Hey Illinois! Here Comes Your New Elevator Code A17.1 2022

 

In Illinois we will soon have a new elevator code! Maybe next month? Maybe in 9 months? It all depends how quickly it moves through the rule making process of adoption in Springfield. We recently had our continuing education class for the new CODE and below are some of the highlights. The biggest item is the requirement for door lock monitoring on all elevators (that is 8.6.4.24). This requirement will most likely have some additional fleshing out and a time line given as it is a big one.

As always, if you are planning on modernizing, I would take the plunge now and get your permit with a stamped A17.1 2019 code year. The costs for your modernization will go up with the new code.

Other highlights include:

Hoistway lighting - 2.1.1.7

Lighting in the entire hoistway shall be 5ftc.

Light switches shall be at the top of the hoistway and pit access.

Shall automatically light when:

a. Access switch is set to ENABLE.

b. Car top switch is set to INSPECTION.

c. FEO phase I is activated.

Controller shall have signals to automatically turn on(building system) hoistway lighting.

Light switches cannot turn off lights when they are automatically turned on.

Lighting shall be on emergency power.

Pit access - 2.2.4

Ladder shall be 16” wide. Removed option for reduction to 9”.

Ladder rungs (cleats or steps) shall be provided for the full height and should have 4 ½” of handle clearance not provided.

Detection of a person on the ladder is required. This can be weight (20#) motion, guard removal or other means.

Flood detection means - 2.2.9

Flood detection shall be provided between 6” and 12” above finished floor (AFF) when the elevator can travel below the flood elevation for the property (per the building code).

Flood detection operation shall be per 2.27.13.

Equipment in hoistways, machinery spaces, machine rooms, control spaces, and control rooms - 2.8.1 

Added that non-elevator equipment may be permitted in these areas if it is permitted in the elevator hoistway.

Emergency responder radio coverage (ERRC) equipment inside hoistways - 2.8.7

New requirement permitting ERRC equipment, involving radiating coaxial cables and antennas, to be in elevator areas.

Location of equipment shall be acceptable to the elevator contractor.

All servicing shall be done from outside the hoistway(or through access panels).

 

Executable software 2.26.1.7.1

Added the following to the list of what is included in executable software:

Test enable operation

Group 1 operating modes

Restricted opening of car doors

Passenger overload in the down direction

Any (code required) manual reset

Function, device or means

Remote interaction operation - 2.26.13

Remove interaction operation is permitted.

A sign shall be provided on controller.

Actions are limited to call and features(elevator shall be on automatic operation).

Actions are prohibited(cannot enable, disable, override, reset or otherwise interfere with non-automatic operations).

 

Emergency communications - 2.27.1.1.4

Added that the visual/text communication means(on site for elevators with more than 60’ of rise) shall be in the fire command center (FCC).

Added when an FCC is not provided, the visual/text communication means shall be behind a locked (group 3) cover and the location shall be approved by the Fire Department.

Phase I emergency recall operation by fire alarm initiating devices.

Added that the height of the keyed switch shall be between 36” and 66”.

 

Firefighters emergency operation or occupant evacuation operation (OEO) inspection - 2.27.6

Added test enable to the list of operations that alert personnel of Phase I activation.

Add that all three operations shall alert personnel of floor detection means of activation.

Note: Personnel still have control of elevator.

 

Plunger stops - 3.18.4.1

Added that there is not a requirement to run the elevator onto the stop ring.

 

Replacement of driving machine or controller – 8.6.3.17

New rule which requires that a controller being replaced would be an alteration unless it was being replaced due to damage/loss and then can be replaced with the original model from the OEM or an equivalent model.

The controller replaced for damage/loss is permitted to conform to the original code data plate (installed or altered) insert remainder.

 

System to monitor and prevent automatic operation of the elevator with fault door circuits – 8.6.19.21

Added rule that door monitoring, when provided, shall be tested.

A written procedure shall be included in the on-site documentation. 

 

System to monitor and prevent automatic operation of passenger and freight elevators with faulty door contact circuits - 8.6.4.24

New rule that all automatic passenger and freight elevators (new equipment) shall have door monitoring - 2.26.5

We will be covering this more in the next few months/years as we see full adoption and how some of the items will be addressed.

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107. 

 Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

NAEC 75th Elevator Convention - Atlantic City, NJ

 

We had the opportunity to attend the NAEC’s 75^th annual convention September 23^rd  to September 26th.  It was great to get back and see some of our old friends, meet new friends, sit through education, be involved with talking points and walk around and see about 300 different vendors. 

75^th Anniversary & United show -  This was a big show for many reasons; on the East Coast, NAEC’s 75^th Anniversary & a United show.  When we have the show on the East Coast we see a ton of field personnel come in for a day to visit the show.  The NAEC celebrated its 75^th Anniversary so it was a special year for us.  Every few years we have a “United” show which includes NAEC, CECA, Elevator U & IAEC[elevator consultants trade group].

