Year in reflection – Colley Elevator Blog – 2021 Elevator Blog

 

When I wrote the 2020 reflection I thought we might be out of the woods with our pandemic but as I write this we have 510,000 positive covid cases on 12/27/21. In the last year we had the opportunity to do some great things and work with some great people.  The greatest experience I have personally have is to work with our great Colley team, I’m lucky to have such great people around as we enter our 114^th year of being an independent elevator contractor.

Annual reflection – This year we saw our maintenance portfolio grow from 1850 to 2020 elevators under contract. This year we ordered/installed 61 Smartrise controller and 4 MCE controllers.  23 cylinders where installed, 37 power units, 74 door packages, 50+ fixture packages, a few machines and a few complete elevators.  We have a team of great people working on every project to make sure when the product gets here, we have minimum issues from engineering.  Colley expanded our foot print in Bensenville by leasing 12,000 more square feet next door. We gave the 2021 Ellies a great run but did not retain the title, the title went to our great friends at Midwest Elevator in St. Louis, MO.  Colley started a great new program called, Colley Cares, which gave out over $12,000 to philanthropic organizations ranging from substance abuse to food depositories.  The Colley team came together to help out Toys for Tots and a Food Depository this fall/winter with a truck load of gifts and food to help out those in need.  We work with incredible people who made this all happen and our average employment is about 10 years. I’m proud to work side by side with everyone here and that we have a culture of openness at Colley that helps get everyone done at a high level! Thank you to our coworkers, customers & suppliers for being great!

Elevator personnel during covid – There is something to be said for all the elevator mechanics, apprentices and support staff who continues to go to work during the pandemic.  Much appreciation and credit for elevator personnel team and our great office staff who showed up and did their job when there was a reason to go and hide.

Post reflection – Take a look at the great catalog of blog posts in 2021, go back and read some.

1/1/21 - Year in reflection – Colley Elevator blog – 2020 Elevator blog

1/10/21 - Otis Elevator Company recalls home elevators – U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

1/17/21 – Attention property managers/building owners – application for certificate of operation

1/24/21 – Hydraulic elevator modernization – Forest Park, IL

1/31/21 – Elevator sump pump – water in my elevator pit!

2/6/21 – Elevator picture Hall of Fame 2020 – Superbowl of Elevators!

2/14/21 – Elevator World – Preventative maintenance – is technology a complement or substitute

2/21/21 – LULA lift new construction – 500 N. Michigan – Chicago, IL

2/28/21 – Support for the Family of Joseph Rosa – Elevator Accident/death NYC

3/7/21 – Elevator pit and hoistway access is limited to authorized individuals

3/14/21 – Colley Cares – Colley Elevator gives back

3/21/21 – Elevator World Chicago Issue – Not just for Code Compliance – Elevator solid state starters

3/28/21 – Hydraulic elevator control modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

4/4/21 – Elevator disconnect auxiliary contacts – Elevator controller emergency battery lowering

4/11/21 – American Elevator Group

4/18/21 – 2020 Top OSHA violations – Elevator Industry stay frosty

4/25/21 – Guided tour of Chicago – Elevator project tour

5/2/21 – Colley Cares – Donation update

5/16/21 – City of Chicago Fireman’s Emergency operation [FEO] Phase 2 mandate

5/23/21 – IBM Relays – Dover Elevators US Elevators

5/29/21 – Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Oak Park, IL

6/6/21 – Wisconsin Elevator symposium – QEI training

6/13/21 – Hot and Humid elevator control rooms – How does it affect my elevator?

6/18/21 – State of Illinois Fire Marshal moves to ASME A17.1 2019 Elevator code

6/27/21 – Hydraulic elevator modernization – Chicago, IL

7/5/21 – Colley Elevator featured in Community Associations Institute Summer Magazine

7/9/21 – Property Manager Lunch & Learn – Elevator 101

7/17/21 – End of Life/Obsolete Elevator Equipment – Dover DMC Elevator

7/25/21 – Elevator picture hall of fame – Volume 1 – 2021

8/9/21 – Elevator Worlds 2021 Ellies – Best Contractor North – Colley Elevator

8/16/21 – Colley Cares – 2^nd Quarter update

8/22/21 – One last chance to vote – Elevator Worlds 2021 Ellies

9/6/21 – Elevator IOT correlation – tracker & cylinder gland packing – Labor day

9/12/21 – Hydraulic Elevator Modernization – Arlington Heights, IL

9/19/21 – State of Illinois 5 year elevator fireman’s recall A17.1 2019 Code modification

