My friendship with Millicent Coil dates back to my early years in Lawrence, Kansas. Life took us in different directions after high school, as life tends to do, with Millicent pursuing a career in mechanical engineering in the aerospace and automotive industries, while I packed my bags for Washington, D.C., to work in government affairs.

Our paths crossed once again when Millicent moved back to Kansas. We caught up on our respective journeys and revisited memories. We also discussed my job and Millicent’s role at my alma mater, the University of Kansas, where she serves as an Associate Professor of the Practice in the School of Engineering. She shared that in addition to teaching courses, she also leads the Capstone Design program. The Capstone Design course provides students the opportunity to work with real-world, interdisciplinary challenges proposed by industrial and research project sponsors.

I was immediately intrigued and wanted to see if there was a way for NEII to collaborate with the KU Capstone Design program. I loved the idea of engaging students to address an industry issue but was not quite sure what would constitute the most appropriate project. But I knew Kevin Brinkman, NEII Senior Director of Codes, and the NEII Central Code Committee (CCC) would have ideas.

The energy efficiency of elevators has been a hot topic for many years, but for far too long, building owners and managers chose to focus solely on heating, air conditioning, and lighting. But recently, the focus has shifted to one of the biggest energy consumers in a building – the elevator.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHARE) partnered with NEII to discuss the energy efficiency of elevators. The work initially involved evaluating the efficiencies of lighting and ventilation in elevators and has now transitioned to the actual operating drive system for the elevator. But in an effort to provide consistent energy measurement across multiple elevator manufacturers, the industry needed a universal web-based tool that was intuitive and easy to use.

Enter the energy calculator…and enter Millicent. Millicent, Kevin and I framed a project, and her Capstone engineering students began working on the energy calculator last year. Work is nearly complete, and we plan to unveil this new tool in the coming months.

NEII’s collaboration with the KU Capstone Design program has been a great success. And the development of an elevator industry energy efficiency calculator tool could not be coming at a better time as the world increasingly struggles with climate- and sustainability-related issues.

The theme for Earth Day this year is ‘Our Power. Our Planet.’ NEII is helping the building transportation industry take better care of our planet by taking better control of our power. And it all started with a sustainable friendship that turned into an energizing partnership.

Happy Earth Day 2024!

As many of you know, my professional career started with a focus on environmental and energy policy issues when I was a congressional liaison at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. While at EPA, I managed toxic substances, Alaska-specific challenges, the Kuwaiti oil fires, and emergency response federal policy efforts. I then went to the National Association of Homebuilders with a position as Legislative Director for environmental issues and continued working on these important matters. And since, throughout my career, I have continued to engage in work to make a meaningful impact on our environment.

My job with the elevator industry is no different. Environmental impact and energy efficiency is now part of the larger sustainability discussion, and buildings – including building transportation – play a key part.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the buildings and construction sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for a staggering 37% of global emissions. Historically, much of the sector's progress has centered around reducing the "operational” carbon emissions of buildings – those emissions stemming from heating, cooling, and lighting. Projections suggest that these operational emissions will decrease significantly in the coming decades. However, solutions to mitigate the buildings "embodied" carbon emissions originating from the design, production, and deployment of materials and services have lagged.

NEII’s member companies are incorporating sustainability goals and practices throughout all aspects of their respective businesses, including in products and services, governance, and supply chain management. The industry’s respective goals vary based on company, with some setting a goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030 while others seek to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Net-zero global emissions goals also vary from 2040 to 2050 depending on the organization. 

While the goals and corresponding dates can vary, the mission uniting the elevator industry is the same. Here’s a glimpse at what NEII members are doing to protect our environment and slow global warming:

• Membership in RE100 (Renewable Electricity) initiative
• Zero waste-to-landfill certification
• ISO 14001 for all U.S. facilities
• Electric vehicle deployment
• Fleet management enhancements
• Local material source and hub distribution to reduce energy and transport emission
• Membership in Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance
• Carbon-neutral maintenance services
• Energy-efficient elevators
• Gearless motors and more energy-efficient drives
• Sustainable building design through technology
• Logistics optimization
• Prioritization of waterway and railway transportation over air freight
• Supplier location
• Improving packaging materials and process
• Upgraded recycling efforts

It is important on Earth Day especially and every day that we think about our impact on the world around us. Each person, each company, and each organization plays a role in the fight against global climate change. Even if you think your contribution is only one drop in the proverbial ocean, why not just make a few small changes because you never know the impact you could have. And for NEII, we are doing the same. We have added sustainability to the list of our priority issues and will be considering what we can do as a collective group of industry leaders. Once we identify the steps we can take, I hope the entire elevator industry will join NEII and its members to make a difference for generations to come. 