What did I get out of it?  On a regular basis I’m asked what do I get out of going to the convention or other NAEC events.  I had a list of items from the office to look into while I was at the convention where you can talk face to face with suppliers. Meeting people face to face is much different than trading emails or even phone calls.  Challenges that occur over the year can be discussed and resolved in a matter of minutes.  The networking is wonderful, seeing friendly faces and talking to people that you email on a regular basis cannot be beat.  What I get the most out of is seeing my peers from independent contractors and seeing what is going on in their area and what they are doing and what challenges they are facing.   

*I did not attend the real day one which was a great education day and some great parties!

Day 1 – Wednesday – The convention show opened and it was huge this year!  Some of my highlights are as follow.  Seeing World Electronics Dover DMC repair parts and talking about the obsolescence on many other platforms[some they address some they do not].  I took a look at a pretty solid pressure sensitive pit ladder from S2 Source. Saw a pretty rad car from a vendor who has a pretty detailed communications solution Webb Electronics. Talked with the Victaulic people about their products. Said hi to our friends at Adams and got a run down about their door lock monitoring solutions which they have refined over the NYC DLM challenge.  Very impressed with the engineer who designed this. Went to the Hyperion booth and had some good discussions with one of our long time material providers, then did a racing simulation which I got last place. Spent some time with Alpha Elevator and bumped into some old friends from Capital Elevator[Sacramento].  Saw our friends at Formula Systems and the door operator we helped install a new door operator on actually made it and worked!!!  We won an Ellie for best contractor in the North.  Thanks Elevator World for letting us participate.  Kings III took the cake with their jump suits.  Went over to Smartrise to see what was new.  Saw some of our oldest friends from MCE and saw their destination dispatch and solution to Kones MRL.  At night we went out to some great parties from Alpha Elevator and CED[thanks for letting us crash your parties]

[Thank you sponsors]

[The gates open!]

[A few of World Boards]

[A17.1 2022 pit ladder option]

[Cool Car - Cool tech]]

[Everyone needs one of these]

[Cool solution by a lady engineer!  Very Impressed!]

[Steve Smartrise[Hyperion] smoke us]

[Our friends at Alpha]

[Our friends at Formula Systems]

[Kings III took the cake and an Ellie with their outfits]

[Diane from Midwest Elevator lost her marbles and tried to take our Ellie]

[Our friends at Smartrise Engineering]

[MCE's destination dispatch]

[Kone mono/eco MRL solution]

[MCE's traction controllers]

[CED party over looked the beach and wheel]

Day 2 – Thursday – I went to the award breakfast, it was packed!  Saw a new Wurtec residential door operator, took a look at the Otis Glide A linear operator, revisited the EMS new freight door operator interface which was slick, looked at Columbias take on replacement of the GAL operator with a Fermitor, took some pictures with Dennis and the Ellie, which was really the Imperial Electric Ellie, we had a prankster over at the Nidec booth the previous day, looked at EPCO’s answer to the TKE buttons that constantly break,

[Packed breakfast]

[Wurtec's residential door operator]

[What a power unit looks like inside]

[Otis Blackbelt and AT 400 solution Otis Glide A]

[EmS FRT doors new interface - Well done!]

[Columbia/Fermitor answer to GAL]

[Columbia/Fermitor answer to GAL]

[Picture with the wrong Ellie]

[EPCOs answer to proprietary buttons]

[Canton's submersible power unit]

Why you should go – Meet the best in the business, exchange ideas, get challenged, come back to your company with new ideas, see new products and be a better elevator person.  Maybe you would meet Elevator Pal Ed?

2025 Convention – Houston, TX

2026 Convention – Chicago, IL - Yes its coming to our home. 

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

Giant Passenger Elevator Construction – Traction - Canton Elevator

 

This summer, we had the opportunity to work with one of our great school customers to install a giant freight passenger traction elevator at their new building.  This was a specialty application that required a unique sized elevator.  Going through the process, it is always cool to see start to finish as the building starts going up and then progresses to completion.

Package provider – Canton Elevator

Controller – Motion Control Engineering

Machine – Hollister Whitney

Door operator – GAL

Doors – Columbia

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

2 years in the making – From the start of discussion to the end of the project was about 2 years.  We went through design, bidding, procurement and installation. Since this account is a long-time Colley maintenance customer, Alex in our office went through several iterations of concept before the design team even took the elevator out to bid.  

Though we were the incumbent, we took nothing for granted and still feel fortunate to be awarded the project. We started working with the GC Gilbane on the contract particulars and, once we ironed out the contract details, we were on to ordering the elevator through Canton Elevator. Canton also helped layout the elevator for the school's design team.  Once delivered, we started our elevator installation work onsite! 

 

[First time at the building to start measuring]

[Time progresses and more is being done]

[Exterior almost done]

[Finished exterior]

[1st floor during our first visit]

[First project meeting to discuss mobilization]

[Finished first floor]

[Hoistway after rough in]

[Finished product with large center parting 2 speed doors]

[When our project team walked in, it looked like this]

[When our project team walked out, it looked like this]

[Nice clean car top]

Challenges – Since this was a unique installation we had some challenges on the supplier side. Canton was always responsive and got us squared away quickly so we could keep moving. Big shout out to California Duane! Since this was a unique installation, we also had challenges with our design team. Thankfully everyone on the team was great to work with to get through each challenge as it came up.

