January 13, 2004
Elevator Association of Florida
Meeting Minutes
Jacksonville
Lee Rigby, President opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
Member and guest introductions followed. October meeting minutes were
distributed, and approved. An agenda for this meeting was also approved
without questions. Billy Lynch, Fred Sweetman, and Mel Rynearson were
other board members present. A total of 55 members and guests attended.
Lee spoke about how State came to previous position about
choosing absence from our meetings. Purpose of this Association is to keep
lines of communication open; the Bureau’s participation is desired even if
they do not have anything to say. Our part should be not to badger. We
agreed upon pre-submission of questions and accepting whatever response
the
Bureau provides. The EAF website is not being used to full potential.
(Sign in sheet passed around).
First speaker, Kevin Arnold of
Cooper- Bussman on elevator
electrical requirements/codes and standard of shunt trip requirements to
A17.1,
NFPA 70 and 72. Requirement for shunt-trip protection is in
A17.1-102.2 (c)(3): NFPA 72 Sec. 3-9.2.1 (show concern of trades tying in
120v detectors to 24v systems and of proper monitoring) and 3-9.4.4:
NEC-620-51(a), 51(b), 51(c)-disconnect location, readily accessible within
sight of equipment not to exceed 50 feet and with no obstructions.
Kevin spoke of SPD ("Safety Product Design") that his
company offers. NEC-620-62 (selective coordination [coordination
study]-avoids blackouts by isolating fault).
There are two types of over-currents. One is overload
(cause drawing of excessive amperage) and two, short circuit.
- Breakers are electro mechanical device tripped electrically and
should undergo a maintenance process. They trip under overload and
short conditions (breakers unlatch).
- Breakers dissipate their energy (Kevin used a shotgun example).
- Fuses are not a disconnect means (breakers are).
- Fuses have limitations (silica, sand, inside fuse to limit arc).
When blown a circuit is interrupted.
- Rule of thumb is to check Circuit breakers for coordination: 1.
determine applicable fault current – this dictates interrupting
rating; NEC 110-9. 2. Check instantaneously trip settings; typically
eight to ten times the frame size. (Rule of thumb for fuses, is
selective ratio chart, greater than or equal to.)
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- NEC 620-91 (c) battery lowering requires mechanical switch in
mainline disconnect, and a contact in the shunt trip breaker (*can
kill if not in place).
- Kevin offered SPD guide for all wanting and told membership to
request one through his company.
- "J" fuses are rejection type fuses by their own design. No
rejection clips need (these fuses bolt in).
- Fuses provide better protection than circuit breakers.
- Kevin ended presentation at 9:45 a.m. Stayed for some time to
answer member’s questions.
Treasurer’s Report: Lee explained that Tim Newton,
Treasurer was unable to attend this meeting and faxed in a treasurer’s
report.
$ 691.00 last meeting
2,550.00 deposits
385.00 – escalator safety foundation
6,894.00 Balance
New Business – discussed next meeting dates: April 13,
204, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Sheraton, Griffin Road. Price range would be
based on a 20 room block. Had a showing of 10 to 12 people with interest
of overnight stay. Lee set up for a block of rooms and will cancel if
necessary.
Lee introduced Cathy White, Chief of
Bureau of Elevator
Safety, with disclaimer as to how questions were picked and gave
instruction on how questions should be phrased – "no blame game." Lee
spoke of posting questions on the EAF website. The web address is
www.fla-elevator-association.org Cathy White spoke of
partnership and thanked organization for their input and the inspectors
for the job they are doing. She called us a "frontline defense for
elevator safety." Cathy introduced the new head attorney on staff, Charles Tunnicliff, Esq. Charles Tunnicliff is now the primary legal contact for
the
Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Charles is stepping into a role
formerly held by Gail Scott-Hill. Gail is taking on responsibility for all
appeals for the entire department, a newly organized and vast function.
Again, Cathy takes floor. Spoke about how she and Lee
agreed on question presentation format. Explained that she was not able to
answer questions that were not specific. She spoke about the Reengineering
project for the Department being complete but still in process of some
fine tuning:
- Call center concerns on elevator issues caused many changes.
