APTA Escalators and Elevators Technical Forum Meeting Minutes ...

APTA
Escalators and Elevators Technical Forum
Meeting Minutes—New York June 14, 2006
Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 8:45. The attendees introduced themselves. The
following people were in attendance:
Name Organization Phone E-mail
Tom Peacock APTA 202 496-4805 tpeacock@apta.com
Pat Welch VTX 610 650-8708 pwelch@vtexcellence.com
Julian Rumowski CTA 312 681-4400 Jrumowski@transitchicago.com
Rick Herndobler CTA 312 681-3921 Rherndobler@transitchicago.com
Norm Langerhurst Skytrain 604 520-3641 Norm_Langerhurst@bcrtc.bc.ca
Peter Velasquez NYCT 718 243-4495 Pevelas@nyct.com
Tom Kenny NYCT Thomas.Kenny@nyct.com
Patrick Tang NYCT Patrick.tang@nyct.com
Michael Mancuso NYCT Mikeene316@aol.com
David Evans Schindler David.evans@us.schindler.com
Pam Boswell APTA pboswell@apta.com
Maria Taylor APTA Mtaylor@apta.com
David.Guerin Wmata dguerin@wmata.com
Phil Maccioli NJT Hudson Bergen Philip.maccioli@wgint.com
Lou Scurci DMJM Harris Lou.scurci@dmjmharris.com
John McLeod Escalator Handrail John.mcleod@ehc-global.com
Brian Turner Comm. Trans. Center bturner@transportcenter.org
John Burt Kone John.burt@kone.com
Tom Dusek Kone 630 629-3100 Tom.dusek@kone.com
Pat Welch reviewed the agenda. A copy of the agenda is attached to these minutes.
Pat Welch asked for comments/corrections to the minutes of the last meeting held in September 2005 in
Toronto. None were offered and the minutes of the last meeting were approved as written.
Pat Welch welcomed the first time guests to the meeting and had the attendees introduce themselves.
Pam Boswell explained that as part of APTA’s Workforce Development Program, APTA plans to
develop a train course for elevator and escalator mechanics. Pam stated that APTA has full cooperation
of labor unions on this project.
A discussion of current transit system elevator and escalator mechanics training took place. Brian
Turner explained the purpose of a Department of Labor grant made to the Community Transit Center.
This grant can be used to support the development of the course. A copy of a presentation distributed by
Brian Turner is attached.
Pam and Brian need the help of the APTA EETF to gain entry to transit system elevator and escalator
maintenance organizations. The EETF membership emphasized the need for this training and expressed
strong support for the effort. Several members volunteered to help. Pam and Brian took their contact
information and well contact them soon to get started.
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Pat Welch asked the EETF membership to form a small working group to work with APTA and the
Community Transit Center on their elevator and escalator mechanic’s course. Ed LaGuardia will chair
the group. Ed will schedule their first meeting which is likely to be held in Philadelphia.
Pat Welch presented the latest developments with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) Elevator and Escalator Codes. The ASME is considering a “do not walk” requirement on
escalators. If adopted, this could be a big problem to transit agencies.
Pat covered an ASME interpretation covering barriers to prevent falling. The ASME was very clear.
The 2000 Code requires these barriers the full length of the escalator. The ASME code refers to local
building codes for required height and strength of the barrier. Tom Dusek stated this requirement is a
big problem for escalator manufacturers because it makes them attach a barrier to the escalator support
structure. This requirement is having a big impact. ASME is going to reconsider it, but unless transit
systems get more actively involved in ASME escalator code activities, this requirement will likely stay
part of the code.
David Evans reviewed the recently made changes to the APTA Heavy Duty Transit Escalator Design
Guidelines. After David’s review, Pat Welch asked the members to vote to approve the changes. The
changes were approved without opposition. The document is attached to these minutes. APTA will
now send the document out to all the rail transit agencies.
This document is being widely used in the rail transit industry. Airports are now starting to use it. It
provides a big benefit to transit agencies with no specifications for escalators.
Pat Welch went over the new Design Guidelines for Machine Roomless Elevators. He asked for the
membership to approve the document. They did so without opposition. APTA will send the document
to all the rail transit systems. A copy is attached.
Tom Peacock reported on the Activities of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 130
Committee. This Committee is responsible for the development of fire safety standards for rail transit
vehicles and stations. NFPA 130 Committee has proposed a major change that allows escalators to be
used in the fire evacuation of subway stations. This change was approved by the parent NFPA
organization early this month at a meeting in Orlando.
