May 13, 2008

By Patrick Butler – Pioneer Press Local Web Site

The River Forest Village Board on Monday voted unanimously to support legislation sponsored by state Sen. Don Harmon (D-39th) exempting residential buildings from “the more onerous” provisions of the state elevator safety code, provided public safety would not be compromised.

Harmon’s measure would give every other community in the state the same exemption Chicago already enjoys, the resolution’s supporters pointed out.

On the books since 2003, the regulations would require major elevator cab, door and communications system upgrades by next year, with more extensive improvements in the elevators’ hydraulic systems by 2011, a number of condo and apartment building owners complained at a public hearing last month.

Resident Barbara Langer said it would cost about $83,000 for her condo building to put in an elevator that meets state requirements. Resident Al Popowits said it would cost $130,000 to fix the two elevators in his 30-unit building even though they “work just fine.”

Harmon’s bill could come up for a vote in the Legislature as early as this week, according to Village Trustee Russ Nummer.

Trustees on Monday also adopted a new building code, without earlier provisions that would have required radio amplifiers be installed in all multi-unit buildings so emergency personnel can communicate better. They also left out a provision that smoke detector systems in buildings of three or more units be directly connected to the West Suburban Dispatch Center.

Still included in the new building regulations is a requirement that sprinkler systems be installed in renovated areas amounting to half or more of a home or apartment’s total floor area.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/riverforest/news/946427,RF-Trustees-051308-sl.article

Special thanks to Dick Gregory who has been serving on the Elevator Safety Board and giving updates on meetings that have been held.  During the February CEA meeting Dick informed us that the next Elevator Safety Board meeting is scheduled for February 14th in Springfield.  Anyone who would like to share their comments and concerns with the board is welcomed to attend the meeting.

A motion was passed in which a letter be sent on behalf our state licensed contractor member’s of the Chicago Elevator Association to Mr. Robert Capuani before the meeting. This letter has been sent certified mail and a copy attached below.  In a nutshell the position that is outlined in the letter is to allow state-licensed QEI employees of state-licensed elevator companies to temporarily witness periodic hydraulic pressure testing until December 31st, 2008.  This would give the Elevator Safety Board more time in coming up with a solution to the lack of Elevator Inspectors available.

Thanks to Tom Jackson, Gary Schreiber, Craig Zomchek and Tom Przybyla for working on the letter and sending it out!

Click The Link To View The Letter That Was Sent: ceasafetytest.pdf

Make sure you mark your calendars as we have two great presentations coming up in February and March. At this time they will both be held at Marcello’s Restaurant in Chicago the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Come join us for some great food, camaraderie and to catch up on what’s happening in the Chicago Area.

• February 7th – 2008– Kevin Flotten, from EMS Freight Doors will show their new installation DVD and talk about the installation of their freight door systems. The presentation will be more technical than sales oriented making it idea for anyone at your company looking to learn more about freight elevator doors, how they work and general installation techniques. A must for your sales team or any one in your company who you would like to learn a little more about elevator freight doors.  Thanks to EMS Freight Doors for coming in from St. Louis to present.
• March 6th – 2008 –John Omorean, from G & R Elevator Manufacturing will present on a topic that many of us deal with a lot. John’s presentation title is Elevator Cab and Entrance Modernization in a Changing World! Topics of discussion will include; Survey Information and data requirements, communication requirements, weight factors – 5% rule – out and in materials, interior design applications and retro-fit versus new installations.  This will also be a great presentation to attend for every elevator professional! Thanks to G & R Elevator Manufacturing for coming in to present.
• April 3rd – 2008 – Pat Tobin, from Minnesota Elevator Inc. will present on all the products that MEI offers. More on his presentation topic will follow in the upcoming months.  Thanks to MEI for coming in to present!

At this time the officers have submitted the application and presentation outlines to get February and Marches presentations CET Accredited by the NAEC.  We will notify everyone when we receive confirmation that the presentations are accepted as CET courses and for the number of credit hours. We plan on submitting the presentation that will be provided in April as well.

We hope that you take advantage of attending each months meeting and look forward to seeing you!

*Please note that times and locations may change.  We will notify you if they do.

I found this article on the Beacon News Source. Please be aware of it if you have any service contracts in the Aurora Area. Also keep in mind that some phone numbers in the 708 area code require that the 708 prefix is dialed before the main number. Not all numbers are like this so make sure your emergency telephones are programmed properly.

December 9, 2007

By Dan Campana Staff Writer

AURORA — On one hand, there’s the inconvenience of dialing 11 digits since the October debut of the 630 area code’s new overlay code.

On the other hand, there’s the problem of getting stuck in an elevator with an inoperable phone because it didn’t know it had to dial “1-630.”

City officials are hoping to avoid the latter with a recent mass mailing to owners of buildings with elevators, reminding them that the emergency phones in the elevators have to be reprogrammed.

“It’s something we were made aware of after the fact,” Aurora Fire Marshal Gary Pozzi said of the overlay’s effect on elevator phones.

Since the 331 overlay arrived in October, requiring 630-ers to make their fingers do a little more walking, no elevator incidents have been reported, Pozzi said.

About 300 letters went out recently to the owners of approximately 500 elevators. It urges those with elevators to have the phones reprogrammed immediately to avoid fines associated with a failed inspections, or if an emergency does occur and the phone doesn’t work.

Herman Beneke, city director of buildings and permits, said the reprogramming “just has to be done.”

“Obviously, it’s something we’re concerned about,” he said.

According to the letter, “Failing to have a fully operational telephone in your elevator is a code violation for which a fine could be assessed even if no emergency situation arises.”

A city contractor does annual elevator inspections in February, while others take place throughout the year for new or remodeled elevators