ELENET 876

Issue 876 | 2/3/2021

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ELEVATOR WORLD’S February Issue

Features: Urban Mobility in Istanbul; Sky Ring Inclined Elevators; A Modern Approach; Making It Small

Focus on Maintenance: Cut Back the Callbacks; Escalator Fractal Behavior, Part Four; Going Remote; Hoist Rope Longevity; How Elevators Should Be Maintained; Preventive Maintenance; Vertical Sliding Door Maintenance; Technological Influence Over Sustainable Maintenance

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EW FOCUSES ON CABS AND CAB ACCESSORIES: ELEVATOR WORLD’s April issue will focus on Cabs and Cab Accessories. There will also be a Special Advertising Section on COVID-19 products and a Continuing Education article. Bonus distribution of the issue is planned for the International Association of Elevator Consultants Forum NYC and the International Sourcing Exposition for Elevators and Escalators in India. The deadline for editorial submissions is February 15. To participate or for more information, contact the EW editorial department at phone: 251-479-4514, ext. 30 or editorial@elevatorworld.com. To advertise, contact ext. 38 or advertising@elevatorworld.com.

CTBUH ANNOUNCES BEST TALL BUILDING WINNERS FOR 2021: The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently announced the best Tall Building Award of Excellence Winners for 2021. The buildings were evaluated across five height thresholds and three functions — under 100 m, 100-199 m, 200-299 m, 300-399 m and 400 m and above, and office, mixed-use and residential. Additional winners in engineering, construction, interior design, urban habitat and more, will be announced later. The winners now move on to the next stage of the awards program, in which the owners/developers and design/engineering teams compete in the CTBUH 2021 Tall + Urban Conference for best-in-category recognition. Taking place online on May 18-20, the event will conclude with the announcement of the 2021 overall best tall building worldwide. Winners hailed from countries including the U.S., Canada, China, Australia, France, Germany and the U.A.E.

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OTIS ELEVATOR AIR STUDY: COVID-19 RISK LOW WITH MITIGATION: Otis released results of a three-month academic study on how elevator airflow affects potential exposure to COVID-19 (ELENET 854) on January 27. Led by Dr. Qingyan Chen, the James G. Dwyer professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, the study presented a science-based approach to mitigating exposure in elevators. Findings show the significant amount of air exchange in most elevators, combined with simple mitigation strategies (including all riders wearing surgical-style masks and installation of an air-purification system), puts an elevator ride on the lower end of the exposure spectrum. The study concluded that, when simple mitigation measures are in place, a short elevator ride of 1-2 min represents a very low risk of exposure compared with several everyday activities, such as dining outdoors and going to the grocery store. Intensity of exposure is impacted by the level of air exchange or ventilation. By design, elevators have significant air exchange and are required by code to have openings for ventilation. Many elevators also have fans to increase ventilation. “If all passengers properly wear masks, the relative exposure risk drops 50%,” Chen said. “Air purification systems that use NPBI® [Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization from Schaumburg, Illinois-based BSE] can reduce this risk by an additional 20-30%.”

TÜV SÜD SUPPORTS STANDARD FOR SINGAPORE MANUFACTURERS: Certification company TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH announced on January 28 that it will support lift component manufacturers in Singapore, in light of the new lift standard SS 550:2020. The new standard requires that, to gain approval, components be examined in accordance with the EN 81-50 European standard by an accredited and listed company. Falling under SS 550:2020 are components such as landing-door locks, safety gears, overspeed governors and safety circuits like programmable electronic systems in safety-related applications for lifts (PESSRAL). TÜV SÜD observed it can draw on its experience in the testing of lifts in accordance with the Lifts Directive and EN 81 series of standards, particularly functional safety testing of lift components and PESSRAL systems in accordance with EN 81-20 and -50.

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NEII, NYC DoB: SAFETY TRAINING DEADLINE IS MARCH 1: Kevin Brinkman, vice president of Codes & Safety at the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), and the NYC Department of Buildings (DoB) recently shared that the deadline for construction superintendents, site safety coordinators and site safety managers in NYC to have a total of 40 h of safety training is March 1. The DoB created digital assets, such as 15- and five-day deadline reminders, for interested parties to share on social media and encouraged them to include the hashtag #NYCBuildSafe. According to the DoB, all construction workers on more than 4,600 jobsites across NYC are currently required to have 30 h of safety training; by March 1, they must have completed an additional 10 h to receive their Site Safety Training (SST) cards and continue working. The DoB says approved training providers have already issued more than 110,000 SST cards to construction workers and safety professionals. A product of Local Law 196 of 2017, “SST is a first-of-its-kind training requirement. . .aimed at reducing preventable construction-related injuries. . . .” the DoB states.