Team work– From the truck driver to the engineers to the billing department to the assist when needed, 18 Colley Elevator employees where involved in the project and we had tremendous team work on it.  Thank you everyone; without you we would not have had such a successful delivery[on time]!  Team work with our supplier, team work with our design team, team work with our GC/CM and team work with the school system.  Special commendation for the project team who did the time and heavy lifting, thanks guys!!!  You did great!

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107. 

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

Schindler 330 Inverted Piston Roped Hydraulic Elevators MCP Update Notice

In the second of our series in how to maintain an elevator, we'll discuss roped hydraulic pistons. We recently got a few emails and calls from our customers who have Schindler 330 inverted roped hydraulic pistons. They said they had received notices from the manufacturer on proper care.

We have been incorporating these checks for years, however, it is a good reminder that it needs to happen and these documents should go into the MCP(maintenance control plan). If you do not follow these procedures, you will have chronic issues with leaky packings and possibly other issues.

What is a maintenance control plan? The maintenance control plan is the plan that the contractor has with the building to maintain the elevator system. It should give the owner, mechanic, inspector and anyone else involved a run down on how the elevator is maintained. It should be similar to a manual for your car/automobile. It will tell you the following:

 

1. Equipment age, condition and accumulated wear

2. Design and inherent quality of the equipment

3. Usage

4. Environmental conditions

5. Improved technology

6. Manufacturers' recommendations for any SIL rated devices or circuits

7. Cleaning, lubrication and adjusting schedule

8. Tests on the equipment & schedules per A17.1.8.6

9. Code required written procedures for maintenance, testing and inspections

10. Maintenance records

11. Procedures for testing

12. Unique product specific procedures required to test equipment

13. Procedures on how to maintain the specific elevator

For a list of all the requirements look at A17.1 8.6.1.2.1

Information particular to the Schindler 330a elevators are as follow.

General inspection

1.1 – Visually inspect the jack synchronization ropes for any damage or excessive wear

 
1.2 - Visually inspect the synchronization rope sheaves for any damage

1.3 - Confirm the synchronization rope sheaves rotate without noise

Check synchronization rope lubrication

2.1 – Verify jack synchronization rope(s) has light lubrication present when checked with a clean cloth. If lubrication is required, the synchronization rope shall be lubricated with a 34-38 SSU light vicosity spindle oil

Check synchronization rope tension; adjust tension if required

3.1 – Run car up until the car is at its stop ring, check the jack synchronization deflection by hand. All rope adjustment must be made while the jack is fully extended.

3.2 – Verify synchronization rope(s)

• Has 1 Inch (25mm) deflection or less
• Does not have a slack wire rope condition present
•  All have equal tensions, if more than jack synchronization rope is present.

If tensioning of one or more synchronization ropes is required, then adjust tension according to steps 3.3 through 3.5. If no tension adjustment is required, then skip to step 4.

3.3 - Set up top nut on the eye bolt toward its end and the bottom nut towards the eye to start with maximum adjustment upward. Loosen the rope clamps and pull the end of the rope to add as much tension as possible. Tighten the rope clamps and now tighten up on the top nut o the eye until the rope has less than 1 inch of deflection. Run the bottom nut up tight to the underside of the synch eam to lock in this adjustment. If the ropes are too close to the car, realign the eyebolts toward the back of the car. DO NOT bend eyebolts, as this could recreate an unsafe condition.

3.4 – Repeat this for the other rope (if present) setting them or roughly equal deflection.

3.5 – Run the car down off the stop ring and you will notice that the car adds additional tension to the ropes.

4.1 – Check the wire rope diameter. The nominal size of each rope is .25 inch. Ropes must be replaced when the rope diameter measured at any point is less than .242 inch, reference table ASME A17.6 A7.6 1.10.3-1.

If replacement of synchronization ropes is required, use Schindler parts identified in the Schindler Renewal Parts Manual section 10C7 (or equivalent)

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

State of Illinois Fire Marshal Elevator Division 8/13/24 meeting

We had our State of Illinois Fire Marshall Elevator Division meeting this last week and it was a big meeting for a few reasons.

 

 

1. State of Illinois voted on moving forward with the A17.1 2022 elevator code. This code could be adopted in 6-12 months by the state. Nothing is certain with the process in Springfield but that is the guess by the Board. When it does pass, there will be further safety requirements, for example pressure sensitive pit ladders and a breaker box in the machine room. Stay tuned - we'll include more information in a future blog.

2. A proposal to address our temporary acceptance challenge was suggested for denial by the Board. This mainly affects elevators being placed in service after an installation or modernization. Since temporary acceptance is not permitted, even minor violations (those that do not affect the safety of the riding public), will prevent the elevator's usage. See the above pdf for proposed language that was discussed.

3. Use of a secondary stopping mechanism, the Hydra Safe Brake, was approved pending certification by CSA (Canadian Standards Association).

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

 
Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.