Elevator Modernization: When, Why, and How to Upgrade Your System

Elevator Modernization
Elevator Modernization

An image from a street-level perspective looking up at Chicago’s Willis Tower and other tall buildings.

The number of elevators in use in the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world has been growing steadily in recent years, and advancements in elevator modernization have seen similar progress. Given that tens of millions of people ride elevators every day, ensuring that the traveling public is safe while riding is critically important.

As new technologies emerge, elevator safety requirements are changing to keep pace with these advancements. Ensuring elevators are modernized to keep the riding public safe is an important task undertaken by the elevator constructors who build, maintain, service, modernize, and inspect conveyance systems across the country.

To find out more about this important job, let’s take a closer look at the reasons why elevators must be modernized, how to know it is time to call the professionals to upgrade elements in an elevator’s system, and how these modernizations are carried out.

Safety First

Under no circumstances should a building owner, general maintenance worker, or anyone without the appropriate training and experience ever attempt to fix an issue with the elevator in their building, at their place of work, or anywhere else. If an elevator user recognizes that an elevator is broken, damaged, or malfunctioning, they should speak to the building manager, who should in turn contact the professionals. This point can’t be understated, as the safety of the riding public is paramount.

Elevator construction and maintenance work is heavy-duty manual labor that requires years of elevator training courses and on-the-job experience under the supervision of qualified, trained professionals. The reason that this professional training must be so rigorous is that faulty or outdated elevators can be extremely dangerous for the people who ride or work on them.

Let’s look at some common factors that necessitate a system upgrade or other form of elevator modernization.

When and Why Elevators Must Be Modernized

Given the complex electronic and mechanical components that make up an elevator’s system, regular maintenance is extremely important. But even elevators that are regularly maintained are likely to require modernization at some point – especially if they are more than 20 years old. Many things can happen that may warrant modernization, but generally speaking, they fall into seven different categories.

Here are some reasons your building’s elevator system may need an upgrade:

Unreliable Service

If an elevator can’t be relied on to transport people quickly, reliably, and safely to their chosen floor, and the elevator is up to date with its recommended routine and preventative maintenance schedule, some sort of elevator upgrades will be required.

Frequent Shutdowns or Entrapments

If an elevator regularly shuts down, or the traveling public is often stuck inside the elevator, some form of modernization is needed.

Code Violations that Have Been Cited by an Inspector

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), along with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA/NEC) writes the code for elevator safety in the United States. If an elevator inspector identifies any violations of the ASME or other code standards adopted in that jurisdiction, the elevator must be modernized in one way or another.

Excessive Wear

If an elevator is visibly worn, outdated, or shoddy, modernization work is needed.

Inability to Acquire Replacement Parts

If an elevator in need of maintenance cannot be fixed due to a lack of available or affordable replacement parts, the elevator’s system or some elements of it must be modernized.

Excessive Energy Consumption

Often, older elevators need to be modernized to meet certain energy efficiency standards. This is becoming more common as the industry moves toward becoming more green.

In essence, an elevator needs to be modernized any time it isn’t keeping up with the needs of the building. If potential safety issues aren’t addressed, there is a real risk of endangering the people who use these conveyances as a mode of transport. But what’s actually involved in elevator modernization? Let’s take a look at the steps involved.

What Does Elevator Modernization Actually Involve?

Elevator Modernization

An image showing a controller during an elevator modernization project.

Elevators must be modernized and kept up to code standards to guarantee the safety of their end users – the riding public. When any of the reasons for modernization described above come into play, building managers, owners, or other relevant authorities must take steps to ensure this safety.

When an elevator is found to be out of compliance with local, regional, or national code regulations, an inspector can “red tag” the elevator. This means that the elevator may not be used, and a building manager or owner could find themselves in legal trouble should they disobey this order. They could even lose their ability to hold occupancy of the building due to an unsafe elevator.

Rarely will a building require a completely new unit or model; changing and upgrading elevator components is typically what’s required. Whenever there is an upgrade, the elevator must be brought up to code. Ultimately, the degree to which a unit must be brought up to code will be decided by the relevant jurisdictional authorities in accordance with the particular set of code standards adopted in that jurisdiction.

Because of the inherent risk that can be involved in riding elevators, the elevator industry takes a strict, no-nonsense approach to safety regulations and standards.

Learn More About the Elevator Industry

The elevator industry boasts tens of thousands of brothers and sisters throughout North America who dedicate their professional lives to ensuring the safety of every person who sets foot on an elevator. The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) represents the most qualified and trained elevator workers in the world, trained by the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP).

For more information about elevator modernization and the elevator industry as a whole, be sure to check out our other articles.

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Making a Great Program Even Better: Dave Morgan Appointed as NEIEP’s New Executive Director

The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) recently selected David Morgan to serve as the new Executive Director of the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). ElevatorInfo visited the NEIEP Instructor Training Center in Warwick, RI, to speak with Dave about his new role and his plans for NEIEP’s growth and advancement.

“When the opportunity arose, I was excited to be part of making a great program even better,” he said. Dave comes to the NEIEP program with experience that gives him a broad and unique perspective on the educational needs of the elevator industry today. “My experience in the field working on elevators, and then subsequently becoming a Business Agent/Financial Secretary and a Business Manager of a good-sized Local (IUEC Local 4 in Boston), allows me to understand the program from the ground up,” he said.

