Are elevator pit hydraulic shut off valves required?

From time to time we discuss modernization projects with potential customers and they indicate  Company XYZ said “this”.  I was approached after a scope review about an Intergalactic Company indicating all buildings must have a pit shut off valves installed.  I was not 100% on the answer.  I do remember going back and forth with a City of Chicago inspector about one we put in on an elevator cylinder replacement.  We typically install pit shut offs on all cylinder replacements and he was indicating it should not be there.

[Machine room shut off]

                                                   [Hydraulic elevator pit shut off]

Lets find out what the code says. A17.1 2013

3.19.4.1 Shutoff Valve.  A manually operated shut off valve shall be provided between the hydraulic machines and the hydraulic jack and shall be located outside the hoistway and adjacent to the hydraulic machine.

Where the hydraulic machine is located in the hoistway, the manually operated shutoff valve shall be permitted to be located inside the hoistway, provided that it is accessible from outside hoistway to elevator personnel only.

Ok, my interpretation is that one shut off needs to be located in the elevator machine room.  This is the minimum.  Now, we can install them in the elevator pit for maintenance reasons, but the pit cannot be the only means to isolate the hydraulic oil line.

So Intergalactic Company while your recommendation is good practice, it is not the code to install the shut off valve in the hoistway when you replace a controller.  But the sales person may have been confused because they are also installing MRL hydraulic elevators that would have a shut off in the hoistway[see paragraph 2].  The same sales person from the Empire also told the building owner they needed a pit ladder for the walk in pit.  Personally I would rather walk down the building stairs and walk through a pit door then climb down 14’ to the elevator pit.

If you have any questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Elevator cylinder replacement due to electrolysis – Chicago, IL

Colley Elevator has always done a significant amount of elevator cylinder replacements but over the last few years with the recent City of Chicago mandate to remove all single bottom cylinders we have been doing more than usual.

We pull a lot of cylinders out of the ground and see the metal on the cylinder degraded and go “electrolysis”.  Well…. What exactly is this electrolysis?  What does it look like?

What is Electrolysis?  Electrolysis is the electrochemical process which causes gradual degradation (corrosion) of the underground steel hydraulic cylinder. Every time your elevator goes up your cylinder can be electrically charged. Damage cannot be detected through routine preventive maintenance until the underground hydraulic cylinder has been breached.

[These two pictures are from a cylinder that was recently removed.  The elevator was running fine and was only replaced due to the City of Chicago mandate. It appears this was very close to starting to leak]

Declining fluid level in the power unit oil reservoir is, most often, the first indicator that a cylinder has been breached. Regular, visual inspection of the fluid level should occur with the elevator at the bottom floor served and at the same hour of the day. Once a breach has been detected, the elevator must be removed from service until the cylinder is repaired or replaced.

How do I know if my cylinder is exposed or maybe suspect?  You don’t, they cylinder is underground.  You complete annual CAT 1 testing on the elevator system’s integrity.   Testing may accelerate cylinder failure if it’s already in a weakened condition. Remember, the day after a test reveals no leak, a leak can develop.

Don't forget water - Electrolysis is not the only potential danger to your cylinder, water will speed up the deterioration process.  Now we put PVC down to eliminate the cylinders exposure to water and other elements underground. But...

[When we finished - right elevator]

[Less than a year later - left elevator]

The pictures above are a project we completed less than a year ago.  Side by side elevators. Please keep water out of the elevator pit.

Reference - http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/1622/title/elevators-and-electrolysis

If you have any questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Firefighters Emergency Operation - Existing Elevators - City of Chicago

On Thursday we had a presentation on the City of Chicago upcoming code changes at the Chicago Elevator Association meeting by the Chicago Elevator Code Chairman Joe Donnelly.  Since 2006 there have been some changes being made to Elevator Fireman’s Service.  Since 2006 it has been pushed back and back and back.  The document dated November 2^nd, 2016 indicates that all elevators with Phase II operation must comply with the following as of 1/1/17.  So buildings have 60 days to get this one.  It is safe to say this will not be completed in 60 days.  AIC buildings will be cited initially because they need to get inspected once a year and there will be a lag time for the City of Chicago Inspectors to get to the remainder of the buildings. 

Only effects buildings with Phase II – If the elevator does not have phase II it does not apply.  This also means if there is no fireman’s service on the elevator it does not apply.

Onus may be on inspectors – While buildings hire contractors to inform them and complete the work the major burden may be on the inspectors to flag the buildings that need to have this completed.  There will be a document that needs to be signed off on for each building by an inspector.  To be safe, if you are a building owner go through this check list with your elevator maintenance contractor.

1.    A permit is required to complete any modification required by Section 18-30-320

2.    Work required to comply with Section 18-30-320 may be completed without updating other features of the existing elevator to a later code. [This means that you don’t necessarily have to put rope grippers on or change the entire control system]

3.    Automatic recall of the elevators is not required.

4.    When the Phase II switch is turned to the OFF position and the door open button is released, the doors will close and the elevator will revert to Phase I Operation and will return to the designated level.  This must occur with the doors fully open and may occur with the doors partially closed.

5.    The elevator shall have an illuminated visual signal in the car station for Firefighters’ Emergency Operation.  The illuminated visual signal is not required to depict a fire hat if that was not required at the time of original installation.

6.    The elevator shall have an audible signal in the car station for Firefighter’s Emergency service operation

7.    The elevator shall have a “Car Call Cancel” push button in the car station

8.    Elevators at the designated level not on Phase II Operation shall return to group operation when Phase I switch is turned OFF

9.    Elevators not at the designated level when the Phase I switch is turned OFF shall return to the designated level before they can return to group operation

10. Existing keying may remain.  FEO-K1 key switches are not required.

11. There is no requirement to provide an elevator control panel[lobby panel] or update an existing elevator control panel[lobby panel].

12. The illuminated visual signal must be separate from the “Car Call Cancel” pushbutton for all newly-permitted work, however a composite visual signal/pushbutton which was previously installed pursuant to a valid permit and is clearly labeled “car Call Cancel” may remain and satisfies Section 18-30-320.

Other mandates coming – Emergency bells on all elevators, machine room fire key boxes, MCP’s and maintenance records requirements.  This should be mid year 2017.

New code may be coming – A17.1 2016 may be the next code adopted shortly

If you have any questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.