USA
Here is an excerpt from the book by Alexey Stepanov "Elevator Travel around the Countries of the World".
Contents
Elevator fleet
In the United States, there are about 1.2 million elevators and 36,000 escalators for a population of 333 million, while in neighboring Canada with a population of 39 million, there are about 100,000 elevators and 9,000 escalators. There are 19,000 companies operating in the US elevator market, and the number of people employed in the industry is 107,000.
The companies with the largest market share in the field of elevator installation and maintenance in the US and Canada are expectedly global brands: KONE, OTIS, Schindler and TK Elevator.
Urbanization of cities is growing at a steady pace - in 2020, North America accounted for 14% of the tallest building structures in the world. In addition, the installation of elevators in private homes is gaining popularity in the US.
Legislation
In North America, the combined elevator and escalator safety code is A17.1/CSA B44. In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) develops the ASME A17 elevator standard, while in Canada, the CAN/CSA B44 standard is managed by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). In Canada, B44 was based on A17 for a long time, but was not identical to it until the codes were harmonized in 2000, and elevator manufacturers doing business in both countries were finally able to produce to the same guiding standard.
The first edition of A17 was published in 1921. As elevator technology and housing developments evolved, the need arose for revisions to the code: at first, the code was released every five years, but now it is reduced to three years. The A17 Code is divided into nine parts, each of which addresses requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of various types of elevator equipment. To develop each revision of the A17 Code, ASME recruits volunteer experts from across the elevator industry. These experts are members of 28 working groups that report to the ASME Standards Committee. The elevator industry requirements described in the code are developed and maintained by representatives from a variety of disciplines, including equipment owners, manufacturers, installers, component suppliers, government agencies, insurers, and inspectors—a diversity of stakeholders that ensures a balance of interests is maintained.
The Standards Committee meets three times a year in January, May, and September, along with working group meetings, many of which also meet in person and online throughout the year. Anyone can apply to participate in the development of a new version of the code, but only official committee members and their alternates have the right to vote on decisions. The new code becomes effective six months after the publication date, and ASME issues written responses to inquiries regarding interpretation of technical aspects of the code. The 23rd edition of the consolidated code will be released in 2022.
Each state in the United States and province in Canada has its own elevator legislation, which is based on one of the editions of the code (the latest is A17.1-2019/CSA B44-19). There are areas where the latest edition of the code is automatically adopted by local legislation, but in most cases, the current state or provincial code is several editions behind. In addition, each state and province, through its own legislature, adopts its own codes for elevator equipment and maintenance. For this reason, it is important for elevator industry personnel to know which edition of the code and which codes apply in a particular state or province.
Elevator technology is constantly evolving, but building architects in North America are still limited in their ability to incorporate the latest elevator technology. As an example, ASME only approved machine room-less elevators in 2007 (even though they had been commercially available since the late 1990s).
Efforts are currently underway to “converge” the European standards EN 81-20 and EN 81-50 with ASME A17.1/CSA B44 in order to remove barriers to trade in elevator equipment by creating a global prescriptive standard that would be equivalent worldwide.
Elevator Associations
There are many different associations involved in the elevator industry in North America. We will briefly list the main ones here, and then look at some of them in more detail.
Labor organizations: Elevator Industry Workplace Safety Fund EIWPF (www.elevatorinfo.org), North American Builders Union NABTU (www.nabtu.org), International Elevator Electromechanical Union IUEC (www.iuec.org).
Associations of elevator manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors: National Elevator Industry NEII (www.nationalelevatorindustry.org), Canadian Elevator Contractors Association CECA (www.ceca-acea.org).
Educational associations: Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation EESF (www.eesf.org), National Association of Elevator Contractors NAEC (www.naec.org).
Other associations: International Association of Elevator Consultants IAEC (www.iaec.org), National Elevator Safety Association NAESAI (www.naesai.org).
Historic Elevators
One of the oldest elevators in North America is located inside… the Potbelly Diner, located at 637 Washington Indiana Ave NW. This elevator was manufactured and installed in the 1870s by the Bates Hoist Machine Company. The elevator is enclosed in plexiglass and is rather nondescript. Although the elevator mechanism is still intact, the elevator has been out of service for many years. Before the diner, the property housed a furniture store, whose owner used the elevator to offer rides to his customers. The elevator is designated a National Historic Landmark, which protects it from being dismantled by the building’s owner or tenants.