Dave became an IUEC elevator constructor in the mid-1990s. After completing the NEIEP program he became a NEIEP instructor, teaching Boston-area apprentices and mechanics the fundamentals of the elevator trade for 21 years. While working days as a mechanic, he enrolled in night classes at Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology – a college that NEIEP now has a partnership with – and earned a degree in electronic engineering. He has also held positions as a National Coordinator for the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund, a National Organizer for the IUEC, and an International Vice President.

ElevatorInfo asked Dave about how the NEIEP program has changed since his days as an apprentice. “My experience as a helper was prior to the apprenticeship program,” he said. “The program that’s in place now is far superior…(it requires) 4 hours per night per week for 18 weeks, resulting in 72 hours per semester. In the days of old, it was a two-hour program for 15 weeks, which is approximately 30 hours’ worth of training. So we’ve doubled the training, we’ve doubled the experience.”

The amount of time students spend in the classroom isn’t the only thing that’s changed – the classroom experience for IUEC apprentices and mechanics is different as well, with a shift toward experiential learning through the use of hands-on labs and virtual simulators. Especially with the type of work an elevator constructor does, it’s important for people who work on elevators, escalators, and other conveyance systems to be able to safely practice working with complex and dangerous equipment in a controlled setting before encountering it in the field. “Back in the day, the instructor stood at the front of the classroom and read from a book…now we’ve got a multitude of labs, learning aids, interactive whiteboards, computer-based programs – in addition to the hands-on labs, there’s 3D animation that actually allows for our students to train on the equipment for the elevator industry without the risk of being injured.”

New continuing education courses for mechanics, recent updates to the national apprenticeship curriculum, and a more comprehensive training program for NEIEP instructors have given the program a boost forward in recent years. Dave plans to continue that momentum by modernizing NEIEP classrooms across the country and bringing in more advanced technology to keep NEIEP at the forefront of the industry’s education and training programs. “We have over a hundred training facilities all over the United States (and Puerto Rico), and our goal is to build a classroom that’s the same no matter where you go…whether you’re in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or in Alaska, when you walk into a NEIEP classroom you’ll know you’re in a NEIEP classroom.”

The NEIEP Instructor Training Center, a 98,000 square-foot facility located near Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport, will be training hundreds of NEIEP instructors in the upcoming year. OSHA Trainer Courses, American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA) Competent Person for Framed and Suspended Scaffolding, forklift operation, and Basic and Advanced Train the Trainer courses for classroom instructors – along with training on how to use new, specialized lab equipment for apprenticeship and continuing education courses – are just some of the classes conducted there year-round.

The NEIEP Instructor Training Center also houses NEIEP’s Development Department, where subject-matter experts from across the country gather with engineers, writers, and mechanical designers to produce new courses for elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics. Incorporating new technology, including a Virtual Reality component, into these courses is a priority for Dave as well. The first step toward that involves updating the NEIEP website, a project he’s already got underway.

“I’m most excited about bringing the NEIEP program to the next level. Today, it is a great program. With some help and dedication from the staff, tomorrow, NEIEP will be extraordinary.”

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With Lift for a Vet Program, IUEC Elevator Constructors and Signatory Companies Assist Veterans with Disabilities

Earlier this year, ElevatorInfo traveled to International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 5 in the city of brotherly love (also known as Philadelphia, PA), to talk to elevator constructors involved in the Lift for a Vet program. A Lift for a Vet is a charitable effort started by Philadelphia elevator constructors that has since grown to help United States veterans across the country. Since its inception, the Lift for a Vet program has helped hundreds of veterans nationwide.

According to the Lift for a Vet website, the program’s mission is:

…to buy and install elevators, home lifts, stair lifts or wheelchair lifts in the residence of U.S. military service veterans with disabilities from any era, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan or Iraq. Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan often require special modifications made to their homes so it is handicapped accessible. A wheelchair lift or elevator can be the ticket to getting someone back home and on the way to recovery. Many older vets, those from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam eras, have lost independence in their daily routine because they find it difficult to navigate stairs. A LIFT FOR A VET can help those veterans continue to lead independent lives with the installation of a stair lift1.

So how does this program operate? First, IUEC elevator constructors and IUEC-affiliated companies donate different types of vertical transportation equipment (including elevators, home lifts, stair lifts, and wheelchair lifts) to the program to be installed in the homes of the veterans who need it – recently, signatory companies Quality Elevator, Elevator Control Service (ELCON), and Schindler Elevator have generously contributed equipment and supplies. Then, IUEC elevator constructors donate their time, skills, and expertise to ensure the success of each installation. All equipment – and the labor to install it – are provided at absolutely cost to the veterans.

In a blog post from earlier last summer, ElevatorInfo wrote about the story of the IUEC elevator mechanic and veteran who co-founded the Lift for a Vet program, Mike Walsh.  After an injury during his last year of service in the United States Air Force, Mike Walsh joined fellow IUEC Local 5 member Ed Loomis to launch A Lift for a Vet. Their combined experience working in the elevator industry meant they understood exactly what it would take to get the program off the ground and begin providing this equipment to the United States veterans with disabilities who could benefit from it.

Walsh said, “our mission has always been to help veterans with disabilities any way we can…this is very personal. I know the name of nearly every veteran we’ve helped. This program has changed my life – it’s impacted the lives of every union member who has volunteered his or her time to help these heroes stay in their homes. At the end of the day, we’re helping these veterans maintain a sense of independence. Providing these lifts is our members’ way of giving back – it’s our way of expressing our appreciation for all these men and women have done for our nation.”