A new year can mean a new start, depending on how you view the change in calendar year. For me, the new year is time to review and refresh activities in both our personal and professional lives as needed. And after reviewing the NEII blog series, we decided our blog needed a refreshed identity. POINT/BLANK is now the name of my official blog and for those who know me, it fits me perfectly. I tell it like it is. This approach has served me well throughout my career and during my tenure at NEII, even if it hasn’t always been easy to discuss difficult issues.

For the last 100+ years, NEII’s mission has been to promote a high level of safety for passengers and industry professionals; ensure consistent adoption and enforcement of policies, codes and regulations; maximize choice for building transportation systems; drive innovation and performance; and be the trusted resource for industry information.

And while NEII’s work advanced each part of that mission last year, this blog is focused on how we increased our visibility as the trusted resource for industry information. For example, in our 2023 blog series, we shared an inside look at:

• How the media misrepresents the role of the elevator company in a service disruption
• Modern elevator emergency communications for visual-, speech- and hearing-impaired passengers
• The role NEII plays in the development of model safety codes
• How the elevator industry is doing its part to protect the environment
• The future of diversity, equity and inclusion in the building transportation industry 

In our monthly Elevator World column, we helped contractors, suppliers, architects, and building owners and managers better understand remote interaction operation and cybersecurity, licensing challenges in the Big Apple as well as why SkillsUSA may be the key to unlocking a more diverse talent pipeline.

And we sat down with a few of the leading building media brands, including FacilitiesNet, to discuss how the latest ASME code will impact building operations professionals while also authoring a guest column on elevators in the commercial real estate industry for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Being the authoritative voice of the elevator industry and telling the important stories that need to be told is one part of what we do, but it’s the behind-the-scenes work with governing bodies, AHJs and municipalities, unions, associations and member companies that truly sets NEII apart.

In 2023, our mission was clear:

• Elevate industry safety
• Drive workforce diversity, equity and inclusion
• Engage throughout the code lifecycle

Safe working practices remained our top priority and this focus was integrated into all aspects of NEII’s work, including codes, advocacy, communications and DEI initiatives. This included finalizing the next edition of the Field Employee Safety Handbook that is set to be released in Q1 2025 and partnering with the construction industry on hoistway safety. NEII provided more than two dozen public comments and testimony and advanced safety standards through codes to help drive necessary change in the elevator industry. We also further promoted inclusive PPE resources and awarded more than 100 safety ambassador awards to participants who learned key safety tips as part of NEII’s Elevator and Escalator Safety Challenge.

And we didn’t stop there. NEII facilitated company breakout sessions at Tradewomen Build Nations, introduced thousands of trades-focused students to the elevator industry through our joint exhibition with the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) at SkillsUSA Techspo, and once again served as a key industry partner for Construction Inclusion Week.

I’m proud of the impact and progress we made in 2023 but see even bigger things ahead this year as we continue pushing AHJs to eliminate outdated codes and deviations, shift the talent-pipeline development focus while transitioning recruitment outreach to diverse communities, as well as target high-risk areas to drive improvement in safety.

If you have any questions you’d like answered in a future blog, please email info@neii.org.

When an elevator or escalator breaks down or is out of service, who’s to blame?

With misinformation everywhere, it’s time to separate fact from fiction.

By Amy J. Blankenbiller, Executive Director, National Elevator Industry, Inc.

Fun fact #1: There are more than 1 million elevators and escalators between the U.S. and Canada that make more than 20 billion trips every year.

Fun fact #2: Building transportation systems are the safest form of public transportation in the world, and they are also the most used.