CTA PLANS TO MAKE OVER STATIONS IN CHICAGO: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is set to undertake complete makeovers, including elevators and escalators, of four Red Line stations on the city's North Side, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on January 28. The stations, at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr, are part of the US$4.7-billion Red and Purple Modernization Project that started in 2014. The makeovers, set to begin this spring, will involve closure of all four stations, but CTA plans to create temporary openings alongside the Argyle and Bryn Mawr stops. The station makeovers, expected to complete by the end of 2024, will become 100% accessible and will focus on larger platforms and additional elevators and escalators. The Red Line is one of Chicago's busiest train lines, carrying about 70 million riders each year.

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IN MEMORIAM: RAYMOND L. ANDERSON: Raymond L. Anderson of Brockton, Massachusetts, passed away on January 25 in nearby Stoughton at age 82. He worked at Payne Elevator Co. (later acquired by thyssenkrupp) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for more than 40 years, retiring in 1997. Anderson volunteered at Good Samaritan Medical Center and for the Brockton High School Band Boosters. He was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. He is survived by children, Brian, Michael and Linda; four grandchildren; siblings, Stewart, George, Donald, Warren and Grace Zaccardi; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Copley at Stoughton, Attn: Activity Funds, 380 Sumner Street, Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072. Condolences may be made at Conley Funeral & Cremation Service.

CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS INVITED TO ONLINE WINE TESTING: Wurtec Canada and GAL Canada — A Vantage Company will hold a Virtual Wine Tasting Party set for 4:30 p.m. on February 18. The event, limited to 25 members of both contractors and suppliers, will include a 1-h Zoom video chat experience; a guided, interactive tasting of three premium wines by a consultant; and three premium Megalomaniac Wines shipped to each participating household in Ontario. Out-of-province participants may take part in the event with their own wine. The fee is set at CAD75 (US$58.71) in Ontario and CAD20 (US$15.66) for others. Registration is due February 5; to sign up or for more information, visit the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association.

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CHINESE GOVERNMENT LAUDS HITACHI ELEVATOR: Hitachi Elevator (China) Co., Ltd. received two awards at a ceremony on January 21 recognizing the OEM as a top procurement partner. Awarded as part of the 16th China Government Procurement and Centralized Purchasing Annual Meeting, Hitachi Elevator received the Top 10 Government Procurement Elevator Service Supplier and Government Procurement Elevator Innovative Technology Brand of Choice awards. In 2020, Hitachi Elevator said it posted sales of approximately US$3.4 billion and sold more than 115,000 elevators as it "promoted the transformation of the elevator industry through digitization and implementation of intelligent solutions” and provided elevator products and services for government initiatives including the Shenzhen Talent Settlement Project, Wenzhou Rail Transit Line 2 and Foshan Metro Line 3.

TfL APPROVES NEW ENTRANCE TO RAIL STATION: Transport for London (TfL) has won approval to improve the entrance to the Walthamstow Central Tube rail station for the Victoria line, Ian Visits reported on January 29. The proposal, part of a plan for rebuilding a nearby shopping center, involves the entrance to the railway station on the south side that also includes a large bus station and access to both the underground and the London Overground. The Victoria line currently has one pair of escalators up to the ticket hall, which is shared with the Overground facility, causing congestion at peak hours. In addition, the Victoria line platforms lack lift access for people with mobility needs. The new plan will double the number of escalators and include a large lift that will help draw people from the existing shared exit. The new hall will not have a ticket office, but will have ticket machines and come with six standard ticket barriers and two wide barriers. The report did not say when the work would begin.

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VT IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED AT VANCOUVER SKYTRAIN STATIONS: The Greater Vancouver Regional Fund (GVRF), which comes from the federal gas tax, is fueling vertical-transportation (VT) upgrades at six Vancouver SkyTrain stations, The Georgia Straight reports. TransLink, metropolitan Vancouver's transportation network, is handling the project: two elevators each installed at the Edmond and Columbia stations, and one each at the 29th Avenue, Patterson and Waterfront stations. Three new escalators are coming to the Commercial-Broadway station. Part of a CAD18.4-million (US$14.4-million) project, the VT equipment is set to be operational in 2023.

