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8 Car Destination Control at Canary Wharf

Guideline Lift Services Ltd was established in 1972 and is now one of the leading independent lift companies in the United Kingdom, specialising in the modernisation, maintenance and repair of all types of lifts, together with the installation of new lifts.

We successfully tendered for the replacement of a conventional 8 car group supervisory based call management system, with a Hall Call Destination system, together with the maintenance of all lifts within the building against formidable opposition, including major multi-national companies. The client who is an established Financial Services Global Leader within the prestigious area of Canary Wharf, has had previous world wide experience of Hall Call Destination, and required a smooth transition from system to system combining high performance with a flexible solution.

The specification written by Principle Designer and Lift Consultant Les Oliphant of O&M Lift Consultancy Services Ltd, required the new system to meet future traffic demands due to the diversity and increase in the building population, together with the isolation of floors 7&8 to create a new tenant demise, with the minimum of disruption to the building occupiers.

During the tender process, we selected Thames Valley Controls Ltd as our preferred supplier, utilizing their Ethos Navigator Hall Call Destination System. The product had successfully been used in over ten similar installations previously. Knowing especially that they had previous experience of an 8 car Hall Call Destination Group, including a three year warranty, together with the support they would provide during the tender, installation and subsequent maintenance period were all factors in our selection.

As all works were to be carried out outside normal operating hours and having been appointed Principle Contractor, we had decided at tender and planning stage that a huge amount of preparatory works could be completed prior to any lifts being removed from service.  These works included the diamond drilling of required apertures, installation of serial wiring looms, the installation of the dispatcher together with the fitting of a selection of landing touch screen pedestals, wall mounted touch screens and keypads at various different levels. Following these works our test engineers carried out functional site testing of the HCD system in conjunction with TVC.

Upon completion of the first stage of the works, it was vital to provide the client with the best possible service with a high degree of flexibility. To this end we developed in conjunction with O&M Lift Consultancy Services Ltd a system using the floor by floor population as a measurement to utilize both the original system and the new HCD system as each pair of lifts came on line to maximise full use of both systems for the client and tenant.

Some of the unique features required by the specification were a number of bespoke and demanding security features. The Guideline project team working closely with TVC established and delivered a multi-layered lift security protocol that fully met these requirements, as well as other special features. We also installed Navigator Browser, enabling the client’s on site team to access not only special features, but also real time lift status, the facility to analyse historic lift performance and data reports, together with efficiency of passenger movement.  Much of the existing Kone equipment was retained, including entrances, door operating equipment and machines, which had to be interfaced with the new drives to provide an enhanced ride quality coupled with passenger comfort. We also installed a pit safety system complying with EN81-20 as required by the specification.


As Principle Contractor overall responsibility for planning, procurement, installation, management, testing and compliance was undertaken by Guideline Lift Services Ltd in accordance with the O&M Lift Consultancy Services Ltd Specification and current lift standards.  Whilst this project was both different, interesting and often challenging it was completed within the agreed established timescales. We believe this was due to the positive input of all parties to work together to achieve what we believe to be an outstanding project.