Spring Break
Expired permits, malfunctioning elevators leave students grounded
Isela Reyes
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
Recent elevator malfunctions have caused some campus elevators to be temporarily shut down, leaving a few buildings with one functioning elevator, facilities services said.
Several elevators also contain expired permits, good only through 2007.
The most recent elevator shut down was in Mendocino Hall.
The Mendocino elevator, out of service for the majority of the semester, is one of the newer elevators on campus. It required a new motor, which facilities officials said took time to acquire.
Ronald Richardson, the associate vice president for facilities services, said there is no difference in why newer or older elevators go out of service.
"Age isn't a factor, that's a very busy building because of all the classes," Richardson said about the Mendocino elevator.
Common parts that malfunction regularly are required to be kept within a 30-mile radius of the campus Richardson said. This allows fast repairs on malfunctioning elevators, to ensure minimal effect on the campus community.
Richardson said facilities has done everything required to update the expired permits. The company in charge of mailing them, however, has been severely understaffed, causing many Sacramento State elevators to have expired permits.
All Sac State elevators are inspected twice a month to ensure they are working properly Richardson said, adding that the fact they have expired permits does not mean they will malfunction.
"The elevators have been inspected, they are all in compliance," Richardson said.
There is no set date as to when the updated elevator permits will actually arrive.
Isela Reyes can be reached at ireyes@statehornet.com.
Several elevators also contain expired permits, good only through 2007.
The most recent elevator shut down was in Mendocino Hall.
The Mendocino elevator, out of service for the majority of the semester, is one of the newer elevators on campus. It required a new motor, which facilities officials said took time to acquire.
Ronald Richardson, the associate vice president for facilities services, said there is no difference in why newer or older elevators go out of service.
"Age isn't a factor, that's a very busy building because of all the classes," Richardson said about the Mendocino elevator.
Common parts that malfunction regularly are required to be kept within a 30-mile radius of the campus Richardson said. This allows fast repairs on malfunctioning elevators, to ensure minimal effect on the campus community.
Richardson said facilities has done everything required to update the expired permits. The company in charge of mailing them, however, has been severely understaffed, causing many Sacramento State elevators to have expired permits.
All Sac State elevators are inspected twice a month to ensure they are working properly Richardson said, adding that the fact they have expired permits does not mean they will malfunction.
"The elevators have been inspected, they are all in compliance," Richardson said.
There is no set date as to when the updated elevator permits will actually arrive.
Isela Reyes can be reached at ireyes@statehornet.com.
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