Asked us to inform state of problems we may be having.
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- Explained that her department is not staffed to receive initial
contact, the customer contact center is staffed to receive initial
contact and if the questions are technical in nature they are referred
to the Bureau.
- Mark Boutin is dealing with inspector issues and variance
requests.
- Mary Shimp is back at the Bureau. She is efficient and is an
avid follow up person.
- Monitoring being initiated by an independent process. Spoke of
long term benefits. (Work in progress) and not to be taken personally.
- She personally did not want questions edited. Most were left as
submitted.
- Started a question and answer session from the questions
submitted to her. Questions were shown on the overhead screen and
Cathy responded to each question. Please see the Association’s website
for list of questions and answers.
- Spoke of only how the state archives records for five (5) years.
- Referenced to
Florida Building Code (FBC) Ch. 11.
- Cathy closed with thanks, encouraged communication and continued
partnership. Ended speaking at 11:20 a.m.
Lee again took the floor and thanked Cathy for
participating in our EAF meeting.
Tray Edmonds recommended editing questions submitted to
EAF. Bob Offerman suggested guidelines of communicating with the
originator of the questions after editing before comments. There was
consensus that questions should be edited.
Lee introduced Laura McLeod (made it a point that it was
pronounced Mac Loud). She is a lobbyist from Tallahassee. Laura spoke of
how she was approached by the Preservation Fund, approximately four
(4)years ago. She helped pass the "Model Act of 2001". She was hired again
by the Preservation Fund to help pass the "Glitch Bill of 2002." She was
hired once again in 2003 again by the Preservation Fund to lobby for the
addition of an inspector to the
Task Action Committee ("TAC"). She
mentioned her involvement in Elevator Model Safety Act in Alabama. The TAC
at present has been removed from the bill that is being presented this
year to the legislature. Laura spoke about implementation issues and lack
of clarity. Suggested inspectors should work closely with the Department.
She mentioned the Elevator Safety Act (??). She does not feel that the
department is adversarial and asked for patience on the inspector’s part.
She spoke of statutory changes as not being easy but not impossible. She
recommend that we educate legislators in our field. She mentioned that
there are five (5) senate bills related to elevators. One dealing with
fire safety keys. (She will amend wording too – due to its similarity to
last year’s wording). She feels the bills are limited. She guided us to
present the agenda to the legislature in small bits in order to make
change.
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House Bill No. 129 is sponsored by Kellinger; Senate Bill
494 sponsored by Senator Bennett; Senate Bill 520 sponsored by
Constantine; Senate Bill 672 also sponsored by Constantine; Senate Bill
680 sponsored by R. Smith and TAC Senate Bill 1342 also sponsored by
Constantine.
She gave definition of the term "sunset" meaning law that
automatically expires at a preset time. For example the TAC was affected
by the "sunset" definition. She ended speaking at 11:40 a.m.
Lee again took the floor.
Cathy White has been appointed to the Special Occupancy
TAC within Department of Community Affairs for the Florida Unified
Building Code so that "all of our concerns are being addressed by all
agencies".
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.
Lee promoted "Cracker Barrel" sessions held usually the
night before the EAF meeting. This is an informal meeting to discuss
industry matters and/or concerns. Lee punned on the fact that the term
"Cracker" was considered a slur by an organization’s information
technology ("IT") department and his email notice was blocked.
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).
It was mentioned that the Elevator Safety Technical
Advisory Committee meeting taking place after membership session in the
same meeting room.
Business Meeting: Requests were made for nominations for
the Board of Directors. The current board was nominated. The current board
accepted the nomination with the exception of two board members not
present. In the event that one of these would choose not to continue on
the board, nominations were solicited for an alternate board member. Mike
Chavez was nominated.
With no opposing nominations, vote to accept the slate was
taken and passed unanimously.
Motion was made to end meeting. Motion approved. Meeting
ended at approximately 12:30 p.m.
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