Another old, but still operational elevator can be found in the City Hall of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was installed in 1906 and has been in continuous operation ever since. In fact, the elevator has become something of an attraction for the curious public. The elevator is still operated by attendants and provides rides to both children and adults. In recent years, the elevator has suffered from mechanical and electrical problems, causing passengers to become stuck. Upgrading the elevator will cost nearly $450,000, sparking public debate about whether it should continue to operate. Two more old elevators can be found at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The electric elevators were installed in 1889 by the Otis Elevator Company. They are still used to serve disabled travelers, taking them to the second floor of the luxurious mansion.
The Union of Electricians
The International Union of Elevator Electricians IUEC (www.iuec.org) has been successfully operating in North America for over a hundred years. Since the end of the 19th century, there have been separate unions of elevator workers in American cities: in New York (1894), Chicago (1897), St. Louis (1898), Boston (1899), Philadelphia (1900), Pittsburgh (1901). However, at some point, elevator workers decided to unite to create an organization that would promote and protect the interests of elevator electricians from all over the United States. On July 15, 1901, eleven men from New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia gathered in a hotel room in Pittsburgh, and as a result of their meeting, the Union of Elevator Electricians was registered just three days later.
At the annual convention in 1903, the union established its official journal. That same year, the editor-in-chief created a logo for the new magazine, featuring an elevator car in the center of a circle, which later became the logo of the IUEC organization and is still used today.
The union acquired its International status after it provided financial support to striking electrical workers in Canada in 1903. Over the course of its history, the union has withstood several takeover attempts by larger labor movements: the Mechanics' Association and the Electricians' Association. The Union's primary activity is active participation in resolving numerous labor disputes between its members and employers. Today, the International Union of Elevator Electrical Workers has approximately 30,000 members in the United States and Canada.
Strong working relationships with employers have allowed the union to negotiate reliable contracts with excellent wages and benefits for its members. IUEC leadership prides itself on its ability to resolve disagreements and conflicts quickly and respectfully so that union members can continue to do what they do best - use their skills to install and maintain elevators and escalators. Union membership gives electrical workers the right to vote, including participation in open elections for union leaders. Interestingly, membership fees are voluntary, but in the event of death, only relatives of active members can count on benefits from the IUEC. The IUEC consists of 141 "local" union cells: 129 are in the United States and 12 in Canada. Many cells have their own website, and some even have mobile applications.
Personnel
Every two years, the US Bureau of Employment Statistics (www.bls.gov) makes interesting information on various occupations publicly available. For example, we can find out that in 2020, there were 24,800 elevator electricians in the US, their average age was 42 years old, and their race was 73% white, 17% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 5% African American.
In North America, the demand for elevator electricians is closely linked to the construction of non-residential buildings such as office buildings and stores with elevators and escalators - this type of construction is expected to grow over the next decade. In addition, the need for regular maintenance, upgrades and repairs of elevator equipment; ensuring access for the disabled and the elderly will support the demand for representatives of this profession.
Elevators, escalators, and moving walks must operate year-round, so the employment of elevator electricians is much less affected by economic downturns and seasonality than other construction trades.
There are about 2,500 openings for elevator and escalator electricians in the United States each year due to workers moving to other positions, retiring, or dying. In Canada, electricians are in such high demand that the Canadian government has an immigration program for foreign workers in this profession that allows them to obtain a Canadian permanent residence visa and then receive a job offer.
Apprenticeships
A labour shortage is driving demand for quality training, which is driving the growth of training centres in the elevator industry.
Men and women (!) who want to become elevator electricians can apply for a registered apprenticeship through the National Elevator Education Program (NEIEP) (www.neiep.org) or the Canadian Elevator Education Program (CEIEP) (www.ceiep-program.com), both of which are training centres of the International Union of Elevator Electromechanics (IUEC).
A career in elevator installation and repair typically begins with a four-year apprenticeship programme sponsored by a union, industry association or individual contractor. Registered apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you learn, meaning apprentices receive a living wage, health insurance and retirement benefits. Apprentices work alongside highly trained mentors who train them to install or service elevators and escalators. In addition, apprentices also receive mandatory theoretical training, which helps them learn more about their trade.
As apprentices progress through their apprenticeship, they receive a salary increase. Apprentices do not accumulate huge amounts of student debt; instead, they are paid to work and learn.
The National Elevator Apprenticeship Program is a four-year program. During this period, apprentices work five days a week with a mentor and attend four hours of theoretical training one evening a week. Apprentices typically receive at least 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training during each year of the program. During their training, apprentices learn about safety, how to read blueprints, mathematics, applied physics, elevator and escalator design, electrical engineering, and electronics.
