In my opinion it’s always better to have the OEM have the service contract but other mechanics are capable of taking care of the equipment, you have some stronger in some areas vs others. The mechanic could very well have seen traveler issues or Lon network problems.

I don’t have an answer for your code question.

Kone works on Lon. There were issues years ago with travelers being installed backwards and causing breaks in wire.

I think what you’re asking is can you, not being an elevator mechanic, put the car on independent service to hold the car for service during regular hours. Anything in the COP you have a key for you’re free to use. Put it on independent for a move in, take it off independent when done, put the run/stop switch on stop to prevent anyone from using it, or putting it back to run. You also own the disconnect and can shut it down although I wouldn’t recommend it if it can be avoided for diagnosis purposes. Just stay out of the controller and don’t use the hoistway access switch but you shouldn’t have that key anyway.

Thank you folks for the quick responses as well as providing some great guidance!

Best regards,

Jeff Edelson

In case you need actual code references to your boss This falls under Part 8 of ASME

A building owner’s maintenance staff would be considered Group 2 :Authorized Personnel

As group 2, you are allowed access to Group 2, 3 and 4 devices.

Independent Service is considered group 4 , so you could use it, but as others have said, it would still allow others to use the elevator. So not the best option.

As others have mentioned , the keyed Run/Stop switch, however that is considered group 1 and you should not be using it. While I don't agree with this, its how the code reads and any lawsuit would result in you being seen operating in a group you’re not allowed to. Likelyihood of an issue is rare but why risk it, I doubt your paid enough to be personally liable in a lawsuit.

As others have mentions, and in my opinion you best method. you are allowed machine room/control room access, and therefore have access to the disconnect, this would not allow anyone to operated the elevator and makes it the safest. If you can not see the elevator from eh machine/control room, have a second person keep eyes on it, make sure the door closes with nobody in it and power it down. Ideally you would use lock out tag out procedure, but if not avioble to you, place a note on the disconnect so nobody turns it on and the elevator crew knows why you turned it off.

Another option would be your group 3 keys for fireman’s service, place the in car fireman’s switch to “HOLD” and it will not allow the use of the car, however the disconnect in my opinion is the best method.

I did not know the run/stop key switch was considered a group 1 device. How far back does that go? Ever since I was a helper the run/stop key was always one of the keys we gave to the customer on turnover.