NEII Provides Code Development Update

National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) provided a code development update. On the ASME A17/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, the A17 Standards Committee met in October and finalized several editorial changes to the 2025 edition. A second draft for public review is expected soon. Work is now focused on the 2028 edition. The A117 Committee continues to meet virtually every two weeks to review proposed revisions to the ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible Buildings and Facilities. More than 250 proposals were submitted and actions from the first round of comment reviews were balloted and sent out for public comment. The committee completed its review of the comments from the ballot and the public review, and has issued a new committee ballot along with a concurrent public review. Also in October, the ICC held its second committee action hearing on Group A of the 2027 edition of ICC International Building Code Series, or I-Codes. Another public comment period will be held prior to joint public hearings in 2026. The IBC general sections, which include Chapter 30 on elevators (excluding 3003) are now part of Group B and are due in January 2025. Second draft meetings to review proposals for the 2026 edition of the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code are in progress. Article 620, which addresses elevators, saw approximately 30 proposals. First draft meetings for the 2027 edition of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and the NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code were held in July. A public comment period will open in March 2025, and second draft meetings will occur in June and July 2025 to review these comments. Recent code adoptions include Massachusetts, with adopted the 2021 I-Codes with minor changes to reflect state rules, effective October 11.