This article is about retractable platforms only. To find out how to ensure that your chairs have a long life, please see our article here.
Retractable seating is a great investment, allowing you to use one space in multiple ways. However, your return on this investment really depends on how long the seating lasts. Although you need to start by choosing the right manufacturer, there are also some things you can do during the life of the system to help it stay in great shape for longer.
Check Around the Platforms Before Closing
One of the most important things you can do day to day to prevent problems with your retractable seating is thoroughly check around the seating unit before closing it. Check underneath the platforms for anything which has been stored, stashed, or accidentally mislaid under there. You can imagine that anything that catches in the understructure as it closes can do significant damage! Likewise, also check for objects rolling around on the decks. Anything that inhibits the chairs from fully folding down will cause the chairs to scrape against the structure as the row closes. Carrying out these checks will prevent the two most common causes of damage to our retractable platforms.
Ensure Your Seating is Regularly Serviced
Regular servicing of your seating enhances its longevity and lifetime value, but for retractable systems, an annual service is a legal requirement. In the UK for example, the Provision and Use of Working Equipment (PUWER) Regulations require retractable seating to be maintained in efficient working order and in good repair, and to be regularly inspected.
To ensure the safe and reliable operation of your seating and to prolong its lifetime value, we recommend a comprehensive manufacturer’s inspection once a year. This will not only give you peace of mind, it will also help you to obtain insurance and licenses, guard against liability claims, and keep your warranty up to date.
One of the most important aspects of the inspection is the fine adjustments we make. Our retractable seating is designed with a fully adjustable, bolted structure. Every year, our engineers will check the alignment of your platforms and adjust them for optimum performance. This is really important for preventing wear.
Please get in touch to arrange your service inspection – we can also service other manufacturers’ seating.
And When the Time Comes… Refurbishment
With regular servicing, we expect our retractable platforms to last 20-30 years or more, depending on the frequency of useage. Inevitably, the finishes of your seating platforms may start to look tired, even if the structure itself is still in excellent working order. We can give your retractable platforms an aesthetic lift, without you having to completely replace them. It makes sense from both a cost and a sustainability point of view.
Audience Systems’ aftersales team are here to help. We can freshen up rails with a new powder coat, replace carpets or whole decks, replace steps or nosings – really anything your platforms need. And of course we can also give your chairs a new lease of life.
If your retractable platforms need some aesthetic care and attention, please get in touch, and we’ll put together a bespoke refurbishment package to suit your venue.
