How to Prepare for Your Scheduled Lift Installation

Congratulations on your lift purchase! I am sure you are excited to have your new piece of equipment installed by NES. In order to make sure the installation process goes as smoothly as possible there are a few things that you need to do in order to prepare before we arrive. By accomplishing these tasks before your scheduled install date, you will ensure that there will be no surprises that could lead to additional charges and/or a delay of your installation. We appreciate your cooperation with these items and look forward to seeing you on your scheduled install date! Remember you can always call us at 440-826-1120 with any questions.

Layout

• Be sure to double check your lift layout to ensure that the lift will fit and that the space available around the lift meets the minimum recommendations per the lift manufacturer. Remember that we are always available to schedule a site evaluation in order to help determine if a particular model of lift will fit within your desired installation area.
• Ensure that concrete conditions are acceptable per the lift manufacturers requirements. At NES we strictly follow the lift manufacturers concrete requirements for every installation as lift safety is always our top priority. Most manufacturers require at least 4” thick reinforced concrete cured for at least 28 days. They also require that the lift column baseplates cannot be installed directly over a saw cut, expansion joint, or crack and that the center of the standard concrete wedge anchors must be at least 8” away from any saw cut, expansion joint, or crack. This 8” requirement can be reduced to 3” with the use of epoxy anchors at an additional cost. If even the 3” requirement cannot be met concrete work will likely be required and will need to be quoted separately for every job.
• Double check that the height clearance is adequate for the model lift that you have purchased. This height dimension is not always floor-to-ceiling distance and is typically floor-to-nearest obstruction. Depending on the type of lift and the placement this could include lights, heaters, fans, etc. Charges will be assessed if an installation crew arrives on-site with a lift that will not fit (unless we completed a site evaluation and confirmed that the lift will fit prior to your purchase/installation date).
• Ensure that the workspace is clear and open so our installation crews can perform the tasks required as quickly and efficiently as possible. This includes storage items, cars, lawn equipment, etc. Our expectation is arriving to a job site that is prepped and ready for us to complete the job. Additional charges will be assessed if we need to spend time clearing our work area prior to starting the installation.
• Ensure install site accessibility for crane truck for lift delivery. Our installation crew will likely be bringing your lift with them on the day of your install. If there are likely to be any issues with our trucks accessing the installation site be sure to inform us prior to your installation date. We can bring provisions to help getting your lift to the install site if need be, but we will need to know any special requirements prior to your installation so we can come prepared.

Electrical

• As was likely noted on your work order/quote, our installation services do not include air or electrical work. If your expectation is to have our crew leave the installation site with a functioning/running lift it is important that you have the required electrical prepared and ready for the lift prior to your installation date. These requirements will vary depending on the type of lift that you purchased:
• • 110V Home Storage/Light Duty 4 Post Lifts
  • • 110V power units are the most common choice for Home Storage 4 Post lifts. Keep in mind that the power unit can only be positioned on either the Driver’s Front Column or the Passenger’s Rear column. Ensure that power is available in the vicinity of either of these column locations prior to your install date to ensure you can run your lift on the day of your installation.
  • 220V 1PH 2 Post Lifts
  • • 220V/1PH is the standard for almost all 2 Post Lifts. These will require a dedicated 30a circuit for operation. Power units are almost always going to be located on the passenger column. There are many ways to run power for an automotive lift, but the following is a recommendation guideline for what we believe to be the best approach:
    • • Junction box installed in the ceiling above the passenger column.
      • SO cord dropped out of the junction box to the floor with appropriate strain reliefs/sky hooks to ensure the power cord cannot be pulled out of the junction box (contact a professional electrician to ensure proper wire gauge is used).
      • A twist lock plug connection at the power unit of the lift to allow for a safe and quick disconnect in the event power needs to be cut to the lift.
      • SO Cord, Strain Reliefs, and Twist Lock plugs can be provided by NES at additional costs and are not included in the installation number. However, we are unable to add circuits, run conduit, or install junction boxes. 
  • Some customers opt to have the electrical taken care of after the installation. This is not a problem for us if 110V power is available. We can usually operate the lift with 110V in order to bleed the cylinder and check for leaks, but we will not be able to lift a vehicle with 110V power. Keep this in mind if you require operational training at the time of installation.
  • Our installation crews will be happy to make the final connection at the power unit for no additional charges provided power is ready to go at the lift and no additional materials are required.
  • If you need a recommendation on an electrical contractor feel free to call DNS Technologies at 440-891-4350. They are familiar with electrical requirements on lifts and will be happy to help prepare the installation site prior to your scheduled install date.

Air

• If compressed air is required for your lift operation you will want to make sure to have coordinated with us to ensure the necessary preparations have been completed prior to your installation date. If you already have an air compressor and plumbing be sure to communicate what is required to tap into the existing air circuit. 
• Our installers have common fittings/tubing stocked on their truck and can usually tap into an existing system if there is somewhere to do so near the lift. If plumbing needs to be ran or modified in order to access the trunk line, be sure to communicate that to us. Likely a site evaluation will need to be completed in order to quote the compressed air portion of the job.

What isn’t included

• Keep in mind that, unless otherwise quoted, our standard lift installation rates do not include:
• • Air/Electrical connections
  • • As noted above any provisions for air and/or electrical hookups are not included in our standard installation quotes. Provided the work is within our scope these parts of the installation will need to be quoted separately.
  • Permitting
  • • It is up to the equipment purchaser to investigate and pull all permits if required by local jurisdictions.
  • Concrete/Structural work
  • • If concrete conditions cannot meet the manufacturers requirements or if the required overhead clearance is not available, then concrete and/or structural work may be required. This type of work is not included in our standard installation numbers and would need to be discussed separately.
  • Removal of existing equipment
  • • If you are replacing an existing lift keep in mind equipment removal is not part of our standard installation numbers. We can almost always help with the removal and haul-away of existing equipment, but this would need to be quoted separately from our standard installation rates.

If you have any other questions about what is required prior to your lift installation, please do not hesitate to call us at 440-826-1120 and we’ll be happy to help any way we can.