Through A Lift for a Vet, IUEC elevator constructor mechanics and apprentices have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those brave men and women who have served our country by giving them access to the home lift and residential elevator equipment that can help them live a better life.

A Lift for a Vet is funded entirely by donations. To support the program, in May of each year, members of IUEC Local 5 host an annual golf outing– similar to the way the IUEC elevator constructors in Local 2 Chicago host an annual golf tournament to fund the Diabetes Research Foundation. Because A Lift for a Vet has no operating costs, every dollar they raise goes directly to supporting veterans with disabilities.

All donations to A Lift for a Vet are tax deductible. “Your generosity – no matter the amount – will help A Lift for a Vet’s goal of providing the best lives possible for veterans with disabilities,” said Walsh. “Former members of the Armed Forces of the United States deserve our utmost respect and eternal gratitude, but perhaps even more importantly, fulfilling the physical needs of these men and women must be our priority – that’s critical.”

Find out more about the Lift for a Vet program or share information about a veteran you know who could benefit from it by visiting IUEC Local 5’s website.

 

1 http://iuec5.org/lift_for_a_vet.aspx

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Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund Certification Program Highlights

Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) Training & Certification Program

Through the Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund (QEITF)’s Certified Elevator Inspector (CEI) program, experienced elevator mechanics from the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and other eligible elevator technicians can become qualified as elevator inspectors or elevator inspector supervisors.

QEITF offers training and certification programs that are accredited under ISO/IEC 17024: 2012 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to certify elevator inspectors to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME QEI-1 Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors. QEITF developed these programs to set a standard of knowledge and distinguish elevator inspectors and inspector supervisors who have shown they have the skill and competence to perform the requirements of the job.

To earn their certification, applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements in effect at the time they apply, and then pass the examination. Eligibility requirements for certification as an elevator inspector include:

  • High school or GED diploma;
  • Five years of supervised experience in the elevator trade (including an 8,000-hour national apprenticeship program and one year of post-apprenticeship experience);
  • Passing score on the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) Mechanic Exam or an equivalent;
  • Completion of a training course on the use of current relevant elevator codes and standards;
  • Code of Conduct/Ethics attestation.

All applicants for the elevator inspector supervisor certification must:

  • Hold the Certified Elevator Inspector certification at the time of application.
  • Submit an Employer Verification Form completed by current and/or previous employer(s) to verify:
    1. The applicant’s aptitude for leadership, administration, and management.
    2. The applicant’s demonstrated ability to perform the administrative and technical job duties of an Inspector Supervisor.
    3. Five (5) years of experience as a certified elevator inspector. (Advanced education, such as technical school, college, or a degree in engineering, may reduce the number of required years by one to three years as determined by the program’s evaluation of the candidate’s academic accomplishments.
  • Code of Conduct/Ethics attestation

Candidates for certification are responsible for submitting documents or other evidence which demonstrate their compliance with these pre-requisite standards.

Once the registration process is complete, candidates for certification will receive a packet with information on how to prepare for the class and where and how they can purchase the codes and standards books they will need in advance of the course. This packet will also provide helpful guidelines to quickly access the most important sections of each code book, recommend specific sections for advance review, and provide practice questions to get them comfortable with the format of the exam before beginning the course.

Throughout the year, intensive training and examination sessions are held near QEITF headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, and elsewhere in the country. During the week-long in-person training and certification program, elevator constructors are removed from their normal day-to-day distractions – making it easier to focus their attention on learning how to navigate the code books quickly and accurately.

The training sessions are structured as follows: during the first four days, experienced instructors guide students through the course content. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and to challenge a series of computer-based practice tests that will give their instructors instant feedback with regard to their progress. This process allows instructors to tailor one-on-one support to the areas that will help each student the most. The limited class size ensures that students will get all of the individual attention they need to succeed. Once the training is complete, the eight-hour certification exam is administered on the fifth day.

As soon as an elevator mechanic receives their certification as a qualified elevator inspector, they are fully prepared to perform inspections and report their findings to their respective authority having jurisdiction. And beyond the initial training and certification, the QEITF program provides ongoing support for code-related questions and assists certificate holders with the continuing education they will be required to complete to maintain and renew their certification.

Throughout the United States and Canada, CEI elevator inspectors and elevator inspector supervisors are recognized as respected code experts who are an asset to the companies they work for and the owners of the equipment they service, as well as the other tradespeople who work alongside them.

Are you an elevator mechanic who is considering earning your certification as a Certified Elevator Inspector? Courses, classes, examination dates, locations, and more information is available on the QEITF website at www.qeitf.org.

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IUEC Elevator Constructors and Building Trades Support Research Toward a Cure for Diabetes

(L-R): Mike Mintle, Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary/Treasurer and Local 2 Member; John Valone, EIWPF National Coordinator and Local 2 Member; Gary Pipiras, Local 2 Vice President / Business Representative; Bobby Capuani, IUEC Organizer and Local 2 Member; Eric Crane, Local 2 Vice President / Business Representative; Tom Karlya, DRI Foundation Senior Vice President; Dr. Allison Bayer, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Juan Gonzalez, Local 2 President/Business Manager and International Vice President; Rob Kennedy, Local 2 Business Representative; Kate Hickey, Local 2 Financial Administrator; Ed Christensen Sr., IUEC Regional Director.