9/26/21 – Elevator code changes – Continuing education – State of Illinois

10/11/21 – NACE 72^nd Annual Convention – New Orleans

10/18/21 – Colley Elevator’s Holiday Challenge – It just takes a box

10/24/21 – Maxton Valve continuing education – Colley Elevator

10/31/21 – Traction elevator 4 car modernization – Chicago, IL

11/5/21 – Community Association Institute of Illinois – CAI – Toys for Tots & food bank

11/14/21 – Colley Cares – Colley gives back – 3^rd Quarter

11/21/21 – Hydraulic elevator control modernization – Glen Ellyn, IL – US Elevator

12/8/21 – Hydraulic elevator control modernization – Des Plaines, IL

12/19/21 – Elevator electrical, fire alarm & other work by othters[WBO] – Elevator modernization

Blog reflection – 45 posts in 2021[that is a lot of words, pictures and time], over 34,000 views, over 169,448 views in the blog’s history.  

Thank you for everyone who took the time to read the blog.  My challenge for you in 2022 is to make an impact in someone’s life, do something great.  Move outside your comfort zone.  Turn off the TV, computer or your phone and spend time with a person or call someone you haven’t talked to in a while.  The last two years have been a very lonely time for many people and together we should be raising each other up.  Lets make 2022 a great year and I wish you and your families the best and look forward to working with you in the New Year.

Hey! Sign up for our mailing list! 

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 Electrical, Fire Alarm & Other Work By Others [WBO] – Elevator Modernization

Over the last two months we have had a large amount of questions on the typical WBO, or work by other, scope for elevator modernizations. This is a relatively comprehensive WBO list that should work for 95% of the projects Colley works on.

Elevator Electrical

The elevator electrical is as follows:

• Heavy duty fused main line disconnect w/earth ground.
• If battery lowering is present, have auxiliary contacts installed.
• If building generator that powers elevator is installed, have wires from generator to elevator controller for emergency power contact and power pre-transfer contact.

Shunt Trip Disconnect System

Shunt trip disconnect is required on any new or existing elevator where a sprinkler is located at the top of the hoistway or in the machine room. Note that a properly located sprinkler in the pit only, will not cause shunt trip disconnect to be required.

Non-sprinklered elevators will not have a shunt trip disconnect system.

The shunt trip disconnect is as follows:

• Must cause disconnection of normal power and emergency/stand-by power.
• It must also cause disconnection of any internal auxiliary power operations, such as battery lowering devices, on hydraulic elevators or anti-entrapment (TAP) devices on traction elevators if so equipped. The shunt trip disconnect must have a set of contacts that signal the control system to prevent movement of the elevator.
• Power to and operation of the shunt trip shall be independent of the elevator control and shall not be self-resetting.
• Location of the shunt trip disconnect is not specified by code. Shunt trip disconnect can be in a fire command center, elevator machine room, electrical room, or other location. If in the machine room, it may be combined with the main disconnect.
• City of Chicago discourages shunt trips[check with DOB prior to installation]

[Separate disconnect & shut works]

[Combo unit works]

110 VAC Car Lighting Disconnect

Car lighting disconnects are as follows:

Single non GFCIs outlet for sumps.

Adequate lighting in pit and machine room – 4’ LEDS work great for the pit.

Pit light switch accessible & adjacent from hoist way door.

Duplex GFCI protected outlet in pit area and machine room

*All items must comply with NEC section 620 – pay mind to electrical clearance requirements and label sources.

GFCI’s in the elevator machine room and pit

Elevator Fire Alarms – Fire Alarm Initiating Devices (FAIDs)

These shall be installed as follows:

• Fire recall detectors at each landing.
• Smoke detectors on ceilings must be at least 4” from the wall.
• Smoke detectors on walls must be between 4” and 12” from ceiling (see image) 

 Fire recall detector in the elevator machine room

Fire recall relays in elevator machine room

Fire recall detectors are required at the top of the hoist way when either a sprinkler is present or the passenger cab is not fire rated. If a cab is not fire rated, you can also get fire resistant paint instead of installing sprinklers.