The basic requirements for participating in the apprenticeship program are as follows: • Applicants must be at least 18 years old • Have a high school diploma • Be physically capable of performing heavy work • Pass basic math and reading tests • Pass a drug test
In addition, the educational program offers more than 40 continuing education courses for existing electricians to help them improve their skills. Continuous education is important for elevator installers and repairers to keep up with technological developments throughout their careers.
In Canada, each province has its own certification program and licensing requirements for electricians. Most U.S. states require electricians to be licensed.
Elevator electricians can earn the Certified Elevator Technician (CET) or Certified Residential Accessibility and Elevator Technician (CAT) certification through the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC). They can also be certified as Qualified Elevator Inspectors (QEI) through the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities (NAESAI).
Salary
An elevator electrician is one of the highest paid professions in North America. Thanks to the website of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), we learn that in the United States in 2020, the median (not average!) salary of elevator installers and repairmen was $88,540 per year or $42 per hour.
The salary of electricians varies greatly by state and ranges from $45,950 (mainly in the southern states) to $128,500 (on the east and west coasts). The hourly rate of an elevator specialist in San Francisco is $61.86. In Richmond, a worker with the same skill level will earn an average of $37.61 per hour. It is possible that such a range of salaries is due to the amount of taxes, which vary greatly depending on the state and city of residence (on average, taxes in the United States make up 20 percent of the salary).
Starting pay for apprentices is typically 50 percent of what a fully trained elevator mechanic earns. Assistants earn 80 percent of an electrician's rate.
Even by American standards, elevator mechanics' salaries are quite high and comparable to those of IT specialists. For comparison, according to the same U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salaries of carpenters are $49,520 per year, teachers $62,870 per year, programmers $89,190 per year, janitors $29,080 per year, accountants $73,560 per year, firefighters $52,500 per year, and police officers $62,290 per year. At the same time, according to statistics in the United States, the richest 10 percent of people earn more than $77,000 per year, and the poorest 10 percent earn less than $41,000 per year. In Canada, the average salary for elevator electricians is $76,763.
Elevator Museum
In 2011, a real elevator museum called the Historical Elevator Society opened in New York City. The museum was opened by 67-year-old veteran elevator mechanic Patrick Carr, who began studying elevators at the age of 11, when he helped his father, an elevator electrician, in his elevator business. Patrick then rose through the ranks and eventually became vice president of KONE. From the very beginning of his career, he collected various elevator-themed items: buttons, signs, plaques, badges, brochures, and more. By 2008, when Patrick retired, he and his associate Stephen Comley had amassed an impressive collection of 4,000 artifacts.
Patrick considers the original 1868 Otis Brothers handout to be his most valuable exhibit: all the elevators in this handout are steam-powered. Although the museum primarily served as a place to store his collection, Patrick also used the space to educate people about the elevator industry. Over the five years of its existence, about 3,000 people visited the museum for free (!), and Patrick, as a tour guide, told people about the history of elevators and tried to dispel some of the people's fears about the operation of lifting mechanisms.
Patrick tried in vain to find sponsors to finance the activities of his museum, but only the elevator publication Elevator World donated a large sum of money. Unfortunately, five years later, he was forced to close the museum.
After the museum closed, Patrick handed over his collection of exhibits to Stephen Comley, who founded a new Elevator Museum in 2019. The museum staff tells visitors about the past of elevators, shows how the elevator industry began and how much has changed over the past hundred years. You can buy various souvenirs at the museum. Tours last two hours and must be booked in advance at www.theelevatormuseuminc.org, and the museum is located at 145 Essex Street, Haverhill, MA 01832, USA. The museum operates under the slogan "Preserve Our Past and Elevate Our Future."
Elevator Enthusiast
44-year-old Andrew Reams, also known as DieselDucy, is the most famous elevator enthusiast in the world. Andrew is known as the first person in the world to start filming elevators as a hobby – he first filmed an elevator in 1993 (at the Hilton Hotel in Atlanta). One of the side effects of Asperger's is an obsession with things, which explains Andrew's interest in elevators is a consequence of the disease.
In 2006, Andrew began sharing his love for elevators by uploading his videos to YouTube, and later gained worldwide fame through media and publications. He currently lives in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Andrew has been fascinated by elevators since he was a child. When he was 3 years old, he used an elevator for the first time and was amazed by the "magic": the elevator could take him to other floors without him noticing. Because he loved it so much, he and his dad would spend most of his childhood going to random office buildings around the city of Atlanta and… riding elevators.
