Elevator Industry Releases Report on the State of Reliability and Availability in Ontario

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - The National Elevator and Escalator Association (NEEA) has released a detailed report examining the current state of the elevator industry in Ontario. The report, Reliable Elevators – How Ontario Can Become a National Leader for Transportation Systems in Buildings, includes a suite of recommendations to increase reliability and availability, without compromising safety to mechanics and the riding public.

"We are pleased to submit this report to the government of Ontario after extensive consultation with the industry and other stakeholders," said Kelly Leitch, President of the National Elevator and Escalator Association. "The evidence is clear that there are a number of strategies which, when implemented, will help address concerns in the public regarding elevator reliability and availability. Many of these recommendations can be implemented now and impacts to the public will be seen in the immediate future. The report is truly an industry solution and we are pleased to say that CECA/ACEA fully supports the recommendations in the NEEA report. The Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) represents over 90 percent of the elevators maintained in Ontario."

This industry report was initiated by the recent introduction of the Reliable Elevators Act, a Private Members Bill by MPP Han Dong, and with the government's recently commissioned Deloitte report on elevator availability. The bill would amend the Consumer Protection Act of 2002 to require elevator contractors to complete repairs on an elevator regardless of the contractual agreement with building owners. It would also establish narrow timelines under which contractors would be forced to repair and restore service to an elevator under all circumstances. Unfortunately, these dangerous political proposals crafted from anecdotal evidence may jeopardize the safety of mechanics and the public. It could also substantially raise maintenance fees, ultimately passed onto residential and commercial building owners and tenants.

"NEEA members strongly support the goals of safe and reliable elevators. The Reliable Elevators Act, as written, does not ensure safer or more reliable elevators and does not establish a pathway to reducing the time elevators might be out of service," said Leitch. "Instead, it will price residents and other tenants out of their buildings, increase safety risks, and decrease competition in the market. It is vital that reforms to the elevator industry be focused on evidence-based decision making, not political motivations that directly contradict clear statistical data and create unintended consequences for all Ontarians."

NEEA has undertaken extensive research and consultations to determine the true extent of the problem and root causes of elevator outages in Ontario, as well as potential solutions for both new and existing buildings. It has also examined external factors, such as power grid brownouts and failures, which are responsible for a significant portion of service calls.

"First, we must ensure that there are an adequate number of elevators installed in new buildings. Canada currently has no standard or guidelines for aligning building transportation systems with the anticipated occupancy and use of the building. NEEA supports the development of a standard. We must also look at existing buildings. Single-speed elevators and elevators that are well past their useful service life are the ones causing recurring maintenance and safety concerns in Ontario," said Leitch. "The government and regulators must work with building owners and industry to eliminate outdated technology, such as single-speed elevators, from the province. We also know that power failures and brownouts are a leading cause of outages and entrapments. We look forward to working with government and other stakeholders in the province to address these problems and recommendations to ensure that Ontario's elevators continue to be safe and reliable."

The National Elevator and Escalator Association (NEEA) serves as the voice of the elevator and escalator industry across Ontario and throughout Canada. It represents elevator manufacturers, installers and service providers including KONE, Otis, Schindler, and Thyssenkrupp, who service the majority of elevators and escalators installed in Canada and around the world.

To obtain a copy of the report, please go to: https://www.dropbox.com/Reliable Elevators – How Ontario Can Become a National Leader for Transportation Systems in Buildings

SOURCE National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA)

For media inquiries, please contact: Christian von Donat, NEEA Public Affairs, [email protected], C: 613-408-0498 / O: 613-233-8906