International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) apprentices and mechanics are fortunate to benefit from one of the best healthcare plans in the country through the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan. This plan gives them access to a generous and comprehensive schedule of medical, prescription drug, mental health/substance abuse disorder, dental, vision, and hearing benefits. However, far too many of our members working in the elevator trade are diagnosed with diabetes. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is working to change that, and with the continued support of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and the IUEC, they are closer to eradicating this devastating disease.

More than twenty years ago, a representative from the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) attended an IUEC Convention in Toronto, Canada, as a guest speaker. He asked the people in attendance – how many of you in this room have a family member or close friend who has been diagnosed with diabetes? According to the IUEC Local 2 members who were in the audience that day, over ninety percent of the elevator constructors in the room raised their hands.

The DRI first came to the attention of the IUEC through NABTU, which has supported the DRI for more than 35 years. Their long-running, nationally-coordinated Blueprint for Cure: DAD’s Day and Labor of Love campaigns encourage members of the building trades to come together to support the DRI’s goal to find a biological cure for diabetes. Since NABTU began supporting the DRI, they have raised over $63 million dollars for diabetes research; NABTU’s website states: “Through bucket collections, walkathons, motorcycle rallies, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, poker runs, and more, the Building Trades community raised the funds necessary to build the Diabetes Research Institute.”

Elevator constructor apprentices, mechanics, and IUEC leadership have been an integral part of making support like this possible. In 2022, as in past years, IUEC Local 2 in Chicago was one of NABTU’s top DAD’s Day donors. Deeply impacted by the words of the speaker in Toronto, Local 2 leadership brought that message home to their membership – so now, for more than two decades, IUEC Local 2 in Chicago has held an annual charity golf outing to benefit the work the DRI is doing to eradicate a disease which, according to statistics obtained by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),  affects more than 37 million people in the United States – over 11% of the country’s population.

Through the Local 2 Organization for Diabetes Research 501(c)(3) charity, IUEC members, their friends, families, and supporters from other IUEC Locals and the greater Chicagoland labor community have cumulatively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the DRIF. Sponsorships, entry fees, raffles, a hole-in-one challenge, and other activities during the event have provided many opportunities for the IUEC community to donate. Last year, more than 500 people attended the tournament. “We definitely want to thank all of the people who come out and participate, whether volunteers or golfers…anyone who supports the cause,” said Gary Pipiras and Eric Crane, who both serve as Local 2 Vice Presidents and Business Representatives.

Because of the success of the Chicago tournament, Local 2 has offered advice to other IUEC Locals and building trades members who want to set up golf outings for DRIF or other charitable causes in their areas. “IUEC 12 in Kansas City just reached out to us…we give them guidelines, I give them our flyer. We’ve helped the sprinkler fitters and bricklayers as well,” said Kate Hickey, Local 2’s Financial Administrator, who has been instrumental in the event’s planning for many years.

Local 2 IUEC president presents a donation of $71,000 to DRI

(L-R): Juan Gonzalez, Local 2 President/Business Manager and International Vice President presents a donation of $71,000 to Tom Karlya, DRI Foundation Senior Vice President and Dr. Allison Bayer, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

ElevatorInfo visited IUEC Local 2 in Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day as they presented a donation of $71,000 to the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation. IUEC Leaders from the Local, along with Mike Mintle, Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary/Treasurer, and IUEC members involved in the organization of the annual charity golf tournament, gathered to personally hand the check to the DRI Foundation’s Senior Vice President, Tom Karlya, and its Director of Major Gifts, Brendon Steenbergen, along with and Dr. Allison Bayer, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Bayer, a cellular immunologist and leading researcher in the fight against autoimmune type 1 diabetes, gave a presentation on the research that’s being conducted at the DRI facility to the group and explained how this research could lead to a cure for diabetes. She began with an overview of what diabetes is and how it affects the body at the cellular level, then shared information about current studies, clinical trials, and the advancement of DRI’s research around finding a biological cure for diabetes.

Because the research is so involved, much of the DRI’s work is funded by large grants sponsored by large health-focused foundations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). So why is funding from groups like NABTU building trades councils and IUEC elevator constructors so important? In order to qualify for larger grants, researchers must first prove to potential grantors that the work they propose using the grant for is worth funding – meaning, they have to prove that they can get results. This requires they collect data, conduct preliminary test studies, and prepare detailed reports of their findings before they can apply for larger grants to advance the science.

Donations raised by the elevator constructors in Local 2 are given as ‘unrestricted’ funding so that the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation can immediately direct them toward their areas of greatest need. This is especially important to support the preliminary studies that make obtaining larger grants possible. “A lot of those initial studies that we need to get pre-clinical data for a clinical trial are supported by the foundation, said Dr. Bayer.

Tom Karlya explained, “A lot of times in academia, they put out an RFP (request for proposal), and then by the merit of what the proposed science is, they are awarded grants. What we do is we work directly with the scientists – every year, we meet with all of them – and we find out what looks promising. If we see something that looks promising that didn’t get NIH funding or funding from another source, we don’t want it to die on the vine, we don’t want it to just go away because it didn’t have the money. It’s like a catch 22 – you have to prove it to get the money, but in order to prove it, you need the money. What we do is we move the science forward.”

