Category Archives for "2004"

0 Edward A. Donoghue to Receive the ASME Melvin R. Green Codes and Standards Medal

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2004 – Mr. Edward A. Donoghue, a resident of Salem, N.Y., and president of Edward A. Donoghue Associates Inc., Code and Safety Consultants, will be honored by ASME. He is being recognized for over 30 years of commitment to the development and promotion of safety codes and standards for elevators and escalators; for the contribution of technical expertise; and for leadership in the formulation of policies and procedures. He will receive ASME’s Melvin R. Green Codes and Standards Medal.

The medal honors the memory and extraordinary contributions of Melvin R. Green, an ardent supporter of industrial standards and longtime employee of the Society. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of documents, objects or devices used in ASME programs of technical codification, standardization and certification. The award will be presented to Donoghue during the 2004 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, which is being held in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 13 through 19.

After owning his own electrical and building construction business, Donoghue began his career in the building transportation industry, in 1968, with the City of White Plains, N.Y. He was in charge of the elevator code enforcement program for the City and, in that position, enforced ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

In 1976, Donoghue went to work for National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), the industry trade association, as manager of codes and safety. His responsibilities included directing, controlling and coordinating all elevator and escalator safety codes and standards activity, including the development of industry architectural, engineering and performance standards. He oversaw development of industry safety standards for field employees and was the principal representative and industry spokesman to national and local codes and standards writing committees and government agencies.

In 1989, he formed Edward A. Donoghue Associates (EADAI), Codes and Safety Consultants. EADAI provides professional consulting services to the elevator industry, architects, engineers, legal profession, building owners and governmental agencies on national and international codes and standards and safety, relating to the design, manufacturing, installations, testing, inspection, maintenance, alternation and repair of building transportation equipment.

An ASME member, Donoghue has been an outstanding contributor to the ASME codes and standards activities since 1974, when he was asked to join the A17 Executive Committee and chair the ASME A17 Inspectors’ Manual Committee. Today, he is a member of the A17 Elevator and Escalator Standards Committee and currently serves as chair to several and a member of more than a dozen subcommittees.

Donoghue is a member of several technical organizations and serves on numerous codes and standards writing committees under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education, National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council, among others. In 2003, he was elected vice chair of the ANSI A117 Committee on Architectural Features and Site Design of Public Building and Residential Structures for Persons with Disabilities.

Donoghue is the author of eight editions of the ASME A17.1 Handbook, two editions of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Building Transportation, as well as numerous papers and articles.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, today’s ASME is a 120,000-member professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community. ASME conducts one of the world’s largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public safety.

The ASME Honors and Awards Program is funded through the ASME Foundation by individual award and endowment funds.

0 NEII, NAESAi Recommend Interim Process for the Introduction of Alternative Elevator Technologies

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2004 Two national elevator trade groups have joined to create guidelines designed to ensure that emerging technologies not covered under the current code meet equivalent requirements. This will help assure the safety of the riding public until the official ASME Performance Based Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators for emerging technologies is published.

The National Elevator Industry, Inc (NEII) and the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International (NAESAi) have agreed on The Interim Process for the Introduction of Alternative Technologies in the United States. This would address measures not yet covered under ASME 17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.
“As alternative elevator and escalator technology becomes available around the world, there is increasing customer demand in the U.S. building industry for these products,” says Edward Donoghue, spokesperson, NEII. “Because development of a new ASME Code to address alternative technologies could take years to complete, it is recommended that elevator companies follow these interim procedures when applying for the acceptance of new equipment.”

NEII and NAESAi also recommend that elevator inspection authorities nationwide use the interim process when reviewing applications for installing new technology to ensure that it meets specified code requirements. The interim procedures are based on technical documentation prescribed in the ASME A17.1 codes and require companies to submit the following:

• A description and diagrams of the equipment/components for which the application is being made;
• Operational and maintenance instructions;
• Documentation that verifies that the alternative technology meets the requirements of the ASME A17.1 code, Section 1.2, and is safe for the intended use;
• A list of the ASME A17.1 prescriptive requirements that the alternative technology currently does not meet;
• Details for inspection and testing the new equipment;
• A list of the jurisdictions that have already accepted the technology; and
• A signed application.

“NAESAi recognizes the need for the industry to develop new technology and to improve the safety of elevators and escalators in a timely manner,” says James Runyan, president, NEASAi. “As the industry awaits the development of the new elevator performance standard, NAESAi supports and encourages the use of this interim process.”
The Interim Process for the Introduction of Alternative Technologies can be downloaded from the NEII Web site at www.neii.org and the NAESAi Web site at www.naesai.org.

