Issue details

The impact of climate change and severe weather events is becoming all more frequent with significant temperature events in since 2020 with 40?C being surpassed in 2022*. These increases have many impacts on residents and buildings and the associated infrastructure including the failure of operational systems such as lifts.

Since 2020, we have noticed a rise in temperatures during summer months, which has resulted in 50 lifts going out of service as the operating temperatures in motor rooms housing the plant are exceeded. This results in significant impacts on residents in accessing their homes or exiting the building. The installed passive air flow grilles in the motor rooms are inadequate to provide a cool operating function and therefore there is need for the provision of active climatic control within the motor rooms.

Furthermore, temperatures drop below freezing during the winter months, having an adverse effect on control units due to ice forming on motor room walls during the day with this resulting in condensation which pours into control panel and malfunctions the drive units. To manage this risk, the provision of full function air conditioning units to manage temperatures within lift motor rooms is urgently required. 

This report recommends approving a 1-year contract (Via a waiver to standing orders) to install circa 120 air conditioning units in lift motor rooms with an estimated spend of £500,000 to Drurycourt Limited.