April 13, 2004
Elevator Association of Florida Meeting Minutes
Fort Lauderdale
Lee Rigby, President, opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
Member and guest introductions followed. January meeting minutes were
distributed, and approved. An agenda for this meeting was also approved
without questions. Tim Newton and Fred Sweetman were other board members
present. A total of 36 members and guests signed in, although the meeting
room was set up for 50, and additional chairs had to be brought in.
Tim Newton gave the Treasurer’s report, which includes a
current balance of $7,748.41.
Other announcements included the passing of Rich Atkinson,
Executive Director of
NAESA, and also the upcoming NAESA workshop in
Atlanta.
The first speaker, Alan Thornton of ADTS,
along with his associate Rudy Nieves, gave a presentation on electronic
inspection reporting and elevator records management systems. They provide
software and electronic interface to allow electronic transmitting of data
directly to government agencies. This system can produce inspection
reports, invoices, certificates of operation, and violation letters. The
presentation was very thorough and informative, and may well describe how
elevator inspections may be reported in the near future.
David Repsky of
Motion Control Engineering (MCE)
then spoke on 2000 code
requirements for elevator controllers and then discussed MCI’s new "I"
controller product line for traction cars, with a hydraulic version about
a year away. This new system is 95% integrated circuits, and uses windows
based, user friendly software. Only 24-27 wires are required from car and
hoistway. No hardware or software changes are required to change the
number of landings or to change or add features. There are 100+
installations of this new system currently in service.
Lee introduced Cathy White, Bureau Chief of the
Bureau of Elevator Safety.
Cathy stated that the legislature is in the last weeks of
this legislative session.
Questions submitted to the Bureau in advance of the
meeting were shown on the overhead screen and Cathy responded to each
question. A copy of the questions and answers has been requested to be
available for the July meeting.
House Bill 0129 (regarding uniform fire control keys)
was signed into law by the Governor on Tuesday, April 6th, 2004.
Licensee will have to go online to say they are exempt (under six
floors), are compliant, or are not compliant. Regulation of this law
will be up to the State Fire Authorities, but the Bureau of Elevator
Safety is committed to meet with them as often as necessary to get
things worked out. Please identify questions or concerns you may have
of this bill and bring them to our attention while discussions are
going on with the
Fire Marshal – As soon as possible-.
Revisions to the elevator inspection report form are
being planned to provide a place for the inspectors to indicate
whether an elevator meets the fireman’s service requirements.
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The Bureau is looking at revisions to Chapter 30 of
the
Florida Building Code, proposed revisions are due Thursday. You
can log-in and check on Chapter 30 on line – we do not yet have all
the answers on how this is to be implemented.
We will be providing industry advisories and updates
to keep the industry informed regarding changes.
Our final guest speaker for this meeting was Robert Caporale, Editor of
Elevator World Magazine. Bob gave a presentation on
changes to the A17.1 codes, including MRL Standards, and proposals to deal
with new technology. (A new technology standard is close to draft stage)
Information on the
ASME –NIST workshop on the use of elevators in fires &
other emergencies, educational programs, general economy, specific new
technologies, and future Elevator World projects were also presented.
Despite being interrupted by the building fire alarm test, this was a very
informative presentation.
Rocky Sapp brought up a discussion of electrical wiring as
part of elevator installation, modernization or repair being required by
some agencies to be performed by licensed electricians. He recommended an
effort be made to have a Florida Statute revised providing elevator
technicians with an exception similar to that granted to mechanical
contractors and other trades where certain electrical work within the
confines of their equipment. Much discussion on this topic followed.
He gave option to break for lunch or stay and finish the
meeting, the business meeting is next on the agenda. The majority of
membership chose to stay.
New Business – discussed next meeting dates: July 13,
2004, Tampa, Clarion Westshore Airport Hotel on W Kennedy. The October
meeting will be held on October 12th 2004 in Orlando at a
location yet to be determined.
Old Business topics were solicited. Also mentioned meeting
in July will be in Tampa at the Parkway Hotel. The meeting in October will
be in Orlando (location to be announced by probably same location as in
the past).
Motion was made to adjourn meeting. Motion approved.
Meeting ended at approximately 12:30 p.m.
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