Elevator Code Changes – Continuing Education – State of Illinois

 

We recently had our elevator code update continuing education class and here are some of the items that stuck out when reviewing the 2019 code books.  These 10 hours are one of the highlights of my year.  While listening to a code class for 10 hours is long, we learn so much and we learn more when we all share our experiences.  These are a few snippets from my notes, some are not new code items but good to remember.  

A17.1 – 2019 – New Construction & Modernization

Hoistway access switches - between 48” and 72” AFF[2016 requirement] within 12” of hoistway door frame

Reopening devices for power sliding doors and gates -  3D door screens – The device shall be effective while the doors are closing to within 18” or less of the fully closed position.

Emergencyoperation and signaling devices – requirements for a means for emergency personnel within the building to utilize the car station display (for texting) and a car station camera (for visual confirmation) for buildings with a travel of 60 ft or more. 

A17.3 – 2019 – Existing Elevators

Hoistways - The hoistway does not need to be fire-rated if it was not required when the building was erected.

Hoistway entrances – Vertical door applications shall have a fire-resistant, non-shearing, non-crushing astragal on the full width of the upper panel. 

Hoistway door locking devices, parking devices and access - Every passenger elevator shall have a door restrictor which limits the opening of the door 4” when the elevator is outside the locking zone (not more than 18”). 

Counterweights - All counterweights shall be designed so that the weights cannot be dislodged at any time. 

Car frame and platforms - Wood platforms are permitted for capacities up to 5,000 pounds. 

Protection of platforms against fire - Wooden platforms shall either have a sheet metal bottom or be painted with an approved fire-retardant paint.

Car enclosures - Car door interlocks shall be provided when the running clearance exceeds the minimum requirements.

Governor rope - Governor ropes shall be minimum 3/8”, be manufactured with metal and have regular lay. 

Capacity & loading - The minimum rated load shall be no less than 50 pounds per square foot, passenger elevators – 110lbs.

Operating and control equipment - The disconnect shall be in sight of the controller and either the motor-generator set or the hoist machine.  A remote manual switch shall be provided to prevent starting when proper line of sight is not provided for all three.

Driving machines – Hydraulic elevator - Designs which have a portion of the cylinder not exposed and do not have a safety bulkhead shall have one of the following:

• Monitored cathodic protection
• Proper cylinder coating.
• PVC casing.
• Or a Life Jacket, safety device or equivalent.

Always learning – Here is my little sales pitch for everyone about life long learning.  When you learn, you take a job, the job becomes a career, the career becomes a passion.  If you work in a place or industry that you are passionate about you no longer count the hours, days, etc because you are good at what you do and love it.  It doesn’t matter if you are an ice cream scooper or a CEO of a multinational firm, we all need to keep learning.  Try not to be the person who hasn’t learned anything since they graduated high school, this person refuses to do anything to enrich themselves and becomes angry about their position in life.  You!  And only You!  Can make a difference in your life.   We do not need anyone else from Mordor.

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 5 Year Elevator Fireman’s Recall A17.1 2019 Code Modification Requirement

I’ve been talking to a lot of people on this new item.  Yes, if you have smoke detectors tied into the elevator system you will need to have them tested once every 5 years and witnessed by an elevator inspector.  This is a big splash item that will provide challenges for our industry, building owners and fire alarm companies.  City of Chicago is excluded from this mandate.

 

Section 1000.60 Adoption of Nationally Recognized Safety Codes

i)             Modification: Witnessing of Initiating Devices for Fireman’s Emergency Operation. 

All initiating devices for all elevators shall be tested every 5 years. The test shall be witnessed by an elevator inspector. Documentation of the results of the testing of initiating devices must be kept on site in the maintenance records. All hydraulic elevators shall have this documentation completed no later than December 31, 2023. All traction elevators shall have this documentation completed at the time of their first Category 5 test after January 1, 2023. After the initial test, subsequent tests of the elevator’s initiating devices shall be conducted no later than 5 years after the date of the last test

Hydraulic elevators – Will require all of the elevator smoke detectors that are tied into the elevator tested prior to 12/31/23 and witnessed by an elevator inspector.

Traction elevators – Will require to have the fire testing be part of the CAT 5 testing after January 1^st, 2023.

Challenges – We have a few challenges to contend with in the next few years.  

Coordination - the biggest challenge is coordinating the elevator mechanic, elevator inspector and fire company onsite at the same time.  Frequently we do have challenges with having the fire company show up on the same time and same date.  Fire companies are busy too and have emergencies that prevent them from making it to our appointments.

Elevator inspector supply – We love our elevator inspectors but we have a limited number of elevator inspectors and adding another testing requirement will limit the amount of testing we can accomplish in a day because we have coordination challenges with different fire companies at different buildings.

