What an uninspired article. Doesn't dig into the regulations and explain why they exist in the first place before dismissing them out of hand. They don't even do a good job of saying what the regulations actually are outside of having bigger cabin sizes. They complain that the NA regulation is written by and for the US but are completely uncritical of EU regulation which I guess wasn't written by and for the EU? No cost breakdowns, no data that's even vaguely suggestive that elevator prices or space requirements are a limiting factor in housing developments. No entertaining alternative ways to fix the issue and why they wouldn't work. Weird insinuation that NA elevator manufacturers get their parts from China which is bad but no word that international manufacturers don't do the same thing.
The author could be completely right on all points but isn't remotely persuasive to
anyone who doesn't already agree with them.
voisin•6mo ago
I generally agree with you about it the article and would have preferred more data, but I don’t think specific regulations are needed to understand that when the rest of the world has 95% of the worldwide elevator market and North America carved itself out on an island with different regulations that limit the market for elevator equipment and replacement parts, the price will be higher and the supply with consequently be lower.
If it is good enough for the entirety of the rest of the world I have a hard time thinking our regulations are doing anything but protecting entrenched local interests.
I have elevators in a number of my buildings and I can tell you first hand that something is wrong with the market. Elevator technicians are no more highly trained than electricians or plumbers and yet their hourly rates exceed that of my Bay Street lawyer. Repairs are obscenely expensive.
Spivak•6mo ago
The author could be completely right on all points but isn't remotely persuasive to anyone who doesn't already agree with them.
voisin•6mo ago
If it is good enough for the entirety of the rest of the world I have a hard time thinking our regulations are doing anything but protecting entrenched local interests.
I have elevators in a number of my buildings and I can tell you first hand that something is wrong with the market. Elevator technicians are no more highly trained than electricians or plumbers and yet their hourly rates exceed that of my Bay Street lawyer. Repairs are obscenely expensive.