Elevator Job Site Hall of Fame – Class of 2019[1st ½ of year]

Please find the class of 2019 elevator job site hall of fame photos from the first ½ of the year.  As we go through the bidding process we pluck photos to go in our "hall of fame" of elevators we will never forget.

I call this one 14 buckets.  I went into a machine room to give a building a price on an elevator cylinder and saw this.  14 buckets and a 55 gallon drum.  While alarming that a building would have 14 empty 5 gallon buckets and a 55 gallon drum, it was almost more alarming to me when I looked at the label on some of the buckets that they were sent by FedEx. Who FedExs hydraulic fluid?

When I was in Scotland I visited something called the “Disgrace of Scotland” in Edinborough.  The Scots started building a monument designed after the Parthenon, but, they ran out of money.  This controller should be called “Disgrace of the Elevator Industry”.  A building owner paid good money for an elevator controller and this is what they got. 

I got a text from a mechanic I work with and I thought he was kidding. 

This could be done better.

I’m not sure what happened here.  We know where the oil leak monitor will be and we know how much conduit we will need.   We also should know the extent that we can use Greenfield.

We do a lot of hydraulic piping and I know all situations are not perfect and have challenges, but…

180 degrees of additional resistance in the line that is unnecessary.

Once upon a time we engineered projects from our desk.  We don’t engineer projects from our desk anymore.  This equipment replacement was engineered from someone’s desk.

Could this be Dexter or Patrick Bateman’s elevator or this elevator is going to the Blueman Group or Gwar and sitting in the front row?

 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.

A17.1 2016 Elevator Code – Hoistway Access

Prior to the 2016 A17.1 code we would see hoistway access in many different places; hall stations, door frames top, door frames bottom, next to elevator, etc.  The code committee change this with the 2016 of the elevator code for new construction or modernization.  There are strict requirements for location per 2.12.7.2.1.  Important that everyone that has moved or will be moving towards the adoption understands.  The City of Chicago is on 2016 code.  The State of Illinois is on 2013 currently but will be on 2016 after adoption takes place... oi

1.    48” to 72” above floor measured to the centerline of the switch

2.    On the wall outside of the hoistway within 12” of the entrance frame

3.    On the hoistway entrance frame or jamb

4.    On the sight guard

           

Here are a few examples of what will work and what will not work

[This access station is not 48" above AFF - No Good]

[This Hall station is within 12" of frame but when we ordered it we had to extend the height to accommodate the 48" to 72"]

[This access station is more than 12" from both door frames - No good for A17.1 2016]

Take away – While this isn’t a huge deal for any modernization or new construction, it does force us to pay a little more attention to the design of our fixtures.  If you do not pay attention to the code change it will cost a little bit to comply and you will have frustrated elevator field personnel.

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 Elevators – Elevator Braille mandate

We have another mandate in the State of Illinois for elevators, this time it is Braille.  Please read below.  Our two largest inspection agencies are writing up buildings.  To date most inspectors are writing "by next visit".  Here are what the expectations are.

a.    New elevators for which building permits are issue after the effective date of this Act or October 1, 1977, whichever date is later – immediately

b.    Existing elevators undergoing renovations of the control panel for which building permits are issued after the effective date of this Act or October 1, 1977.  Whichever date is later – Immediately;

c.    Existing elevators no undergoing renovation, the ealier of:

1.    90 days after the effective date of the Federal standards governing elevator control markings applicable to privately owned buildings, or

2.    June 30, 1980

 Braille requirements

Hoistway entrances – 4.10.5 – All elevator hoistway entrances shall have raised and Braille floor designations provided on both jambs.  The centerline of the characters shall be 60 in above finish floor.  Such characters shall be 2” high and shall comply with 4.30.4.  Permanently applied plates are acceptable if they are permanently fixed to the jambs.

Car controls – Tactile, Braille, and visual control indicators.  All control buttons shall be designate by Braille and by raised standard alphabet characters for letters, Arabic characters for numerals, or standard symbols as shown by Fig 23a, and as required by ASME A17.1.  Raised and Braille characters and symbols shall comply with 4.30.  The call button for the main entry floor shall be designated by a raised star at the left of the floor designation.  All raised designations for control buttons shall be placed immediately to the left of the button to which they apply.  Applied plates, permanently attached, are an acceptable means to provided raised control designations.  Car control Braille shall be 16mm on the symbol with with a 4.8mm space then Braille below.

Take away – Put your Braille up.  The Braille isn’t expensive and it is a good idea in general to make a building more accessible per ADA rules.  There are certain requirements for size and composition of elevator Braille.  For more information on this contact your elevator contractor.

References – A117.1, A17.1, ADA code book, State of Illinois ACT 410 ILCS 30/0.01

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.

Chicago elevators in the news

About once a year we would see a network do a feature on elevators in the Chicago area.  Over the last 2 months we have had 3 features by 3 different network news.    It is always interesting how the news portrays our industry and sides of the stories.  Take a look at each feature, they are interesting.

The first feature is a good one about ages of elevators and the requirements to maintain them and replace equipment.  John Valone of IUEC Local #2 did a great job working with WGN on this one.  I have this conversation with building owners frequently, If your elevator is over 30 years old your reliability expectations should be adjusted and building’s should be planning on equipment replacement.

https://wgntv.com/2019/04/29/elevator-upkeep-concerns-rise-as-the-numbers-in-the-city-go-up/

The second feature is about an incident at the Hancock building that occurred a few months ago.  Everyone involved in the interviews appeared to be knowledgeable and well informed.  Good to see.

https://abc7chicago.com/former-hancock-building-broken-elevator-cable-never-caused-freefall-inspection-report-says/5264740/

The third feature is about a building next door to a building we are modernizing that had their elevator shut down for 4-5 months.  The interesting part of the whole feature is that this is a condominium, the people interviewed own the building but do not know what is going on, which is concerning.  We actually bid this project and the building paid 20%-30% to work with another firm and the project is just now being completed.  This is a 6 story building that was with out an elevator for 4-5 months.  That is also concerning.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/on-air/as-seen-on/responds-des-plaines-residents-affected-by-broken-elevators-505384322.html

All three segments where well done and interesting to see our industry in the news.

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.