The building where Dr. Bayer and the other research scientists carry out their work, a 78,000 square foot research facility on the campus of the University of Miami in Florida, was built 100% by union labor, according to NABTU1. “Everything we receive goes to the institute. We don’t even have to pay rent for that building because of you guys,” said Tom.

1Source: https://nabtu.org/dads-day/

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Quality Elevator’s Executive Vice President on Advantages of IUEC Affiliation

ElevatorInfo recently met with Jim Snider, Executive VP at Quality Elevator to talk about the advantages IUEC affiliation brings not only to the elevator constructor mechanics and apprentices his company employs but to his overall business.

Jim has worked in the elevator industry practically all his life. After graduating from high school and starting out as an electrician, he became an installer in new construction at Haughton Elevator. Around the time that Haughton was acquired by Schindler in the mid-1980s, Jim passed his mechanic’s test and transferred to Quality Elevator, a local/regional independent company based in Bladensburg, MD. Jim spent most of his career as a field mechanic there before transitioning to a management position. Today, Jim is the Executive Vice President for Quality Elevator Company, which has, according to its website, “grown to become one of the largest independent elevator service contractors in the Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia Region.”

At the top of the list of advantages for elevator companies affiliated with the IUEC, is the superior education and training all IUEC elevator mechanics receive, starting with their apprenticeship through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and continuing on through their years in the trade as mechanics. “We invest heavily in training, and the union really helps us out with that area of the industry. They have an excellent educational program,” Jim said.

Because their NEIEP education provides hands-on training and a broad base of knowledge covering the fundamentals of what elevator mechanics need to know to be the most skilled, proficient, and safety-focused in the industry, Jim is able to craft the additional safety training his company provides to the specifics of what his mechanics need based on the type of work they do and equipment they work with every day.

“The NEIEP program is one of those things that sets Quality Elevator and all of the other (IUEC-affiliated) companies apart,” he said. “They provide online training, they provide in-person training, they have shops (including) welding shops… you won’t find any other industry that I know of that provides this training at the level that we provide and work with the union on.”

Knowing his employees are taken care of by a generous benefit plan is also an advantage of being an IUEC-affiliated company. The IUEC provides the best health care coverage there is for its members and their families, with no additional premium costs. “Their healthcare is paid for – it doesn’t come out of their paychecks,” he said.

Through the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan, IUEC elevator constructors and their families have access to a generous and comprehensive schedule of medical, prescription drug, mental health/substance abuse disorder, dental, vision, and hearing benefits. And once an IUEC member is eligible for benefits under the Health Benefit Plan, full coverage is also extended to the member’s spouse and children.

Beyond the health care plan, Jim talked about the three levels of retirement IUEC mechanics enjoy – including a pension, 401K, and annuity. “They can retire very well after this,” he said.

The National Elevator Industry Pension Plan is one of the largest defined benefit multiemployer pension plans in the US and is funded by contributions employers make to the Pension Plan for each hour a member works. So for every hour an elevator constructor works for a contributing employer like Quality Elevator Company, that individual’s monthly lifetime pension benefit grows. It’s especially important that in an environment of troubled Pension Plans, since its inception in 1962, the NEI Pension Plan has been secure and has never failed to meet its financial obligations.

The Annuity 401(k) Plan is one of the largest defined contribution multiemployer pension plans in the nation. IUEC members’ retirement savings in the Annuity 401(k) Plan grow through contributions employers make to the Plan for each hour the IUEC member works (their “Annuity Account”), and voluntary pre-tax wage deferrals (401(k) elective deferrals) each IUEC elevator constructor chooses to contribute to the Plan (their“401(k) Account”). IUEC elevator constructors are always fully vested in their Annuity Accounts and 401(k) Accounts. This great source of financial security is in addition to the pension IUEC members receive through the Pension Plan and Social Security.

Superior education and training, an excellent health care plan and the security of a reliable plan for retirement allow the elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics who work for Jim and his team at Quality Elevator Company to focus on getting their work done effectively and efficiently without the additional worries or distractions that workers at companies without these benefits may face.

To learn more about the benefits of becoming an IUEC-affiliated elevator company or hiring one to install, service, troubleshoot, modernize, or repair your conveyance equipment, contact us here.

 

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ElevatorInfo Launches New Web Page for Wind Industry Equipment Owners and Operators

Last week, the ElevatorInfo site launched a new page with information for wind turbine owners and operators about the work International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) members from across the United States are doing with equipment in the wind power industry. From Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island to land-based wind farms in California, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Minnesota, and beyond, our skilled apprentices and mechanics are helping to build and maintain the elevator systems within the nation’s fastest-growing clean power energy sector.

According to a report from the International Energy Association, in 2021, electricity generated from wind power (globally) increased by 17% over the previous year, which was the highest rate of growth among all renewable power technologies1. And for the United States, the US Department of Energy reported that in 2021, wind power accounted for 32% of U.S. energy capacity growth2. As the wind power industry continues to grow, there will be an increased need for experienced technicians to take care of the complex machinery that generates it.

