Let’s Hear It for the Doors

by Ricia Sturgeon-Hendrick

The elevator industry was very lucky to be considered “essential” throughout regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, so maintenance continued, while construction stalled. An industry survey conducted by Elevator World, Inc; VFA Interlift; and AFAG, in association with Credit Suisse, produced interesting results. COVID-19 Impact/Outlook by Kaija Wilkinson gives an excellent view of our industry in the fifth month of the virus. The international survey reveals a slightly cautious industry outlook, with 69% of responding elevator companies saying they expect stability or favorable development. Still, many are struggling. Construction has slowly picked up, but many new buildings are being rethought. The way we design and elevator a building may change dramatically in the future.

Our focus this month is Doors and Sensors. The response on this subject is always good, and this time is no different. Doors can be a continuous issue for maintainers and a liability issue for building owners:

• Monitoring From the Outside in by Dan Bryant and Marty Blackmon explains the use of predictive remote monitoring at Datahoist to determine the health trend, including door issues, of an elevator.
• 3D Radar Light Curtain by Matt Davies is a review of the various systems available from cameras and/or sensors used to protect approaching passengers.
• A Look at Door Safety by Muharrem B. Çakırer is a review of the current tests on doors and door locking effectiveness based on the CE mark and EU codes.
• All Sills, All the Time by Wilkinson: Scott Akin’s company Archi-Tread in New Jersey focuses on the door sill — important for holding the door steady. Sills take quite the beating, but the company’s Sillskin can save the day.
• Price Versus Cost of Stainless-Steel Elevator Sills submitted by Plymouth Engineered Shapes makes the case for installing stainless-steel sills, as using a tougher material enables longer life.
• Our Continuing Education article, Door Reopening Devices – A Field Perspective by Lakshmanan Raja, discusses the code sections applicable to light curtains and their blind spots and more.
• Our History columnist Dr. Lee Gray gets into the act, as well, with The M-C-K Automatic Safety. This historical perspective describes Solomon M. Miller’s invention of an interlock to prevent the car from moving with an open door and the door from opening if the car was not at the landing. He was awarded six patents between 1912 and 1924.
• One of our features this month is Open Wide by Jose Vilchez. It describes a modernization job (by Otis and The Peelle Co.) on the National Theatre in Warsaw, Poland. The elevator has 30-ft-wide vertical-sliding freight doors.
• A Vision Evolves by John Stopes is the story of an entire building being completely revised. This is a fascinating study in which development money and architectural support ran out when the core was six levels high. A new company redesigned it, including the vertical transportation. One of the tallest buildings in London, 22 Bishopgate, has come a long way since the original “Helter Skelter” scheme.

Just as tennis tournaments are back open, Stade Roland-Garros in Paris is being transformed with 27 new elevators. Prestige, Made in France is this month’s cover story. Otis France has been involved with the home of the French Open for 40 years and was proud to showcase this job.

Stay safe, and enjoy this issue. I’m always interested in your feedback.