cab and car interior finishes from a specialty fabricator like H&B, Tyler, Eklund, Premier, etc.  The material would arrive from the factory in crates.  Then the elevator company would do their best to install it using their own forces.

The problems were legend.  Shipping damage was common and there would be a dispute over who pays for the replacement materials.  The elevator company's regular elevator installers lacked the talent for the fine finish work needed.  Dimensions often didn't match up and finish components didn't go together.  The elevator company would complain to the manufacturer that it was their fault, that the materials were wrong.  The manufacturer would counter that the elevator company's crews were incompetent and that their materials were fine.  It seemed like it was a rare job when such problems didn't arise.

A growing trend is for the elevator companies to subcontract the elevator car interior finishes to specialty elevator cab interior companies.  A fairly recent phenomenon, such companies are available in most markets throughout the country.  There are three major players in the  regional San Francisco Bay Area market:  Unique Elevator Interiors, Inc. (UEI), Sterling Corporation and Travertine Elevator Interiors.  These companies not only fabricate the custom cab interior finishes they also install it.

The advantages of this to the elevator companies and building owners are many: 

  The cab interior companies specialize in elevator car interiors from design, manufacturing and installation.  This narrow scope results in higher expertise.
  The cab interior companies typically performs the work for a fixed price, eliminating the potential of labor overruns for the elevator company.  It removes the difficult element for the elevator company of trying to estimate the field labor required to install the cab finishes. 
  The cab interior companies will work with the owner and their design team directly to work through the elevator cab design process.  The elevator companies' sales and management force are relieved of this task.
  The cab interior companies are responsible to certify the finished elevator cars comply with all code requirements.  The interior finish materials must meet fire ratings, include smoke rise and flame spread restrictions.  The fastening of materials must withstand car safety and buffer stops.  The emergency exits must remain operable and unrestricted.  The finished interior car size must meet ADA requirements.
  When an existing elevator car finishes are to be replaced, the finished elevator weight must comply with the 5% weight variation limitation.  The finished elevator car empty weight cannot be increased or decreased in excess of 5% of the sum of the original empty car weight plus the rated capacity.  Should the desired new car interior finishes cause the empty car weight to exceed the 5% rule, the elevator(s) must be *re-certified to the new weight, including structural engineering, and the car & counterweight must be rebalanced.
  The cab interior companies are commonly signatory to the elevator union agreement, relieving potential organized labor issues.  In California, the cab interior company must also be a certified qualified conveyance companies (CQCC) and certified competent conveyance mechanics (CCCM).  This state licensing requirement certifies that the company and workforce are properly trained and carry the necessary insurance, etc.   Similar requirements exist in other states.
  If things go wrong with the installation, the cab interior companies correct it with generally no prompting required from the elevator companies or clients.  The responsibility finger pointing dilemmas between the elevator companies and the traditional cab finishes vendors are eliminated.
  The cab interior companies are often local so shipping, lead times and response times are typically quicker. 
  Warranty matters can be directly addressed by the cab interior companies who take full responsibility for the product and installation.

The use of cab interior companies in both new construction and for the modernization of existing elevators has, I believe, become a win-win for the elevator industry and for the building owner.  I think we are going to see this trend expanding in the years to come. 

Richard C. Blaska
Principal
RCB Elevator Consulting, LLC

* Providing the code prescribed engineering services to re-certify an elevator as required when the new interior finishes cause the elevator empty car weight change to exceed the 5% rule is a service provided by RCB Elevator Consulting, LLC.

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