ONE OF TALLEST TIMBER TOWERS PLANNED FOR LAUSANNE: 3XN, working with IttenBrechbühl, designed the mixed-use, 85-m-tall Tilia Tower for developers Insula SA and Realstone Group planned in Lausanne, Switzerland, New Atlas reports. At 85 m tall, it would be among the tallest timber towers in the world, rivaling the 85.4 m height of Mjøstårnet, the current world's tallest timber tower in Brumunddal, Norway. On the drawing board are apartments, stores and a hotel within roughly 37,000 m². The source observed it is unclear whether Tilia Tower will have a concrete core or be all-timber like Mjøstårnet. The plan, which also includes upgrading an adjacent office building to make it more energy efficient, highlights the "natural beauty of the wood" and lets in plenty of light. No construction timeframe was provided.

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JPMORGAN’S SUPERTALL HQ BEGINS ASCENT IN NYC: With demolition of its former, 52-story headquarters expected to reach street level this spring, JPMorgan Chase’s new, 1,425-ft.-tall headquarters (most recently in ELENET 854) has begun its ascent at 270 Park Avenue in NYC’s Midtown East, New York YIMBY reports. In January, the first steel beams were being assembled on the Madison Avenue-facing side of the parcel to make way for the supertall, which will span the entire block between East 47^th and 48^th streets from Park to Madison avenues and offer 2.5 million ft² of office space. The massive steel beams appear to be the first in a series of angular supports at the tower’s base. The midcentury-style former JPMorgan headquarters, previously the Union Carbide Building, will become the “tallest building to ever be peacefully demolished.”

BETHESDA'S THE ELM SET FOR RENTERS TO MOVE IN: Residents are set to begin moving into The Elm, a two-tower, 456-unit high-rise apartment block at 4710 Elm Street in downtown Bethesda, Maryland, the The Washington Post reported on January 28. Move-in is expected to start in February. The Elm, a 29-story tower, stands adjacent to a pocket park that opens onto Bethesda and Woodmont avenues, which are home to dozens of restaurants, shops and a movie theater. The Capitol Crescent Trail is also nearby. There is a 28th-floor skybridge between the two towers and includes a bar, catering kitchen and private dining areas. The designer includes a UV light to sanitize the air, including a heating and air-conditioning system. “The Elm is part of Montgomery County’s vision for a first-class, transit-oriented destination," said Oliver Carr, III, CEO of Carr Properties, a developer along with Bozzuto and Insight Property Group. Rental units range from 606 ft² to 1,790 ft², including studios up to three-bedroom units.

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32-STORY TOWER SET TO RISE IN PHILADELPHIA’S CENTER CITY: Demolition is underway at 204 South Street in Washington Square West in Philadelphia’s Center City to make way for a 32-story, mixed-use tower designed by Bower Lewis Tower Architects and Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners, Philadelphia YIMBY reports. The concrete structure wrapped in glass with bright orange highlights will contain 448 residential rental units and three floors of retail. Approximately 12 buildings, including one sporting a mural of LGBTQ activist Gloria Casarez, are being taken down, which sparked controversy, disputes and delays. Midwood Investments and Development is behind the plan, slated for completion in summer 2023.

NEW PAIR OF FOBS OPEN IN GUWAHATI, INDIA: Two new foot overbridges (FoBs) in Guwahati, India, opened February 1 and include elevators and escalators, Gplus reports. The FoBs allow pedestrians to cross at Ganeshguri, near the Apollo Hospital, and Christian Basti, near a post office. The opening was inaugurated by Assam Public Works Department Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who noted security officials have been assigned to each FoB. The first day of the opening brought huge crowds to examine and photograph the FoBs, causing traffic jams. The crossings will be open 24 h, seven days a week, but the elevators and escalators will tentatively operate only from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

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TALLEST OFFICE TOWER IN NORTH SYDNEY IN THE WORKS: Developer Stockland is planning to build an AUD500-million (US$381-million) office tower designed by Hassell that, at 55 stories, would be the tallest in North Sydney, Australia, The Urban Developer reports. Banking on a post-pandemic return to Sydney's "second CBD," Stockland intends to offer 75,000 m² of lettable space with large, flexible floorplates and a 4,900-m² podium housing childcare facilities, a wellness area and event space at 110 Walker Street. The podium would be topped by an outdoor terrace to host events, and the plan also features publicly accessible restaurants and a rooftop garden. The tower will dwarf Lendlease's recently approved 42-story tower in North Sydney.