In 1988, Andrew was in the fifth grade and reading a National Geographic article about the high-speed Otis Elevonic 401 elevators at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta and he had the idea to film elevators with a video camera so he could replay the elevator ride as many times as he wanted and enjoy it. However, portable cameras were very expensive at the time, so it took him five years to realize his idea.
Andrew had a very difficult life growing up due to Asperger's syndrome. By the age of 30, he had overcome the disease and now lives a normal life: he is married, works full-time, and has a very successful channel about elevators. The most important message he wants to convey is that having autism does not mean you can't lead a full and happy life. In 2006, he started a YouTube account called "dieselducy", a nickname he came up with as a child for his now-vintage toy train. On his channel, he posts numerous videos of elevator rides. Andrew's YouTube channel currently has over 90,000 subscribers and over 228 million views. In addition, Andrew has built a community of fellow elevator enthusiasts.
As for Andrew's profession, it is far from elevators - from 2007 to the present, he has worked as a freight train conductor for the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
In addition to his YouTube activities, Andrew also runs his own museum called "elevaTOURS International Elevator Museum", which is a collection of elevator components that he stores in his garage and shows to anyone who wants to see them by appointment. Most of the exhibits are donated to him by elevator companies and people who are not indifferent to elevators. What started as a collection of elevator buttons has evolved into preserving and restoring pieces of elevator history from around the world. Unlike many other museums, Andrew's offers a hands-on experience, allowing visitors to touch and interact with the exhibits. To book a free visit to the museum, visit www.dieselducy.com.
Memorial
The elevator industry is one of the most lucrative industries, but with the benefits come the undeniable risks of working on dangerous equipment and in difficult conditions. To commemorate the lives of elevator mechanics who lost their lives on the job, the International Union of Elevator Electromechanics (IUEC) created the Memorial, a public garden located on the grounds of the IUEC headquarters in Columbia, Maryland.
Two massive black marble slabs bear plaques listing the names of more than 320 elevator mechanics, their union cell number, and the date of death, from 1903 to the present day. Concrete benches along the memorial, where visitors can sit and reflect, are curved to symbolize how a family's life is turned upside down by the loss of a loved one. The Memorial's walkway is paved with stone that can be custom-inked for $150 or $300 (depending on the size of the stone) as a special way to show support for the families, with proceeds going toward long-term maintenance and future improvements to the Memorial to ensure it is always in good condition. The official dedication of the Memorial was held on October 12, 2019, and was attended by over 500 IUEC family members, friends, and guests from across the United States and Canada. A three-minute video of the event, "IUEC Member Memorial Dedication 2019," is available on YouTube (highly recommended). The Memorial's website states, "Let us never forget our IUEC brothers and sisters who died on the job, taken from us too soon... In memory of those no longer with us, please return to work safely."
Elevator manufacturing
The largest elevator companies in North America, in descending order of market share, are: OTIS, TKE, Schindler, KONE, Fujitec, Delta Elevator (Canada), AVT Beckett (Canada), True Canadian Elevator (Canada), Mitsubishi Electric, Hyundai Elevator.
One of the most famous elevator companies in the world is the American corporation OTIS. We could not ignore it, but we will talk about it in more detail in the next issue of the magazine, but now we will note that the history of OTIS is very remarkable and inextricably linked with the development of the global elevator industry. It is noteworthy that in recent decades OTIS has been reducing its production in the USA (while simultaneously opening new sites around the world), while KONE, Shindler and TKE, on the contrary, bought American elevator companies and built factories in the USA. Now each company from the "big four" has research centers in the USA and operates 2-3 elevator production facilities. The tallest test tower in North America (and the Western Hemisphere) is located in Atlanta, which is one of the top three US cities with the most elevators. The 128-meter-tall Test Tower was built by TKE and will be fully operational in early 2022. Along with the tower, a building housing TKE's North American headquarters for 900 employees and a research center was built. It should be noted that this tower is far from the tallest tower in the world (273 meters), but its main feature is not its height. The Test Tower has 18 shafts, which will be used to improve TWIN technology, among other things. By the way, back in 2019, the 21-story Coda building appeared in Atlanta, in which ten elevators with TWIN technology are used in five shafts. Each elevator has its own main mechanical and electrical components, but uses the same guides and landing doors in one elevator shaft. It is believed that this technology allows saving available office space and transporting 40 percent more passengers than conventional elevators.
The tower will also be used to test MULTI technology - a ropeless elevator system with horizontal movement. In addition, the tower contains a special chamber that will help test the operation of elevators in extreme conditions: such as the arctic cold in Canada or the heat in Saudi Arabia.
