There are questionable reports on the internet about how many elevators in the world, but the one fact that seems to line up is that the number is in the millions. When you factor in the notion that every building with a need for elevators probably needs more than one, this number is probably right on the money. In a year, you might have to get on close to a hundred elevators a year, depending on your visits to large buildings. So how would you feel if a percentage of those were not properly inspected?

In Baltimore, there is an overwhelming problem with elevators being past their expiration dates with inspections, according to a news story from ABC2:

“For two decades, Paul Cole, installed and tested elevators. Then in 2009, he started inspecting. At the time, the state couldn’t keep up with demand for elevator and escalator inspections.

There was a backlog according to DeJuliis, so at that point, so private elevator inspections were turned over to third parties. Cole’s company, Allsafe Elevator Inspections, was born. He explains, “I know how things should be and just looking at certain things it pops right out at me most of the time.”

The elevator inspector says in the article that the inspection is definitely top to bottom, checking codes and cars. He rides each level and looks for anything out of order. This keeps the clients compliant and each elevator within code. Even if an elevator gets a little past its due date, it’s not a huge deal until a certain point:

“Cole is diligent, but for others, it can be tough to keep current with those cards. He explains, “I think it’s a big deal if it’s more than two months.’ As of March of this year, we found that of 6,917 elevators in the Baltimore metro area, more than 800 were past due. 354 had missed their inspection by six months or more and a whopping 196 were overdue by at least a year according to the state database maintained on their website.”

Although this story is only about elevators in Maryland, you should inform the appropriate building managers or business owners if elevators are out of code. It could mean the difference between getting stuck or not.

This blog usually has in-home residential elevators in mind, but from time to time, I like to look at more extreme, out of the box lift systems. I do this partly because these elevators are incredibly intriguing and also because custom elevators have become more commonplace in homes all over the world. The elevators I will be talking about are from a recent National Geographic list naming the top ten elevator rides in the world. Obviously, the heights reached in these lifts probably aren’t possible in your home, but here are some of my favorites from the list (in case you happen to travel):

Taipei 101 – This elevator, located in Taiwan, just happens to be in the tallest building in the world. This building not only features a remarkable number of elevators (67, according to the list) but also has the fastest elevators in the world. On top of this, the Taipei 101 building also features two floor elevators that open on two floors simultaneously. Now that’s one cool ride.

Eiffel Tower – This may seem like an obvious choice, but France’s penultimate tower still gives thousands of tourists and citizens the view of a lifetime. One fact that the article mentions is how Gustave Eiffel’s original elevator engines are still running in the basement of the structure – after some obvious reconstruction and modernization.

CN Tower – Toronto’s spectacular skyscraper has some dazzling views for anyone willing to risk their dignity. The lift cabins, featuring glass fronts so you can view your ascension, will get you up to the first observation deck in under a minute. Up 33 more floors, you can check out the next level of observation. According to the article, the bravest riders can go up to almost 1500 ft in the Skypod, but you’ll need an extra ticket!

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that business men and women are exposed to elevators on a constant daily basis. The same goes for a few other professions as well – medical professionals in hospitals, office workers, etc. – but business professionals can use elevators for other reasons than just traveling up and down floors. Sometimes these commercial elevators are used for pitching ideas to higher ups and administration. Thus, the elevator pitch was born.

This is not the main reason why this type of presentation is called the elevator pitch – this term more or less stands for the amount of time it should take you to give a pitch of any kind, according to an article in Business Week:

“That’s too bad, because the elevator pitch—so named because it should last no longer than the average elevator ride—is far too important to take casually. It’s one of the most effective methods available to reach new buyers and clients with a winning message. True, you may not actually be doing the pitching in an elevator, but even if your meeting is a planned, sit-down event, you should still be prepared to capture your audience’s attention quickly.”

Now, while the idea of being able to get your ideas out quickly to anybody willing to listen is a good idea, one write believes that an actual in-elevator elevator pitch isn’t a great idea. According to a piece in Fast Company:

“…there’s nothing more ineffective than having someone talk at you uncontrollably for 1-2 minutes–think pull-string dolls that were popular in the 1960s and 70s. I’ve had the misfortune of hearing unsolicited pitches from networKINGs, social media queens, and rainmakers (all self-proclaimed) when all I wanted was to learn more about their background and to have a conversation–not to listen to a long-winded diatribe. Meaningful connections require meaningful exchanges.”

This is definitely a strong opposing point to the idea behind confronting powerful people with your ideas in elevators, but how about when you can’t get a sit down meeting with the higher ups? What do you do in that situation, business professionals? Get to us in the comments!

The elevator is a very common and still incredibly useful piece of machinery that can be an aid to people with disabilities or those who don’t wish to climb 50 flights of stairs to get to their office. Traditionally, elevators are installed in high rise buildings, but there are a number of them that have been placed in peoples’ homes to help aid handicapped mobility. Also, elevators usually feature some type of music to help pass the time spent inside the cab. However, this isn’t good enough for one business mogul, who decided to buy Muzak Holdings LLC, according to the Toronto Star:

“Mood Media currently has clients in 37 countries around the world and is listed on the Toronto and London Stock Exchanges, he said. The company provides customized music, visuals and scents to retailers. [CEO Lorne] Abony said music and scent geared to a store’s target market can boost sales upwards of 20 per cent. A new campaign for Guess, where the target market is women between the ages of 18 and 30, for example, involves digital screens for visual effects combined with a feminine not-quite-floral scent and “hip on the verge of club,” music.”

If you recognize the name Musak, you might be interested to know that they are a major purveyor of elevator music in the world – you know, those instrumental versions of classic songs that you love to hate? Along with Mood Media, Lorne Abony is looking to truly revolutionize the way you travel in elevators with many sense-based experiences:

‘When asked to describe the perfect scent for a retail outlet, he was hard-pressed to explain exactly what a store’s ideal odour would be, but was clear on one thing: ‘Victoria’s Secret is different from Office Depot.’ Abony said the acquisition of an ‘iconic brand’ such as Muzak will boost five-year-old Mood Media’s footprint in the United States. While Muzak has a large share of the American market for mood music, it does not provide scent, and still transmits sound and songs via satellite. Abony said Muzak’s traditional satellite-based system will be abolished in favour of internet-delivered content with harmonized visuals and scents.”

How would you feel about riding in an elevator with flashy visuals, music and scents that match what you are seeing?