NEIGHBOR APPROVED FOR LONDON’S “WALKIE-TALKIE” TOWER: London's Rafael Viñoly-designed, 37-story "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper at 20 Frenchurch Street will likely be getting a 30-story neighbor, with the City of London Corp. approving Hong Kong developer Tenacity International Group's office tower plan, Bloomberg reports. The source observed it is one of the largest proposed developments in London's financial district since the onset of the pandemic, and noted there are indications that big corporations continue to commit to longterm leases, given a dearth of new office space. Noting that Brexit and the pandemic have created "incredibly difficult conditions," Tenacity CEO Patrick Wong said he believes "London is, and will remain, an attractive city for companies large and small, and their workers."

Prysmian Group is committed to developing products and integrated solutions that enhance safety and mitigate risk on elevators, escalators and moving walks. Draka Elevator offers a line-up of safety products within the hoistway and top-of-car (stop switches, inspection/pendant stations, TOC safety rails, HOSS), pit safety products (stop switches, lights, ladders), car safety products (emergency escape hatch switch, alarms, spirators, door gibs, signage) and more. Our EHC Global escalator Safety+ solutions include LED UV-C handrail sterilization, NT+ handrail (SafeRail, MotionRail, AMRail), signage, automated messaging systems and more. Contact your local sales representative to learn more about our combined Safety offerings. Visit us online at www.drakaelevator.com and www.ehc-global.com. Stronger Together!

VEGETATION-COVERED RESIDENTIAL TOWER PART OF MILAN PLAN: A project commissioned by COIMA SGR in Milan, Italy, involves bringing an iconic, 1950s office building up to current European Union energy regulations and constructing a new, vegetation-covered residential tower next door, New Atlas reports. Architecture firms Stefano Boeri Architetti and Diller Scofidio + Renfro conceived Pirelli 39, which includes renovation of the 127-m-tall, 32-story Pirelli office tower and the new tower, which appears to be of similar height. The buildings will be connected by a greenery-filled bridge, and the 1,700 m² of foliage on the tower will change colors with the seasons and absorb 14 mT of CO₂ and produce 9 mT of oxygen a year. No construction timeline was provided.

CONSTRUCTION TOPS OUT ON THE SPIRAL IN NYC: The 1,031-ft-tall, 66-story The Spiral (most recently in ELENET 844), under construction at 66 Hudson Boulevard in NYC, has topped out, New York YIMBY reported on January 29. As a group of officials, led by Rob Speyer, president and CEO of developer Tishman Speyer, watched, a green tree was lifted atop a steel beam rising up the building. With a design by Bjarke Ingels Group, the steel-framed structure at Tenth and Eleventh avenues and 34th and 35th streets will provide some 2.8 million ft² of office space. The six-story base will house a lobby that will have dual entrances on both Hudson Boulevard East and Tenth Avenue and include 28-ft-tall ceilings. The base will include some 25,000 ft² of first-class retail space. Completion is expected in 2022. The project total is listed at about US$3.7 billion.

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TRIO OF TOWERS FOR HISTORIC MARKET ARCADE IN ADELAIDE: Chinese-backed developer ICD Property won approval for a development that includes towers up to 38 stories at the Adelaide Central Market Arcade, a site dating back to 1869 in Adelaide, Australia, The Urban Developer reports. The Woods Bagot-designed project is set to start construction in the second half of 2021 and take approximately three years. The AUD400-million (US$303-million) plan includes 15,000 m² of office space, 11,200 m² of retail, a 249-room hotel and 210 apartments. ICD intends to turn 6,000 m² of retail space, including specialty shops, a supermarket and 280 public parking spaces, over to the city. Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor called the project a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow and secure the future of one of Adelaide's most iconic precincts."

NEW ELEVATORS EASE ACCESSIBILITY AT INDIAN RAILWAY STATION:

A new pair of elevators at Hatia Railway Station in Hatia, India, promise to ease accessibility for elderly, disabled, sick, female and young passengers, The Pioneer reports. Indian Railways officials and engineers gathered on January 25 to inaugurate the units at the station serving the city of Ranchi, which has trains frequently running to Delhi and Kolkata. Equipped with automatic rescue devices, fire alarms, announcement systems and intercoms, the elevators join station facilities such as ladders, ramps and escalators to help passengers move between platforms.

EDITORIAL AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: Editorial submissions, reprint permission requests and subscription/removal requests should be sent to editorial@elevatorworld.com. ELENET Editorial staff: Angela C. Baldwin, Lee Freeland, Kaija Wilkinson and Matt Irvin.

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