With the vast number of miles ridden annually, it is only natural that regular maintenance is required. No multistory building or city is immune to the need for elevators and escalators to be maintained properly. And maintenance means downtime because it is too dangerous for mechanics to work on equipment that is still in service.

Sometimes equipment may breakdown as well. Equipment can be out of service anywhere from minutes to weeks or longer depending on the circumstances, parts needed and their availability, complexity of the work, and many other factors. For some reason, however, these service disruptions tend to draw more attention than when a flight gets cancelled, or a car breaks down. And it seems like the media is often eager to point the finger at the party they feel deserves all the blame – the elevator service provider.

What’s the real story?

Let’s start with better understanding the role of the elevator industry in building transportation. There are three aspects to the building transportation industry – manufacturing, modernization and service/repair. Yes, there are a limited number of elevator manufacturers, and these same companies also do the majority of modernizations in North America, but when it comes to service/repair, however, there are hundreds of companies – large and small – that undertake this work.

Now let’s consider some of the assertions that have arisen in the media lately.

Statement: Manufacturers design their units in a manner so they can be the only ones to perform service, forcing building owners and property managers into long-term relationships they don’t want to be in. Is this fact or fiction? It is fiction.  

Safety codes require manufacturers to supply special tools if needed for their equipment, as well as unique procedures to guide other companies in how to work on their systems. Yes, technology can be “proprietary” but that is not unique to the elevator industry – many companies design equipment and develop processes/procedures that are not shared with competitors. But the key is whether or not equipment is “serviceable” and, all elevator and escalator equipment is serviceable by companies other than the manufacturer.  

Statement: Elevator service providers “bully” building owners and property managers into bad service contracts. Fact or fiction? This assertion too is fiction.

First, all elevators should be serviced on a regular basis to check equipment and ensure proper functionality. Promoting regular service  is not a  provider trying to get more money out of a customer, but rather those companies being responsible partners in ensuring the safety of that building’s tenants and guests. The responsibility for securing a service contract is on the building owner or manager, and the terms of that contract are ultimately determined by the building owner or managerand not the service provider.

Second, the enforcement of the applicable safety codes is the responsibility of the jurisdiction. So, when there is a failed safety inspection, it is the responsibility of the jurisdiction to take appropriate actions to ensure those systems are brought into compliance.

Statement: If an elevator has failed an inspection, that means it poses serious or life-threatening risks. Fact or fiction. Again, this statement is fiction.

A non-complaint inspection could be the result of a low risk issue such as a missing light on a button panel or missing signature on a form. It is critical to understand the root cause of a failed inspection as oftentimes the reasons elevators may be taken out of service is for minor issues.

Statement: The age of equipment can play a role in equipment being taken out of service for extended periods of time. Fact or fiction? This statement is a fact.

But the age of equipment alone does not result in breakdowns or equipment being out of service for extended periods of time. Many times, these issues arise because building owners or managers skip routine maintenance, delay modernizations, or forgo investing in necessary upgrades.

The lifespan of an elevator is 20 to 25 years, although there is legacy equipment in operation that is 30 or more years old. Think about driving a car built in 1988 with more than 200,000 miles on it. The greatest mechanic can be performing the highest level of service, but that car is going to break down if key components are not replaced when needed. We accept this “standard operating procedure” when it comes to automobiles and have no issue replacing belts, plugs, electronics and transmissions. So why are people unwilling to accept that elevators that are 25 years old too?

Readers should now have a better understanding of why elevators shut down or need to be taken down out of service, but what causes equipment to be out of service for an extended length of time?

Here are the facts.

Supply chain issues and parts shortages have impacted all industries due to the pandemic and recent geo-political events, and the elevator industry is no exception. Medium covered this issue when it discussed how the semiconductor shortage was impacting elevators as modern elevator systems rely on semiconductors for motor control, data transmission and interface with touchscreens, sensors and communication systems. The age of equipment can also impact the availability of parts as many companies do not stockpile large quantities of parts for elevators that are more than 30 years old.  

