NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2009 – ASME in conjunction with two leading industry groups will hold a webinar on the ASME A17.7 Performance-based Code for Elevators.  The free webinar will take place on October 13, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. EST.

The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) and National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International are joint hosts of the webinar, which will aim to inform and educate jurisdictional authorities and other government officials on the content and requirements of the ASME A17.7/CSA B44.7.

Released in 2007 as a companion document to ASME A17.1/CSA B44, the A17.7 code provides uniform standards and requirements for safety in the design, installation, and operation of elevators.  A17.7 is somewhat more flexible than the more traditional, prescriptive A17.1, allowing manufacturers to deploy new elevator technologies and system improvements while meeting optimum safety requirements.

There are approximately 700,000 to 800,000 elevators in use in the United States, with some 100,000 new installations or extensive retrofits each year.

Lou Bialy, director of codes and standards for Otis Elevator and chair of the NEII Central Code Committee, and Ed Donoghue, NEII administrator, will lead the webinar.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

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