NO smoke detectors shall be provided in the elevator per NFPA 72.

If a sprinkler is 24” above pit floor you must provide a heat detector – if you provide a heat detector, you must provide a smoke detector.  If sprinklers are 24" above pit floor you may be required to move them to below 24"[address with AHJ prior to installation].

Heat detector must be located within 24” of a sprinkler.

*all items shall comply with NFPA 72 or local AHJ rule or funding entity rule such as IDPH or other authorities that may require rules that may be different than NFPA or NEC requirements. If you don’t know, find out.


Other items we may need a building to provide include:

• A fire rated machine room & hoistway
• Fire rated doors – labeled w/rating
• Self closing self locking machine room door
• 12” x 12” fused louver ventilation in machine room (see image)
• Internet connectivity – a CAT 5 cable for elevator camera and texting if the building is located in the suburbs (not City of Chicago) to comply with A17.1 2019 audio/visual code requirements
• Temperature and humidity controlled machine/control rooms – 55 to 80 degrees & 0 to 85% humidity

Take away – Educate yourself on the work by others so when we have your elevator inspected, we can have a cleaner inspection and less items on the punch list. These are easy ones to address before, during or shortly after a modernization is completed.

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 Control Modernization – Des Plaines, IL

A property management firm we work with called us for a building they take care of that was considering modernization on their elevator equipment.  I started giving the building pricing in 2005 for maintenance and other work. When we went to the building we saw they had a Vertitron VH 40 controller that is obsolete and gave them a recommendation to modernize. A few months later we were invited to the building and had a great meeting with the Condominium Board.  We were fortunate enough to be awarded the project.

Existing elevator & project scope – We replaced the elevator controls, fixtures, wiring and door operator. The building retained a great power unit from our friends at Quality Elevator that was still in good condition. 

[Old elevator machine room]

[New elevator machine room]

New equipment providers

Controllers – Smartrise Engineering

Door operators – GAL MOVFR

Fixtures – Innovation Industries

Elevator controllers – The existing controller was a hydraulic elevator controller manufactured by Vertitron Midwest – Mankato, MN in 1995.  This elevator system is not supported any longer[obsolete] and is a coin flip if the boards can be repaired.  We replaced it with a Smartrise Engineering hydraulic elevator controller.

[Old Vertitron Midwest VH 40 hydraulic elevator controller]

[New Smartrise Engineering hydraulic elevator controller]

Elevator door operators – We replaced the MAC door operator with a GAL MOVFR II door operator and replaced all the hatch and door equipment while retaining the door tracks.

[Old elevator car top - pre modernization]

[Post modernization elevator car top]

Elevator fixtures – We installed Innovation Industries hall and car fixtures which was a good upgrade cosmetically for the building.  This car station is equiped with the new State of Illinois adopted A17.1 2019 code which requires visual items; camera & texting.

[Old elevator car station buttons]

[New Innovation Industries elevator car station push buttons]

[Old elevator main lobby elevator push buttons - NON ADA height]

[New elevator main lobby elevator push buttons -  ADA height]

Hydraulic power unit – One of the only good things the existing elevator had going for it was the Quality Elevator power unit installed in 2008.  We opted to retain this piece of equipment as it was in good condition.

[Existing Quality Elevator hydraulic power unit]

Take away – Importance of having a board meeting – One of the greatest things about this project was having a meeting with the Board prior to the signing of the modernization proposal.  We spent about an hour talking through the process and answering questions.  When it came time to mobilize everyone on the board was ready and educated.  When we turned the car over, they knew what to expect.   I encourage all buildings to have a meeting with the key players in the building so you can go over expectations, challenges, work by others and anything else that is topical to the building.  It makes a project go much smoother.

Team work– The sales person and the project team who finishes typically get the glory on a project.  In between the initial contract sale and the final acceptance are many other people who work on the project to make it successful.  From the truck driver to the engineer to the billing department to the assist when needed 9 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!

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.