There is also a lack of qualified elevator mechanics. NEII, NEIEP and the IUEC are working together to grow the talent pipeline with a heightened focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion through partnerships with organizations like SkillsUSA, which is developing the skills of  students interested in pursuing a career in the trades.

The elevator industry is constantly working to ensure building transportation remains the safest form of transportation. And while there will always be obstacles (we didn’t even touch upon how human error and misuse can shut down or damage vertical transportation systems), the elevator industry will always put the safety of passengers and its workers first. So, the next time an elevator or escalator is out of service, I urge you to separate fact from fiction.

To stay up to date on the elevator industry, follow the National Elevator Industry, Inc. on its social media channels and bookmark www.neii.org.

TOPEKA, KS (June 26, 2023) – National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), the premier national trade association providing advocacy, codes, safety expertise, and industry research for the elevator and escalator industry, in partnership with the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), participated in the SkillsUSA Techspo Trade Show, which was held June 20-22, 2023, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The elevator industry leaders co-sponsored a booth with hands-on simulations to help students visualize a day on the job as an elevator and escalator technician. Several mechanics from NEII member companies were onsite to speak with students about their career paths and the rewarding work the industry provides. There was also an opportunity for students to take an elevator selfie for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including an iPad Pro.

“NEII is thrilled to join together with NEIEP and embark on this partnership with SkillsUSA. Together, we hope to connect with individuals interested in the trades and develop an expanded pipeline of talent for this incredible industry,” said Amy Blankenbiller, Executive Director of NEII.

The Techspo Trade Show is part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, which features more than 6,500 career and technical education students—all state winners—who participate in a variety of trade, technical and leadership competitions. This was the first time the elevator industry has participated in this event.

SkillsUSA is a national organization with chapters in every state, serving more than 300,000 middle school, high school, as well as college/postsecondary students interested in pursuing careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. According to SkillsUSA, 49.6% of their students are from historically underrepresented groups by race and ethnicity, and 38% identify as female. The elevator industry has made tremendous strides in recent years improving diversity and inclusion in the financially lucrative elevator industry. 

“As an industry, we want to ensure a workforce that is diverse and inclusive. Partnering with a national network like SkillsUSA is a great opportunity to reach a workforce more indicative of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and brings a special talent to the elevator industry,” added David Morgan, NEIEP Executive Director.

For more information on the elevator industry, go to neiep.org and neii.org.

Modern elevator emergency communications address an important industry challenge – communication during entrapments for visual-, hearing- and speech-impaired passengers 

By Amy J. Blankenbiller, Executive Director, National Elevator Industry, Inc.

The elevator industry has numerous processes and procedures in place to ensure a speedy and safe resolution to entrapments. ” Elevator emergency communications systems have been around since the 1950’s; however, there have been several changes and improvements along the way.  Every elevator built today is equipped with a means to communicate with someone who can take action 24/7. 

Elevator emergency communications systems are available in hundreds of thousands of elevators around the world and serve as serve an important safety function. For those passengers who are either hearing- or speech-impaired, the solution is not that simple. And that communication barrier can lead to a frightening experience.  

NEII Senior Director of Codes, Kevin Brinkman, does an exceptional job of sharing what went on behind the scenes from a codes perspective to bring two-way elevator emergency communications for all to life in NEII’s next article for Elevator World, which will appear in the June 2023 edition. This is a must-read for building owners and property managers. In it, Kevin touches on how, starting in the early 2000s, elevator emergency communications advanced from a handset to a single push button identified by the word “HELP”and included braille markings for vision-impaired passengers. He walks through the technological advancements and resulting elevator code enhancements that have steadily improved emergency communications since, highlighting requirements in the 2018 edition of the International Building Code and the 2019 edition of ASME A17.1/CSA B44. 

I am proud of the work that Kevin and his code colleagues have achieved to improve safety for visual-, hearing- and speech-impaired passengers through the development and adoption of these code provisions. NEII will continue to review the codes and promote provisions that protect the safety of industry professionals and the riding public. We will also continue efforts to ensure consistent adoption and enforcement of policies, codes and regulations; maximize choice for building transportation systems; drive innovation and performance; and be the definitive leader and trusted resource for industry information.