Tom Peacock reported on a study of intermittent operation of escalators sponsored by the General
Services Administration. A copy of a presentation summarizing the goals of the study is attached.
Pat Welch volunteered to chair an EETF working group to come up with standards for taking escalators
out of service and for putting them back into service. David Guerin will send WMATA’s guidelines and
Mike Mancuso will send NYCT guidelines to Pat to use as starting points. The first meeting of this
group will be July 18th at APTA. Pat will send out a meeting notice.
Tom Peacock reported on the Elevator/Escalator projects of the year awards. The WMATA Escalator
Rehabilitation Program submitted by VTX and the Las Vegas Pedestrian Bridges submitted by Kone
were judged the 2006 projects of the year. APTA requires approval from its board of directors to
establish new awards. Tom Peacock is working on gaining this approval so the awards can be formally
made. Congratulations to Kone and VTX.
A description of the evaluation criteria for the project of the year awards is attached. If you wish to
nominate a project for the 2007 award, please address these criteria and submit your nomination to
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APTA by the end of October 2006.
Round Table Discussion of On-Going Projects
CTA – on the Brown line has 16 of 36 escalators under contract and 8 escalator and 4 elevators at the
Howard Street Station.
DMJM/STV – currently involved with the world transportation hub.
VTX – working with MBTA on court ordered investment in accessibility. Working with PATCO on 9
elevators to meet ADA requirements. Working with Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on 18 elevators. Also
working with the Miami people mover.
WMATA – rehabilitation of 313 exterior escalators is in process. Rehabilitation of 210 interior
escalators has yet to start.
Vancouver – Will rehabilitate four Montgomery escalators.
NYCT – will install a proto-type rack and pinion elevator to test as a replacement for hydraulic
elevators. Procuring 20 heavy duty escalators for the Polk Street Transit Center. The J Street and
Blecker Street renovations are underway.
SEPTA – the Capital program of replacing a full station’s elevators and escalators currently involves
replacing 18 elevators (all hydraulic) and 5 escalators. SEPTA will place a rack and pinion elevator in
service by the end of July.
Pat Welch asked if we could get a presentation by a manufacturer on no lube, low lube escalators at the
next meeting. NYCT volunteered to contact the person that they work with.
Review of Action Items
What Who When Due
Schedule first meeting to develop escalator out of
Service Standard
Welch/Peacock 1 July 2006
Schedule Meeting of Mechanic’s training working
group
LaGuardia 1 August 2006
Project of the Year Nominations Anyone interested End of Oct. 2006
Send WMATA Escalator out-of-service guidelines
to Pat Welch
Guerin 1 July 2006
Send NYCT Escalator out-of-service guidelines to
Pat Welch
Mancuso 1 July 2006
Next Meeting arrangements Peacock 1 August 2006
The next meeting of the Elevators and Escalators Task Force will be held on September 11, 2006in
conjunction with the 2006 Nation Association of Elevators Contractors Meeting to be held in Orlando
Florida from September 12 to 14. The Task Force will meet the day before the trade show opens.
APTA will work with NAEC to set up the date, place and time.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm.
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AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION
ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS TECHNICAL FORUM (EETF) MEETING
New York, New York
June 14, 2006
AGENDA
Wednesday June 14, 2006
8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast- Sponsored by APTA
8:30 a.m. Welcome, Introductions and Opening Remarks Chair Welch
8:40 Agenda Review Chair Welch
8:45 Minutes of Toronto Meeting Chair Welch
9:00 APTA Elevator & Escalator Mechanics Course Pam Boswell
9:20 ASME- A17.1 “Safety Code for Elevators and Pat Welch
Escalators” Committee Activities Report
10:00 Heavy Duty Escalator Design Guideline Changes David Evans
10:15 Status of Machine Roomless Elevator Design Guidelines Pat Welch
10:30 Break
10:45 NFPA 130 Up-Date Tom Peacock
11:00 GSA—Intermittent Escalator Study Tom Peacock
11:15 Guidelines for Taking Escalators Out of Service Pat Welch
Should we set up a working group?
11:45 Projects of the Year Results, Status and New Nominations Tom Peacock
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Round Table Discussion of Ongoing Projects All
If a transit system or vendor would like to make a formal presentation on a new project or
product please let me know and it will be added to the agenda. Otherwise, please be
prepared to give an informal 10 minute summary of new items of interest to the group.
2:30 New Business
2:45 Planning for next EETF Meeting—Monday September 11, 2006 in Orlando
3:30 Adjourn
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