Test towers are usually built near elevator factories on the outskirts of cities, but the Test Tower is located directly in the city of Atlanta itself, across the street from the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium. The facade of the tower opposite the stadium is made of glass, which will allow stadium visitors to watch not only the game of their favorite team, but also the testing of TKE elevators.
Elevator Lifespan
There is no legal limit on the lifespan of elevators in the United States or Canada. The lifespan of elevator and escalator equipment will depend on the quality of the equipment, how it was originally installed, when it is upgraded, and how it is maintained. Most elevators require an upgrade after about 25 years of operation - typically by this time elevator technology has advanced and it is time to change the controls and bring them up to code. Some elevators in North America have been in operation for 50-70 years, but at this point parts are no longer manufactured and it is difficult to find electrical technicians with the knowledge to keep older elevators in working order - all of which adds significantly to the cost of maintenance.
Elevator Media
The world's most famous elevator magazine, Elevator World (www.elevatorworld.com), has been the leading publisher of the global vertical transportation industry for over 68 years and is of American origin. Elevator World, Inc. was founded in 1953 by William Sturgeon, the director of a small elevator service company. In 1963, after selling his company, Sturgeon focused all his attention on the development of the magazine, which he managed until 1997. William became a true legend in the North American elevator industry and in 1995 the NAEC Association established an award in his name, which is presented to elevator engineers who have made the greatest contribution to the industry. William Sturgeon passed away in 2012 at the age of 95.
Currently, the empire of Elevator World, Inc. In addition to the flagship magazine, there are regional magazines EW India, EW Turkey, EW Middle East, EW China, Subir & Bajar (Latin America), EW UK and EW Europe; the largest directory of the international elevator and escalator industry EW SOURCE; an educational and publishing department; a dozen e-newsletters with a total reach of more than 30,000 industry professionals, as well as a network of websites that are visited annually by more than 900,000 people.
Last year, the magazine summed up the results of its 24th annual Project of the Year competition in several nominations of construction projects with unique lifting mechanisms. In 2021, Elevator World established a new Product of the Year award, which is awarded for outstanding achievements of elevator manufacturers whose products are the most innovative.
I would like to tell you about another rather unusual media outlet. The Elevator Radio Show is a weekly podcast dedicated to elevator news. The idea for the program came to Tom Seibert during his travels across the United States in 2005, when he realized that elevator industry workers had a hard time keeping up with the latest developments in the elevator world. The podcast was regularly released every Wednesday for 15 years, but has been discontinued since the summer of 2020. Tom Seibert did not respond to a request for comment from Liftinform magazine.
New York
Finally, we will visit New York. This most famous city in the USA has more than 84,000 elevators and 2,800 escalators – more than any other city in the USA or Canada. It was in New York that OTIS installed its first passenger elevator. This city is also home to the legendary 102-story Empire State Building, which has 73 elevators (all manufactured by OTIS) – more than any other building in the world.
One of the oldest elevator shafts in the world is located in the Foundation Building in New York. This shaft has an unusual history. In the mid-19th century, during the construction of the seven-story building, its architect foresaw the possibility of safe passenger elevators one day. For this reason, he provided for the installation of an empty cylindrical elevator shaft for the future elevator. Almost 40 years later, his son finally installed a unique round hydraulic elevator in the shaft, but in 1890 it was replaced by an electric one, which subsequently served until 1972.
Currently, in New York City, there is one working passenger elevator for every 139 users. The average height of a passenger elevator in New York is about 12 meters. According to the legislation of the metropolis, elevators must be installed in buildings higher than five stories.
The Elevator Division of the Department of Buildings (DOB) maintains the safety of operation and the legal use of elevators, escalators, and rides in the five boroughs of the city by conducting and monitoring inspections, testing, and issuing permits. In 2017, the Department of Buildings issued 4,816 citations for elevator violations.
The unusual report of the New York City Department of Buildings on elevators, “Elevator Report 2017,” provides an overview of the city's elevator fleet in the form of several interactive maps, from which you can find out in which areas of the city the most elevators are operating. Or, for example, one of the maps allows you to see the type and number of devices in each area of the metropolis, and also provides information on the number of devices in each building. Another map allows you to explore information about violations and complaints about elevators throughout the city.
One of the most interesting features of the report is historical. Using marks on the map, you can see the main milestones in the development of the New York elevator fleet, starting from 1850, when the city installed the first freight elevator, and up to the 1920s, when the city got its first private elevator for a penthouse.
