NAESA International

A rundown of what the organization offers year-in and year-out

by Jack Day

National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities (NAESA) International is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization comprised of diverse members who share a sincere interest in elevator safety, code enforcement and technology. Our organization includes elevator inspectors, mechanics, consultants, contractors, architects, engineers and manufacturers interested in elevator safety, code enforcement and technology.

NAESA’s purpose includes providing QEI (Qualified Elevator Inspector) certification training and testing to qualified individuals. Our program is certified through ANAB (ANSI Accreditation Board) under the ISO 17024 standard and audited annually for compliance with that standard. NAESA received its Accreditation from (ANAB) in September 2013. NAESA conducts between six and eight QEI certification classes annually, more if there is a higher demand. For additional information about the QEI certification program and the application, visit NAESA website.

NAESA conducts between six and eight QEI certification classes annually, more if there is a higher demand.

NAESA also conducts five regional workshops once each year in Ocean City, Maryland; Des Plaines, Illinois; and Las Vegas, Nevada; including two workshops, one in Toronto and another in western Canada. These workshops aim to inform and provide a forum for local elevator issues, focusing on personnel safety and helping promote the standardization of safety codes for elevators, escalators and related equipment. The workshops bring together people from all over the region to exchange ideas and learn. These workshops typically have several guest speakers discussing codes, local requirements, equipment and new technology. Attendance at these events allows individuals to mingle with others who have similar experiences in the industry. 

For the past 12 years, NAESA has hosted the Wisconsin Symposium, which is held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin — this year on September 21-22. The event is like the regional workshops outlined above, with additional items. First, it’s a beautiful resort area with plenty of recreational opportunities for the entire family. This year, we kick it off on September 20 with a golf outing, where proceeds benefit the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF). 

The following day and a half are filled with continuing education (CEU) opportunities for QEI individuals from around the country and Wisconsin State inspectors and mechanics. During the extended breaks and lunch, NAESA hosts 26 elevator vendors in the exhibit hall, where the attendees have an opportunity to put their hands on and ask questions about new and existing elevator and escalator products. The product vendors specialize in tools, safety equipment, accessibility products, controllers and maintenance products, including inspection companies and so much more. Snacks are provided during breaks, and lunch and an evening reception are included for each person registered. If you’re interested in viewing and discussing elevator products with vendors, CEUs, comradery and a place to take your family for some fun, consider the Wisconsin Symposium.

NAESA also provides classroom training on a variety of elevator code update subjects. These subjects align with continuing education. A QEI-certified individual is required to obtain 10 h of education each year. As discussed previously, regional workshops and the Wisconsin Symposium are ways of getting the necessary 10 h. Another method is to attend a NAESA code update class. This takes place in a classroom where NAESA teaches new updates to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Code Council (ICC) codes and standards affecting elevators and other conveyances. 

The standards affecting elevators may have either minor or significant changes. These standards, typically, are on a cycle of change every three years. Per QEI-1, a QEI person must know and understand how those changes affect the outcome of maintenance, inspection, installation and alteration as the updated codes are introduced. NAESA has several delivery methods for code update classes: The first is in person, and we present several dozen classes across the U.S. each year. In addition, we deliver webinars, each 5 h long, and we have several on-demand courses available. For additional information about the Wisconsin Symposium, regional workshops and code update classes, including webinars, visit NAESA Sessions page.

NAESA also creates and administers several specialty code classes each year. As customers wish to learn about a unique code subject(s) different from our standard annual offering, we work with those customers to provide a one-off classroom structure tailored to their code needs. 

NAESA provides access to historic A17.1 codebooks from 1996 back to 1921. This information benefits individuals who may encounter older equipment in their inspection travels. NAESA has an agreement with ASME to provide our members with this feature as a service. You may find these codes by logging into the NAESA website, clicking on your name and choosing “Legacy” codes. 

NAESA International awards three US$3,000 scholarships yearly, and our Canadian region awards three CAD$1,000 scholarship application yearly. Applications for the international scholarships are accepted between March 1 and May 31 annually for the upcoming school year. The Canadian region scholarships are accepted from April 15 to July 15. These scholarships are awarded to NAESA members, children and grandchildren.

NAESA was created more than 50 years ago to pass along elevator-related information and education. We certify QEI elevator inspectors and provide CEUs to help our members and those attending our courses and classes to better understand codes in this ever-changing world of elevators and escalators. 

Last year, NAESA education programs certified or re-certified more than 3,100 individuals. We intend to be the best in what we do, and NAESA looks forward to an even better and brighter future within our education program for the next 50 years.