Evening star., 1922-04-16

Governing what is called the great
est transportation system, American
engineers have devised a code to safe
guard the millions carried daily by
the nations elevators. Development.
now completes Of this safety code for
elevators, as 1t has been officially
styled, was the. work of more than
five years, during which industrial
boards and commissions in many
states, the United States bureau of
standards, the American Institute OF
Architects, insurance companies and
manufacturers co-operated with the
society's committee headed by Chair
man John w. Upp of the General
Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
In this country. it was stated, there
are about 156.000 elevators, and the
code is designed to apply to all OF
these. New York city leads with
$4,000, and Chicago is second with
5000. According to the chairman OF
the committee. the elevators of New
York daily transport 100000 pas
sengers. more than all the railway
and street transportation systems
combined.
Writing Code Into Law.
These figures. supported by the
United States bureau Of standards.
include. according to a statement Is
sued by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers. both passenger
and freight elevators embracing all
the different types, such as electric,
hydraulic, steam and hand power.
1ox in no n n
States, the experts found, are oper-
ated electrically. There are about
10000 hand-power elevators, the re-
manning $4,000 power elevators being
of the hydraulic, steam, and belted
type. States and cities, and even for
eign countries. particularly Japan,
are considering the adoption Of the
code, which, like the boiler code and
power test codes of the society. is
working it's way into state and mu-
Reduction of accidents with their
heavy toll of human life is the aim
of the elevator safety code. THE
larger city is and the more con-
gested the business district the
greater will be the number of eleva-
tors per thousand population" said
the society's statement. Safe as
modern elevator travel is, there are
still a large number of elevator acci-
dents. The number of fatal accidents
press clipping bureaus for period
Of five and one-half years was 978,
while the non-fatal accidents totaled
1856.
Elevators Seldom Fall.
"It is safe to assume that the total
accidents in the entire country during
this period was at least twice this
number. New York city alone. ac-
cordinE to the coroner's records,
killed not less than 721 persons in q
period of two years. while Chicago
lists 401 fatalities for period OF
thirteen years.
Contrary to popular opinion. only
a very small percentage Of the total
number Of accidents are due to the
dropping of the elevators: certainly
not over per cent are attributable
to this cause: modern safety devices
and higher factors Of safety Tor canfes
have practically eliminated falling
cars as a source Of accident.
"Approximately three-Quarters OF
the fatal and serious non-fatal acci-
dents occurring in the United States
occur at the hoistway doors and,
sImost siranseis evenly enIys divided Between the
ciassifications: Failing down the
hoistway' and crushed by moving
cart Practically all such accidents
NAV be eliminated by the installation
Of interiocks which will prevent the
movement of the car while the hoist
way door is opened or unlocked. and
will hold the hoistway door locked
when the car is not At the Landing.
The new safety code for elevators
nrTes the use Of such interlocks on
ali passenger elevators.
This code was prepared by COM
,,ittH ON which were representatives.
~ nractically all interests concerned;
elevator manufacturers. insurance iny
snsciaities, state and municipal ON