News
Elevators Are on the Media’s Radar…
News media has a tendency to stick with one theme as long as it is hot. Lately, the reliability of elevators appears to be on the hot list. A recent story raises the issue of what happens as condominiums get taller, elevators more complex, and are relying on fewer...
Elevator Maintenance Contracts – Whose Interests Are Served?
There has always been a disparity between elevator maintenance contracts written by elevator manufacturers versus those written by building owner advocates such as consultants. Manufacturer-written documents tend to be very vague about the frequency of maintenance...
Many Changes in Elevator Consulting Industry
We have been noticing many changes in the elevator consulting industry - mergers, acquisitions, etc. Persons who are laid off from an elevator contractor one day become a consultant the next day. Here at Rooney, Irving & Associates, however, there are no...
Days Are Numbered For Skipping ‘Unlucky’ Floor Numbers in Vancouver Buildings
According to CTV News - "The city of Vancouver has issued a bulletin requiring developers to abstain from omitting certain floor numbers from new buildings in an effort to simplify the work of first responders. In short, the days of skipping 'unlucky' numbers such as...
Closure of Northern Elevator
ThyssenKrupp North America has announced that their Canadian factory, where they produced "Northern" elevator systems, will be closed by the summer of 2016. We presume that this will be the end of the Northern product line, including Normic 3200 elevator controls...
OHSA Elevator Guarding Issue Rears its Ugly Head Again
Court Bulletin Property Company Fined $50,000 After Worker Suffers Injuries to Hands June 5, 2015 3:40 PM Ministry of Labour TORONTO, ON - Oxford Properties Group Inc., a large owner of properties with holdings throughout Canada, has pleaded guilty to violating...
Some Contractors Are Doing Just Great!
From an email received today from a customer regarding an independent (not a multinational) elevator contractor: I am writing to let you know how great the elevator company is. They were friendly, respectful, professional, and very industrious. I can’t give enough...
Elevator Modernizations and Existing Contracts for Maintenance
Below is our message to a client describing a situation we encounter often - the incumbent maintenance contractor insists on the balance of contract term, even though modernization is planned. Dear [client], With regard to our conversation today about...
New Rules in Ontario Regarding a Specific Safety Device – Car Aprons
TSSA Safety Order 260/14 regarding car apron plates applies to existing elevator installations. This Director’s Safety Order applies to all passenger elevators that: Have an Elevating Devices Installation Number of 33700 or lower (usually elevators originally...
MCP – Maintenance Control Plan – Confusion!
In Ontario, the elevator safety authority (TSSA) has implemented new rules requiring all elevator installations to have an associated maintenance control plan (MCP). The essence of their intent is that detailed requirements for safe maintenance of elevators should be...