Tag Archive for: Age In Place

Elevator Service Company, Inc. Receives Approval for Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator in Massachusetts

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March 29, 2018 Cambridge, MA— As of 12:00 pm March 29, 2018, in Cambridge, MA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has fully approved the use of the PVE 30, 37, and 52 models for residential use.
The PVE is an eco-friendly elevator, powered by air. The elevator comes in three models, including a wheelchair-accessible model. PVE has been a manufacturer in the US since 2002 and is approved in 49 states.
“PVE is thrilled with the recent outcome of the first unit inspected and approved in Massachusetts. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but with the team efforts of PVE and Elevator Service Company, we have successfully accomplished out goal. We look forward to operating in Massachusetts without any restrictions moving forward”
-Stephan Gruber, PVE

After working closely with the Board of Elevator Regulations and the Office of Public Safety & Inspections-Division of Professional Licensure, Elevator Service Company was granted exclusive approval to install the first PVE. Elevator Service Company, Inc.’s President, Steven Roth remarked: “Upon the elevator’s successful installation, the PVE is now formally approved, and is available to consumers, by the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulators. We look forward to providing the best products and services our industry has to offer.”
Elevator Service Company, Inc. furnishes and installs Pneumatic Vacuum elevator in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and Eastern New York.
For more information on the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator, please visit www.ElevatorServiceCo.com or www.vacuumelevators.com

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home elevator safety

Home Elevator Safety-Are Home Elevators Safe?

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Elevators in the home are highly beneficial as well as safe. Residential elevators provide ease of access to other floors in the home, provide a safer route for carrying things from floor to floor, and adds significant value to your house.

Are Home Elevators Safe?

Yes they are. Aside from the best quality and durability of our manufacturers’ products, they’re equipped with features that prevent injury and misuse. Home elevator regulations cover everything from the construction of the elevator shaftway, weight limit, speed, and travel distance.

Safety Features of a Residential Elevator

While each state has different rules and regulations, they all require safety mechanisms and codes to meet in order to pass inspection.

Door Interlocks

Many states including Connecticut require door interlocks at each landing to prevent any door accessing the elevator from being open if the cab is not at that particular landing.

Safety Sensors

There are two main types of safety sensors for home elevators: door sensors and pit sensors.

Door Sensor

Door sensors prevent the elevator doors from closing if an object is detected. They use infrared or LED lighting to create a curtain of sorts, illuminating the entry way to the elevator cab at the landing.

Pit Sensor

Elevator pit sensors detect anything that might be in the pit and if something is detected, the elevator will not operate.

Fire Alarm

Fire alarms are required for operation. They must be installed in the shaftway.

3″ Rule

The 3″ rule as it applies to home elevators refers to the space at the footing between the elevator and the landing. The rule says that the space cannot exceed 3″. This ensures that people and small pets do not fall through and trap them.

Elevator Phone

A landline must be active and connected to the cab phone inside the elevator.

Emergency Backup

An uninterruptible power supply is required for home elevators and is located inside the machine room. In the event of a power failure (power outage or shortage), the battery backup activates and lowers the cab to the first stop so you can exit safely.

 

Applicable Elevator Codes:

The Uniform Building Code (UBC) references the IBC (International Building Code) which references ASME A17.1.

Residential elevators are addressed in Part 5.3 of the ASME A17.1 code.

  • 5.3.1 Private Residence Electric Elevators
  • 5.3.2 Private Residence Hydraulic Elevators

This 2012 edition provides updated cross-references and additional guidelines to coordinate with A17.1-2007.  It also features new guidelines on machine room-less (MRL) configurations.

Local jurisdictions need to be reviewed for additional compliance items and local regulations.

Example : California has its own set of Safety orders for elevators.

  • Division of Occupational Safety and Health – Title 8 regulations
  • Division 1. Department of Industrial Relations
  • Chapter 4. Division of Industrial Safety
  • Subchapter 6. Elevator Safety Orders
  • Group 4
  • Article 41
accessibility design for wheelchairs

Universal Design in 2014

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On November 18th, the Home Builders and Association of Connecticut, hosted the 2014 HOBI awards. Elevator Service Company, being winners of previous awards: 2012 Best New Construction Technology, and 2012 Best Optional Upgrade, we were of course, in attendance. Although we did not receive any awards this year, we did receive and unexpected bonus. Elevator Service Company and one of our contracted projects was a focus feature article in the 2014 Fall edition of the triennial Connecticut Builder Magazine.

The article focuses on two features. One, the need for Universal Design in modern home building, and two, how some builders are achieving that need.

Universal Design, is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. An in-home elevator is an answer to the need for Universal Design in the changing landscape of home building.

At one time, an in-home elevator was considered a luxury amenity. But as the need for homes to fit so many different requirements, for so many different lifestyles, an in-home elevator has become a necessity. “The high cost of land and the desire for more special purpose living space, has pressured builders to finish the basements and attics in new and remodeled homes. At the same time, accessibility and aging in place features are increasingly expected, and require builders to make their homes usable by everyone, regardless of their age or ability.” An in-home elevator covers all of these challenges.

The project, Deer Valley North in Ellington, CT, shows how the builder, Santini Homes, uses in-home elevators to fulfill the need for Universal Design. Santini Homes chose the Symmetry hydraulic, which us at Elevator Service Company, represent. The lifts, 10 units in total, fit the specification of all the new elements for homebuilding, and then some. Offering the quietest, smoothest ride possible, the units run from the basement level to the second floor.

As builders face more and more challenges, companies will need to rise to the occasion to over come them. You can be that Elevator Service Company will be there to help companies, customers, and consumers rise.

For more on the Connecticut Builder Magazine, click here.
For more on Deer Valley Homes, click here.
For more on Santini Homes, click here.