Working on the conveyance systems housed within wind turbines is a natural fit for IUEC elevator constructors, who have been installing, servicing, repairing, and modernizing equipment like this for more than 150 years. Learning how to work safely at heights and in all different kinds of challenging environmental conditions is an integral part of their work. The comprehensive education and training they receive from the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) provides an excellent starting point, giving them broad foundational skills (in elevator and escalator installation, maintenance, and repair) during apprenticeship – along with continuing education courses in focused topics which allow them to develop the specialized skills needed for the wind power industry. Given the knowledge and experience required to perform the tasks of an elevator constructor, it’s not a surprise that when wind turbine owners and contractors are looking for qualified people to work on their equipment, they look to IUEC mechanics.

Based on an assessment of the core competencies required for the elevator trade, by the time IUEC mechanics complete their apprenticeship and earn their journeyperson’s card, they must:

  • Be able to work safely at extreme heights
  • Have advanced mechanical aptitude
  • Possess the ability and willingness to follow instructions
  • Have sharp analytical skills
  • Have the ability to work effectively in small teams
  • Be self-motivated/directed and able to work with minimal supervision
  • Know and implement safety procedures for working with high and low voltage wiring
  • Troubleshoot control wiring and perform diagnostics
  • Work on hydraulics and pipe fitting
  • Understand key fundamentals and advanced concepts of working with electromechanics and motors

IUEC mechanics don’t only rely on the broad base of knowledge gained during their time in the NEIEP apprenticeship program, they actively seek out ways to advance their learning to stay current with changes in industry technology. It’s through NEIEP’s continuing education programs that they develop the specialized skills they need to work on all different kinds of conveyance equipment, including wind industry equipment. And if members have training needs that are especially unique, the IUEC seeks out partnerships with other training providers who can fulfill them.

ElevatorInfo recently shared an article about a new collaboration between the IUEC’s education program and Survival Systems USA in Groton, CT. Working with Survival Systems has made it possible for the IUEC to provide Global Wind Organization (GWO) Basic Training to elevator technicians/constructors who install, maintain, service, and repair wind industry equipment – including a Sea Survival course that involves getting into the water to learn safety skills necessary for working with offshore equipment.

Certifications IUEC mechanics who complete the Survival Systems training program earn include:

  • GWO BST-1005 Basic Safety Training
  • GWO BST-WAH-1002 Work at Height
  • GWO BST-MH-102 Manual Handling
  • GWO BST-FA-2002 Medic First Aid + Trauma
  • GWO BST-FA-101 Fire Awareness
  • GWO-SS GWO Sea Survival
  • GWO-EFA Enhanced First Aid
  • GWO-ART Advanced Rescue Training

IUEC members who work on wind turbine elevators have also participated in the High Angle Rescue Training program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan.

This spring, staff from the IUEC and the Elevator Industry Work Preservation fund will be visiting, speaking, and exhibiting at a number of major wind energy conferences, including:

American Clean Power’s Operations, Maintenance and Safety Conference 2023
Wed, Mar 1 – Fri, Mar 3
Marriott World Center
Orlando, Fl

Offshore Wind California’s Pacific Offshore Wind Summit 2023
Mon, May 8 – Wed, May 10
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1401 K St
Sacramento, CA

American Clean Power’s Cleanpower Conference and Expo
Mon, May 22 – Thu, May 25
New Orleans, LA

American Clean Power’s Offshore Windpower Conference
Tue, Oct 3 – Wed, Oct 4
Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St
Boston, MA

If you are an owner, operator, or contractor for offshore or land-based wind turbines, don’t jeopardize your equipment by allowing inexperienced mechanics to service the conveyance systems within them. Contact us here to be connected with an IUEC-affiliated company.

 

References:
1. “Wind Electricity,” accessed February 23, 2023, https://www.iea.org/reports/wind-electricity
2. “DOE Finds Record Production and Job Growth in U.S. Wind Power Sector,” accessed February 23, 2023, https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-finds-record-production-and-job-growth-us-wind-power-sector.

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Real-World Training Prepares U.S. Veteran for Career in the Elevator Trade

During a recent trip to Chicago, Illinois, ElevatorInfo had the chance to sit down and talk with Nate Hefner, a U.S. Veteran working as an elevator mechanic in Chicago.

Nate did not always plan for a career in the elevator trade; in fact, his degree is in Architecture. After transitioning out of active duty as a member of the Army National Guard, he knew that he never wanted a job where he would be forced to sit behind a computer or work in an office all day. A close friend and fellow Veteran who is a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 in Chicago suggested Nate check out the elevator trade. Right away, Nate knew that it would be a good fit.

“My favorite part of my job is actually working with my hands,” Nate explained. “That’s why I really like new construction… it’s more hands-on – measuring, beating things with a hammer, and actually building something that was not there when you got to the job a couple of weeks before.”

When asked about what makes him good at his job, Nate was quick to give a shout-out to the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). While other elevator training programs in the industry are offered via correspondence course, NEIEP is a four-plus year USDOL-Registered Apprenticeship, held to rigorous standards. Weekly classroom training that incorporates hands-on practical labs and virtual simulations administered by some of the best-trained instructors in the industry are what sets the IUEC’s program apart from the rest. “Once you graduate (from) the NEIEP program and you take that (Mechanic Exam) test, you know you can start day one of building that elevator without having somebody tell you how,” said Nate. “NEIEP has taught you how to build that elevator safely.”

