Changing Times
It is our observation that many consultants, engineers and architects are not aware of how much more complex the requirements for emergency elevator communications have become recently. And those that may be aware of the increasing equipment needs are often not familiar enough with telecommunications to put together a comprehensive set of specifications. Hopefully our background in both elevators and telephone installation can help bridge this gap for you.
For those of you who would like to get an overview of the new Code requirements for emergency communications, please review our section on Safety Code - Synopsis.
May We Suggest...
These days it is not unusual to have two or even three professionals involved in a new building, ie. architect, elevator consultant, and electrical consultant. It is also not unusual for these consultants to unknowingly overlap their specifications. For example, we regularly see elevator companies being told to install handsfree phones when the electrical contractor is being told to do the same thing. Needless to say, this can cause quite a bit of confusion and delay in the field, especially when the handsfree phones and rescue station end up being incompatible.
Our suggestion is that for new buildings, you touch base with any other professionals at the beginning of the project to make sure that the entire communication system (handsfree phones and rescue station) is being specified as the responsibility of a single contractor. In most buildings, it works best if this is the electrical contractor, although for modernization projects it would more likely be the elevator contractor.
Going to our specification page will show you samples of recommended specifications for architects, electrical consultants, and elevator consultants. Feel free to use these or modify them as you see fit. If you would like any of these specs sent to you in a non-pdf format, just let us know.
Webb Products
Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't encourage you to include Webb products in your projects. You can click on Handsfree Telephones - Overview to get a good idea of how our Webbphones work and their main features. Clicking on Rescue Station - Overview will provide you with the same information about that particular product.
For those of you short on browsing time, here are some of the main features and benefits:
- It is the only equipment on the market with self-diagnostics built in. With Auto-Chek™ activated, owners are automatically alerted if there are any problems with the equipment.
- In buildings where lobby communications are required, you can incorporate your elevator recall switches right into our LS-250 Rescue Station. This customizing is very easy to do and makes for a much nicer looking building lobby or CACF room. It can save you money as well.
- Unlike other products available, the Webbphones have excellent voice clarity and volume.
- All equipment complies with present and foreseeable Elevator Code and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements including built-in location announcement, second number calling and flashing LED when operator answers.
- Up to 6 handsfree phones can share a single telephone line, something that will save the building owners a great deal of money over the years. This number can increase to 80 handsfree phones with the addition of our Rescue Station.
- All Webb products are designed, built and tested for maximum reliability. In fact we are so confident in our products that we offer our customers a full 18 month warranty, the longest warranty in the industry.
- We are also well aware that budgets are tight these days. You will find that Webb products are not only priced very competitively, but that they are often significantly less expensive than similar products on the market. And feel free to call us if you have any unusual operating requirements... we love to talk about phone systems!