Additional costs to buildings – The building will have to pay additional fees to elevator companies, elevator inspectors and fire companies.  Typically the additional fees will be one hour for the elevator contractor and elevator inspector and the cost for the fire companies visit. 

We have our fire devices already tested once a year – This is going to be a common comment by building owners and property managers.  This may be true, you are correct, but the rule is written to include an elevator inspector, that means, we will need an elevator inspector to witness this test, not just the elevator company and fire company. 

What to do – We will be moving forward to work with our inspection companies to start getting a jump on this testing and trying to make it as painless as possible.  There are pain points, logistic challenges and good questions many people may have. For now, these are the rules let’s take action and make some good progress.

Is this a good thing? Absolutely a good thing to test your fire recall devices on a regular basis.

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.

Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

 

This is from a building we are doing a series of modernizations because the town mandated all elevators have fireman’s recall.  The elevator is from the late 1960’s and generally performed well for being 50+ years old.  We did have spotty issues now and then but nothing significant.  This is a pretty standard/vanilla hydraulic elevator modernization.

Existing elevator & project scope – The elevator got a new controller, fixtures and door operator.  The elevator’s hydraulic power unit was replaced 10+ years ago and is in fair condition and was able to be retained.

New equipment providers

Controllers – Smartrise Engineering

Door operator – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Elevator controller – The machine room had an ESCO Elevator controller from the late 1960’s.  The main issue with this controller is the relay logic system and older relays and bases that would cause problems from time to time and, at times, difficult to isolate as the issues only occurred when the circuits heated up.

 [Old ESCO Elevator controller]

[New Smartrise Engineering elevator controller]

Door operators – The elevator had a GAL MOD on it prior to the modernization and replaced with a GAL MOVFR. 

[Old GAL MOD door operator]

[New GAL MOVFR Door operator w/updated car top]

[New GAL MOVFR door operator]

Elevator fixtures – The old ESCO fixtures are replaced with new code compliant Innovation Industries elevator fixtures.  We had to relocated the fixtures from the side wall to the return because our brace rod would be in the way and, buttons should go in the return.

[Old ESCO Elevator car station]

[New Innovation Industries car station - ADA compliant A17.1 2013 code]

[Old ESCO Elevator main landing push button]

[New Innovation Industries main landing car station - A17.1 2013 code]

Take away – The building had planned to modernize all of their elevators to comply with the Fire Department’s mandate and have completed a modernization per year until all of the elevators are replaced.

Colley Strong – While the sales person sells it, project team installs it, there are 13 Colley employees in the back ground from first phone call to final inspection that where part of this project.  It takes a great team to make even the most vanilla of elevator modernizations successful.  Thank you to everyone involved!

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.

Elevator IoT Correlation – Tracker & Cylinder Gland Packing - Labor Day

 

This week we had an emergency packing replacement on an elevator.  Bad timing since there was a component failure with a building full of people who needed to use the elevator. 

After we arrived at the building with parts, we looked at the OEM packing and wondered if it was a space age material or just made with being economically conscience in mind.  I saw the old packing and it was falling apart; the new one will eventually too.  This is a pretty run of the mill elevator with no concerning environmental issues and is low to mid usage.  The elevator was installed less than 5 years ago and had a CAT 1 test completed recently.  The CAT 1 test most likely damaged the packing.

[Damaged cylinder gland packing]

After commenting on the packing not lasting 5 years, and the unique properties of the packing material, I did notice a tracking device that picks up data and helps with predictive modeling of elevator shut downs.  It is an interesting concept, predictive modeling and elevator reliability, sounds pretty good!  Right? 

[This is the antenna that communicates elevator information]

[This is the device that replaces labor hours and visits to your building]

There is a correlation between the packing and the tracker.  Our general focus as an elevator industry has been shifting away from being the premiere service provider in the trades.  The elevator industry was the first group to offer mechanical insurance, with a full maintenance agreement, on equipment.  We have shifted away from providing a great service to providing a product that is getting thinner and thinner with less and less people to provide great service.  Our products are going from the elevator being a building item that lasts many many years to one that has parts failing quickly or going obsolete.  We are removing labor hours away from elevator maintenance and replacing it with an antenna that will tell you when your elevator will fail.  

In most cases the building will call the service provider before the antenna works.  The antenna only works if there is enough elevator personnel to get to the buildings to address the issues before they cause shut downs.  Instead of the building manager calling XYZ multinational company to say my elevator is broken at 10am and hearing “this will be an overtime call”, will the antenna have XYZ multinational company call the customer and say “It is 9am and your elevator will be breaking down shortly, would you like to schedule overtime service as we do not have enough people to make it to your building during normal working hours”?  

This repair was completed the same day as the failure by an independent elevator company.  Something to think about when an intergalactic multinational OEM sales person discusses the internet of things and predictive modeling for equipment maintenance or replacement.

Join the revolution!  Go independent!  Make elevator maintenance & repair great again!

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.