From foundational classes covering the basics of working in the elevator trade to advanced training modules on troubleshooting the complex systems elevator constructors encounter on the job daily, NEIEP provides IUEC members with the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs thoroughly, efficiently, and above all, safely. In a field with as many potential hazards as this one, safety must be a central component of any training program. This is why the NEIEP apprenticeship begins with a safety course for probationary members, and has included in its required apprenticeship training certifications in OSHA 10, Scaffold and Access Industry Association’s (SAIA) Competent Person Training for Framed Scaffolds, Scaffold and Access Industry Association’s (SAIA) Training Program for Suspended Scaffolds, American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, and Certified Signal Person and Rigger (Level 1), an industry-specific ANSI/ANAB accredited certification in rigging and signaling.

The NEIEP apprenticeship curriculum covers not only the individual steps involved in performing a task but guides students through an in-depth exploration of electrical and mechanical theory and application. Once an apprentice successfully completes the eight-semester program, logs 8,000 hours of work under the supervision of an experienced mechanic, and passes the capstone validated Mechanic Exam, they have access to more than 40 online and classroom-based continuing education courses. What’s more, courses completed during the NEIEP apprenticeship have been recognized as equivalent to college-level learning by a number of accredited colleges and universities who give college transfer credit to NEIEP graduates who want to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Construction Management, Project Management, Applied Sciences, Engineering Technology, Education, and more. This advanced training benefits every elevator constructor in the IUEC along with their colleagues, employers, building owners, and the riding public.

While Nate came into the elevator trade through the standard recruitment process, the IUEC also supports Veterans as they transition to a career in the elevator industry through a partnership with the national nonprofit organization Helmets to Hardhats. Helmets to Hardhats connects military service members with training and education programs in the building trades, providing veterans with career opportunities through federally-registered apprenticeship programs like the one offered by NEIEP. Through Helmets to Hardhats, IUEC Locals across the United States offer Veterans priority status during Apprenticeship recruitment.

In the video, Nate highlighted how the safety-focused, comprehensive classroom courses he completed during his NEIEP Apprenticeship prepared him to do his job well, keeping his customers and his company satisfied. His main point? That the practical, hands-on learning he participated in in the classroom prepared him with the skills he needed to challenge the demands of his work in the field. “You have to pay attention to what you’re learning because it applies to the real world,” he said.

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The Fundamentals of Safety for Elevator Technicians/Constructors

Elevator constructor safety equipment

When working on elevators, escalators, or other types of conveyance equipment, safety must always be the number one priority. Most work-related injuries suffered by elevator technician/constructor mechanics and apprentices are caused by distractions, complacency, overconfidence, incomplete or improperly worn personal protective equipment (PPE), or a lack of safety training.

In an environment where work is done in confined spaces (including permit-required confined spaces), at elevated heights, or in close proximity to adjacent equipment, high voltages, and hazardous chemicals/materials, it’s essential that all PPE and items in your safety bag are checked and procedures and processes are reviewed before beginning any work on a job site or specific task.

Fall Protection

Elevator constructor safety equipmentThe Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) is comprised of three main pieces: an anchorage point, a body harness, and a lanyard. It is the standard mandatory PPE that elevator technician/constructor mechanics and apprentices must use whenever working where a fall of 4’ or greater (general industry) or 6’ or greater (construction) is possible. Always ensure you select appropriate engineered anchor points and use your lifeline or other anchoring devices in accordance with the instruction manual, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations and Standards, and your company’s policies and procedures. Reading and understanding these documents could be the difference between life and death.

Of OSHA’s “Focus Four” – which details the four most common causes of worker fatalities on construction sites – falls account for 33.5% of worker mortalities, placing them first on the list when it comes to dangers in the workplace.  In 2021, OSHA ranked inadequate fall protection as the most common safety violation that led to injuries and fatalities.

Fall protection gear, along with safety nets and standard guardrails, can save your life. Be diligent and take time to inspect each piece of fall protection gear before starting any work on an elevator, escalator, or other types of conveyance equipment.

Eye and Face Protection

Eight of the top ten most frequently violated standards cited by OSHA involve inadequate or improperly worn eye or face protection. Elevator technicians/constructors must always have eye and face protective gear in their safety bags to protect against injuries from cutting, welding, dust, debris, or other objects.

Thousands of workers in the building trades are blinded each year; many of these injuries could have been prevented had the correct eye and face protection been worn. Always wear your safety glasses, goggles, face shields, and welding helmets (when required) to stay safe on the job.

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) / Test and Verify (Mechanical Energy)

Lockout/tagout (LOTO) and test and verify procedures ensure that the equipment that elevator technicians/constructors are working on is not energized and does not start up during maintenance, repair, or troubleshooting.  LOTO procedures protect workers from electrical energy as well as other types of stored energy. In the elevator industry, common LOTO procedures can include using pipe stands to support a column of oil holding up hydraulic equipment or using rope grippers on traction equipment. Unless you are working on a system that must remain energized during troubleshooting – and taking the precautions required by code and your elevator company’s safety policies in order to do so – you must always lockout, tagout, test, and verify your equipment to remove the stored electrical, mechanical, gravitational, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy that could put you at risk of serious injury or death.

Lockout devices include keyed or combination locks that when installed prevent pieces of equipment from starting or moving. Tagout devices are tags that are securely attached to the equipment to indicate that both the equipment and the energy-isolating device are inoperable, as well as provide contact information for the individual who locked out and tagged out the equipment. When a piece of elevator equipment has several isolation points, a group lockout box (sometimes called a LOTO box) or group lockout device must be used before it can be securely locked out.

