Why change the elevator and escalator safety code?

摘要

The very first safety code for elevators and escalators was adopted in the U.S. in 1921. Since then, 15 subsequent editions and numerous supplements have been released, culminating in the ASME A17.1-2000 edition effective March 23, 2002. Historically, each edition was shaped by a variety of forces. One of the principal objectives driving the most recent ASME A17.1/B44-2000 edition was the creation of a single North American Code and a joint American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standards Committee with U.S. and Canadian participation. Standardization and unification efforts have been strongly advocated by elevator equipment manufacturers, represented by the Canadian Elevator & Escalator Association (NEEA) and the U.S. National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII). While the final product was not total "harmonization" of codes in North America, significant groundwork was laid for future cooperation and harmonization between the two standards-writing organizations, ASME and CSA.