About NEII

The National Elevator Industry, Inc., NEII, is a national trade association representing the interests of corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their regular business, provide or perform any of the following: manufacture (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), install, repair and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies who, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. NEII strives to become the leader in promoting safe building transportation, as well as working with local government agencies to encourage the adoption and enforcement of the latest codes and standards.

About NAESAi

NAESA International (NAESAi) is a non-profit international organization with over 1300 members and nearly 1500 QEI credentialed inspectors. Its members are comprised of elevator inspectors, consultants, contractors, architects, engineers and elevator manufacturers involved in elevator safety, code enforcement and technology. For more information, please visit www.naesai.org.

0 NEII Announces Reorganization, Emphasizing Commitment to Building Transportation Safety and Education

Salem, N.Y. June 2, 2004 – The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), the national trade association of the building transportation industry, has announced its reorganization in an effort to become the leader in promoting safe building transportation. The new NEII will have greater focus on becoming the active voice for the elevator, escalator and moving walk industry, promoting the development of codes and standards that advance safe building transportation for new and existing products and technologies, and working with local government agencies to encourage the enforcement of these practices.

“Our refocused efforts on codes and standards will create one voice to advocate the interests of our members and the industry, and help ensure safe riding practices for the general public,” says Ed Donoghue, spokesperson for NEII. “In addition, NEII will encourage the development of new technologies that enhance passenger safety, and will promote and support activities designed to increase overall knowledge and understanding of issues pertaining to the safe installation, service, repair, and operation of building transportation systems.”

With its new, more defined mission statement, NEII will actively work with the code and standard writing community to help develop American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A17 codes and standards that advance the safety of the riding public and encourage the introduction of new and safe products and technologies. NEII aims to become the liaison for communicating industry information to the media and general public, and for educating the industry and government about issues pertaining to building transportation systems.

In conjunction with its reorganization, NEII also has redesigned its Web site (www.neii.org). The new site includes updated, in-depth safety and education information for the riding public, as well as easier-to-use communication tools for its members. Users can access information about the most recent ASME safety codes and standards, as well as a flash presentation about recent changes made to the ASME Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.1, aimed to improve rider safety.

NEII membership is open to all companies in the business of elevators and escalators, reflecting its commitment to providing opportunities for industry members to become more actively involved in advocacy and leadership. NEII membership offers its affiliates a number of benefits including exclusive access to industry information and discounts on industry-related education materials. For more information on NEII membership, please visit NEII’s Web site at www.neii.org.

About NEII
The National Elevator Industry, Inc., NEII, is a national trade association representing the interests of corporations, firms or companies that, as part of their regular business, provide or perform any of the following: manufacture (including parts or components used by others in the manufacture, repair or maintenance), install, repair and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walks and related equipment. Trust membership is available to those corporations, firms, or companies who, as part of their regular business, employ members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and contribute to the benefit trusts (Trusts) established by agreements between the IUEC and NEII. NEII’s goal is to become the leader in promoting safe building transportation, as well as working with local government agencies to encourage the adoption and enforcement of the latest codes and standards.

0 New, Redesigned Web Site Transports Critical Information to the Industry and Riding Public

0 NEII Talk Forum Now Available to Members

First logon to the NEII member page and then locate the new menu button “NEII Talk” and it will take you directly to NEII Talk. When you arrive at NEII Talk, the first place to visit is the “Latest NEII Talk Forum News” located just below the “General Information” heading near the top of the page. Click the link “New Members please click here”. There you will find important information about how NEII Talk can work for you.

Please Note:

New users will need to register and receive their initial entry password prior to gaining access.

To register click on the Members Area button.

At the NEII login page enter your email address and select the “I would like to register a login”. Press the Submit button and fill in the required information on the registration form. Upon submitting the completed form a temporary password will be emailed to your email address. After you login successfully to the Member area you may wish to change the temporary assigned password to one of your liking. This can easily be done by clicking on the “[Edit My Account]” link located at the upper right hand part of your screen.

Welcome to NEII!

0 Workshop on Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies

As a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, code provisions for emergency egress from tall buildings are being re-examined. There is renewed interest in the use of elevators for both occupant egress and fire fighters access. Therefore a Workshop on the Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies was held in Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-4, 2004. This workshop was co-sponsored by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), International Code Council (ICC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. Access Board, and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

The workshop focused on two general topics:
(1) Use of Elevators for Egress
(2) Use of Elevators by Fire Fighters

The workshop consisted of Plenary Sessions during which selected papers were presented, as well as Breakout Sessions for attendees to brainstorm various ideas and develop recommendations. The workshop goal was to come up with concrete proposals that are being put forth to the various code-writing groups to help improve our model codes and standards. ASME has created a website for the Workshop on the Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies. The papers submitted for the workshop along with the recommendations of the Breakout Sessions are available at the workshop website .