In 2021, lack of control of hazardous energy placed seventh on OSHA’s list of its most frequently violated standards. According to the administration, the most common workplace injuries from LOTO misuse are electrocution, scalding, chemical burns, crushed limbs or digits, and amputations.

LOTO / Test and Verify (Electrical Energy)

When providing elevator services, elevator technicians/constructors often have to work with electricity. Electrocutions account for 8.5% of construction worker deaths and are number three on OSHA’s “Focus Four” list. Always make sure the equipment you are working on is grounded, and always lockout/tagout and test and verify any electrical equipment in accordance with OSHA Regulations and Standards, local, state, and national code requirements, and your company’s policies and procedures.

If you are installing or servicing AC/DC equipment, ensure that you are wearing OSHA-approved PPE to protect you from electrical hazards.

Safety Resources and Training

Before starting any elevator installation, modernization, repair, or maintenance procedures, always take an assessment of the workplace’s potential physical or health hazards and ensure that you and your coworkers know what needs to be done to minimize your risks. While it’s your employer’s responsibility to provide you with proper safety equipment, training, and PPE, you must know how and when to use it, and you must commit to using it correctly every time.

Through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), members are provided with basic elevator constructor safety training that includes up-to-date OSHA-certified courses covering equipment, processes, and procedures they must be ready to apply on the job site. Safety training is one of the best benefits all elevator constructor mechanics and apprentices get from the IUEC, its union-affiliated employers, and NEIEP. (Employers are required to provide more comprehensive safety training.) OSHA’s general duty clause covers the requirements of the employer and employee.

To learn more about that, as well as union working conditions, elevator constructor retirement benefits, healthcare coverage, and annuity and 401(k) savings plans, head over to our hub of resources for elevator mechanics.

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“This Trade Will Provide You With a Great Future,” Says IUEC Elevator Constructor

The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) recently joined members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 133 and staff from the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) in Austin, Texas, for an informational fair showcasing the industry’s most comprehensive education and training program for elevator technicians/constructors. NEIEP Development staff and Area Coordinators traveled from the program’s new, state-of-the-art Instructor Training Center in Warwick, Rhode Island and IUEC Locals from across the country to set up the event in the capital of the Lone Star State.

Along with having what one ElevatorInfo writer would argue is the best BBQ in the country, Austin is home to a number of industry stakeholders. Elected officials, company representatives and owners, building owners, contractors, and elevator constructors all visited the fair to learn about the education program and see demonstrations of NEIEP’s new and upcoming course materials for IUEC apprentices and mechanics. Through state-of-the-art classes held on-site in locations across the US – and online platforms IUEC members can access from their homes – NEIEP training gives IUEC elevator constructors the foundational and specialized skills they need to safely and efficiently build, modernize, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair complex pieces of conveyance machinery including elevators, escalators, moving walks, Automated People Movers, and more.

Between stops at each of the stations at the event, we had opportunities to speak with lawmakers interested in the value of USDOL-Registered Apprenticeship training, company representatives who employ the talented elevator constructors coming out of NEIEP, and individuals who help to make decisions as to which elevator contractor is the best fit for a particular project. We were also able to speak with three attendees who are currently working as elevator constructors in the field for TK Elevator.

Jarred Baker, Bobby Harper, and Pat Coker all traveled out to the NEIEP fair in Austin to meet Lester White, NEIEP’s Department Head of Development, and some of the talented subject matter experts who develop and implement the curriculum and hands-on lab materials featured in NEIEP’s new and upcoming training. All proud members of IUEC Local 133, the elevator constructors we spoke with shared with us how they valued their work, were enthusiastic about the industry as a whole, and wanted to show their support for the program that sets up IUEC members for safe, successful careers.

Jarred told us about the relationships he’s built with his IUEC brothers and sisters, emphasizing how the people he works with always look out for each other and always have each other’s backs. In a trade where elevator technicians/constructors routinely encounter a myriad of hazards on the job site, this is especially important. Bobby, a third-generation elevator constructor, agreed with Jarred and went on to share how important it is to be able to talk to others in the trade – people who know exactly what challenges elevator constructors face in their work with the complex equipment and systems they work with daily.

Both Jarred and Bobby touched on the impressive benefits package the IUEC provides to member elevator constructors.  When comparing the IUEC’s benefits packages to others, Pat described it as “the best in the country.” Through the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan, IUEC members and their families have access to a generous and comprehensive schedule of medical, prescription drug, mental health/substance abuse, dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Once an IUEC member is eligible for benefits under the Health Benefit Plan, full coverage is also extended to the member’s spouse and children with no additional premium costs.

In addition to providing an extensive health care coverage plan, the IUEC worked with employers to establish the Elevator Constructors Annuity and 401(k) Retirement Plan – one of the largest defined contribution multiemployer pension plans in the nation. This is in addition to the pension IUEC members receive through the Pension Plan and Social Security. With the National Elevator Industry Pension Plan – one of the largest defined benefit multiemployer pension plans in the US – as early as age 55, a member with 5 years of service can retire and begin receiving a monthly lifetime pension benefit from the Plan that cannot be reduced.

“This trade will provide you with a great future,” Pat added. “Sky’s the limit.”

To learn more about the benefits package IUEC elevator constructors receive, visit https://www.elevatorinfo.org/elevator-technicians

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