6 Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing a Lift Maintenance Company in Singapore
Selecting a reliable lift maintenance company in Singapore is crucial for the safety of your lifts. But with numerous options available, how can you be sure you're making the right choice?
In this article, we'll explore six red flags to watch out for when choosing a lift servicing company. By recognising these warning signs, you'll be better equipped to make a well-informed choice—and save yourself from the headache of sourcing for lift contractors again and again.
Red Flags When Selecting a Lift Maintenance Company in Singapore
It's crucial to be aware of these potential warning signs when choosing a lift servicing company in Singapore:
1. Not Registered With BCA Singapore
A reputable lift maintenance company in Singapore must be registered with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). This registration ensures the company meets specific industry standards and regulations.
Check the BCA's directory of registered contractors and licensed builders to verify a company's status.
As a BCA-registered lift contractor, this is how Hin Chong's profile looks like on the BCA directory:
Caption: Hin Chong Engineering Construction Pte Ltd - A BCA-registered lift contractor
Always avoid companies that can't provide proof of BCA registration or claim they're in the process of obtaining it.
2. Insufficient Training Provided For Lift Technicians
Most lift owners in Singapore are aware that they need to engage a BCA-registered lift maintenance company—but they often neglect to check on the certifications of lift technicians employed by the company.
At Hin Chong, all technicians have attained the Certificate of Competency (CoC) in Lift Maintenance for Lift Specialists. The CoC was launched by both the BCA and ITE, and is meant as a competency certification for all lift maintenance personnel.
For your peace of mind, we recommend that you check if your lift servicing company employs technicians with proper certifications.
3. Limited Experience With Your Lift Brand / Model
Lift maintenance companies should have extensive knowledge of various lift brands and models. If a company lacks experience with your specific lift type, it may struggle to provide effective maintenance.
Ask for details about their experience with your lift brand and model—reputable companies should maintain records of the lift types they service and should be able to provide examples of similar projects. Be wary of providers who seem unfamiliar with your lift's specifications or hesitate to discuss their experience.
As a lift servicing company that is not a large lift manufacturer, Hin Chong is not biased towards any lift system. Since our establishment in 1998, we have worked with lifts across various brands and models, including:
KONE
Otis
Toshiba
Fujitec
Mitsubishi
Schindler
4. Inadequate Emergency Response Times
Quick response times are essential for lift maintenance in Singapore, and reliable companies should offer 24/7 emergency services with clearly defined response times. You should always ask your lift servicing company about their average response time for emergencies and be cautious of contractors who can't give specific response time commitments.
At Hin Chong, we provide 24/7 lift breakdown support for clients, and we're transparent with our emergency response time. As mentioned, our lift maintenance services include a 45 minute dispatch time for emergency calls and a 100% lift breakdown resolution rate.
5. Vague or Inconsistent Lift Service Agreements
A reliable lift maintenance company in Singapore should provide clear, detailed service agreements. These agreements should outline the scope of work, maintenance schedules, and pricing.
Look for specifics on routine inspections, parts replacement policies, and emergency services. Be cautious of companies that offer vague contracts or frequently change terms—a transparent agreement ensures you understand the services you're paying for and helps prevent unexpected costs.
For instance, these are some items that you will find in Hin Chong's lift service agreements:
Rate per lift per month
Scope of work for lift examinations
What you can expect from our emergency lift services
Tenure of agreement
Fair termination clause
Payment terms
Our commitment to record keeping
Scope of work & rates for lift Permit to Operate (PTO) renewal
6. Lack of Preventive Lift Maintenance / No Understanding of Maintenance Control Plan (MCP)
Preventive maintenance is crucial for ensuring lift safety and efficiency, and the 2024 Maintenance Control Plan (MCP) guidelines by BCA Singapore focuses on exactly that.
The MCP promotes a life cycle approach to lift maintenance, involving not just regular upkeep, but also the systematic replacement of key components to prevent lift breakdowns and boost reliability.
It encourages collaboration between lift owners and lift servicing contractors by setting clear guidelines on maintenance schedules and replacement criteria, to improve cooperative efforts.
We recommend that you ask potential lift maintenance companies to explain their approach towards MCP. Look for companies that are updated on the BCA's latest recommendations. Ask about their preventive maintenance strategies, including condition-based maintenance approaches.
Be wary of companies that focus solely on reactive maintenance—a strong preventive focus reduces unexpected lift breakdowns and long-term maintenance costs.
Choosing a Reliable Lift Maintenance Company in Singapore
Selecting the right lift maintenance company is crucial for the safety and reliability of your lift systems. We hope that this guide will help you make an informed decision when selecting a lift maintenance company and contract!
Feel free to get in touch with Hin Chong for more personalised advice, or to get a free lift assessment by our qualified Lift & Escalator Inspector (LEI).
