Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Chicago, IL

 

Long before the pandemic we started working with a movie theatre in Chicago about modernizing their elevators to comply with the 2017 Chicago Fireman’s Phase II mandate.  An elevator company to remain nameless attempted doing overlay panels and did not have the best results.  The car featured wasn't required to have an FEO update but it's controller boards are becoming obsolete.

Existing elevator & project scope – The project scope for this elevator was to replace the controller and fixtures to comply with the City of Chicago Fireman’s service Phase II mandate on their 4 garage elevators, the lobby elevator did not have Phase II but the controller boards are being phased out.  We replaced their hydraulic power unit and door operator as well to give the elevator 20-30 years of additional life.

New equipment providers

Controllers – Smartrise Engineering

Power units – Minnesota Elevator w/Maxton UC4 valve

Door operators – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Elevator Controller – The existing Dover DMC elevator controller was replaced with a Smartrise Engineering controller.  The Dover DMC controller and ancillary boards are becoming obsolete.

[Great Dover DMC Elevator Controller]

[Replaced with Smartrise Engineering controller]

Machine room– The machine room was a typical Dover DMC set up, good space, ready for a relatively easy “work by others” scope due to the age of the equipment.

[Machine room layout prior to modernization]

[New machine room layout]

Door operators – The elevator had a Dover Elevator door operator on it prior to the modernization and replaced with a GAL MOVFR.

 

[Dover Elevator door operator prior to modernization]

[New GAL MOVFR door operator]

Elevator fixtures – The old Dover Impulse fixtures are replaced with new code compliant Innovation Industries elevator fixtures. 

[Dover Elevator Impulse car statoin]

[New Innovation Industries elevator car station]

Elevator Pit – A good cleaning and nice paint job done by our project team!  Great finishing touch!

 

[Elevator pit prior to modernization]

[Elevator pit after modernization]

Take away – All elevator modernizations are not completed due to “end of life” considerations.  This project is a mixed bag, we have 4 elevator controllers being replaced for FEO considerations and the car pictured is being replaced to stay ahead of the Obsolescence curve. 

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 Marshall Moves to ASME A17.1 2019 Elevator Code

After a long wait, the State of Illinois has moved to the A17.1 2019 elevator code.  While a very big surprise to most contractors and inspectors to find it was adopted for permits after May 25^th, 2021, it is now in the books.   Contractors and Inspectors received notification on 6/18/21 of the change via mail. 

 

What does it mean?  The biggest changes in the A17.1 2019 code affects elevators that are new or modernized after its enforcement date. Ultimately it means the cost of a modernization/new construction project has just gone up by a few thousand dollars per elevator.

The biggest changes include:

• A video phone with touch screen communication for hard of hearing passengers. A flyer from one of our preferred vendors, Innovation Industries, illustrates this.
• 3D door scans to better protect the entrance. Click to read more about traditional door scans as well as the enhanced 3D version.
• The addition of an access panel for fire safety professionals. For more information, please contact your fire prevention vendor[non mandatory].

[Innovation's solution]

City of Chicago – You are still on the A17.1 2016 code.  This does not apply to you. 

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.

Hot and Humid Elevator Control Rooms - How Does it Affect my Elevator?

 

We have had some blistering hot and humid days, that hit all of a sudden, and have gotten a lot of calls from equipment failure due to hot weather, no ventilation, controller failure, relay failure, door operator failure, motor failure, etc. Our elevator mechanics have been chasing calls since the heatwave began.  The original post was from 2017, reposted in 2018 and now edited for 2021.

This summer we have seen more frequent failure of solid state boards and equipment that has been exposed to extreme heat and cold.  Building owners frequently ask “why is this occurring”.   I always like to give some research and background when explaining to building owners, so they can be better educated, and came across a great article which I have taken some of the high points.  When reading this be aware that most issues with machine room environments will result in a shut down or needing a replacement board, but, incorrect machine temperatures can also cause malfunctions which could result in an elevator operating in an unsafe condition.

The subject of the operation of an elevator in an elevated high ambient machine room temperature is one of concern for elevator manufacturers, code writes, enforcing authorities, building owners and operators, elevator consultants and fire safety personnel.  Today’s solid-state design elevator control systems are able to maintain rated performance over a wide range of normal design operating temperatures but are vulnerable to elevated temperature conditions.

NEII Vertical Transportation Standard calls for machine room/or machinery spaced temperature to be between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

NEMA has established a maximum temperature limit of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

National Electrical Code[NEC] has published 86 degrees Fahrenheit as the standard ambient for conductor ampacity ratings.

Computer manufacturers recommend an ambient temperature of 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  Your elevator's microprocessor controller is a computer.

The effects on solid state components due to temperature may be classified in two areas; operating[reliability] and failure[life].  The manufacturer's recommendation for ambient temperature will allow the devices to operate in a repeatable and predictable fashion.  Temperatures above or below the recommended temperature will decrease the life of the solid-state system. 

Please note - Elevator controller temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees warmer inside the controller with the cover on. If an elevator machine room is 105 degrees, the temperature when you open the door to the controller could be over 120 degrees.

Causes of machine room over temperature

1.   Failure of machine room ventilation or no ventilation

2.   Failure of cabinet ventilation system – air condition or fan

3.   Increase in the elevator duty cycle beyond design criteria

4.   Sustained operation at low AC input levels

The recommendation of machine room temperature control comes from a few different areas

1.   Normal temperature in room – in Chicago we have hot summers and cold winters

2.   Amount of heat released from the elevator equipment in the machine room – depends on the equipment you have and amount of traffic in the building

3.   Amount of ventilation and/or air conditioning/heating provided in machine room.

Take away – Be aware of the machine room environment and make preparations i.e. air conditioning[best case] or ventilation in summer and heating in the winter.

Reference – “High temperature operation of elevators” by Nick Marchitto 

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.

Wisconsin Elevator symposium – QEI training

It’s back!  NAESA’s QEI continuing education training at the wonderful Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI will be in person.  NAESA is a wonderful organization and I personally am a member and will be trying to attend this session.  This symposium features all of the CEUs you need to keep up your QEI but also has exhibitors.  The CEUs are good for QEI and most State requirements for mechanics cards.  From my experience you do learn from the presenters but you learn the most from the person sitting next to you, the person at the reception you talk to, etc, its the networking that really provides the value in these events. 

Education topics

Underwriters Laboratories and the elevating devices

Wisconsin updates

New to know about two way communication in the 2019 code

Traveling cables

LULA and residential update

Inspection, testing and code requirements for MRLs

Elevator safety, inspection techniques and observing deficiencies during inspections

Rack and pinion hoists

For more info on NAESA - https://naesai.org/

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.