ELEVATORS, LIFTS, ESCALATORS, DUMBWAITERS, HOISTS AND TRAMWAYS

CHAPTER 7. ELEVATORS, LIFTS, ESCALATORS, DUMBWAITERS, HOISTS AND TRAMWAYS Subchap. Sec. A. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 B. PASSENGER ELEVATORS ..................................... 7.51 C. SIDEWALK ELEVATORS ...................................... 7.91 D. STAGE, ORCHESTRA, ORGAN CONSOLE AND LUMBER ELEVATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.111 E. PERSONAL SERVICE ELEVATORS ........................... 7.131 F. POWER-OPERATED SPECIAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICE ELEVATORS ................................................ 7.171 G. MANLIFTS .................................................. 7.211 H. STAIRWAY INCLINED LIFTS IN BUILDINGS OTHER THAN PRIVATE RESIDENCES ...................................... 7.251 I. FREIGHT ELEVATORS ...................................... 7.271 J. ESCALATORS ............................................... 7.321 K. DUMBWAITERS ............................................. 7.341 L. HOISTS ..................................................... 7.361 M. AERIAL PASSENGER TRAMWAYS ............................ 7.411 Authority The provisions of this Chapter 7 issued under act of June 2, 1913, P. L. 396 (71 P. S. § 1442), unless otherwise noted. Source The provisions of this Chapter 7 adopted December 15, 1924, unless otherwise noted. Cross References This chapter cited in 34 Pa. Code § 6.31 (relating to cables, ropes, block and tackle); 34 Pa. Code § 39.31 (relating to elevators); and 34 Pa. Code § 60.33 (relating to buildings). Subchapter A. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS GENERALLY Sec. 7.1. Definitions. 7.2. Scope. 7.3. Penalty. ADMINISTRATION 7.11. Equipment of special design. 7.12. Rules of operation. 7.13. Repairs. 7.14. Tests. Ch. 7 LIFTING DEVICES 34 7-1 (219877) No. 264 Nov. 96 7.15. Inspection. 7.16. Inspectors. 7.17. Prohibited installations. SPECIFICATIONS—ALL HOISTING AND LOWERING EQUIPMENT 7.31. Submission and approval of plans. 7.32. Fire prevention. 7.33. Operation of elevators under fire or other emergency conditions. 7.34. Lighting and electric wiring. 7.35. Electrical insulating floor mats. 7.36. Data plates and numbering. 7.37. Combination elevators. GENERALLY § 7.1. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Aerial passenger tramway—A general usage which denotes a device used to transport passengers by single and double reversible tramway; chair lifts, gondola lifts and skimobiles; T-bar lifts, J-bar lifts, platter lifts and similar devices; or a fiber rope tow. Automatic control elevator—An elevator, the operation of which is controlled by electric buttons or switches in such a manner that all stops at landings are made automatically and which may be started by switches or buttons at the landing. Basement—A floor level partly or completely below grade as measured from the floor level immediately above; it shall be considered a story if more than 33-1/3% of the exterior wall perimeter is five feet or more above grade. Basement lift—A sidewalk elevator. Bucket—A metal bucket or tank operating in guides raised and lowered by steel cables and used for the purpose of distributing concrete or other building material to various floor levels. Builder’s hoist—An elevator erected for temporary use, built in or adjoining a building under construction or alterations. Car door or gate—The door or gate in an elevator car. Chair lifts, gondola lifts, and skimobiles—A type of transportation in which passengers are carried on chairs or cars, or in gondola cabs attached to and suspended from a moving wire rope or attached to a moving wire rope or chain and supported on a standing wire rope or other structure. Diameter—Tread diameter when it refers to sheaves, wheels, or pulleys. 34 § 7.1 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY Pt. I 7-2 (219878) No. 264 Nov. 96 Copyright
1996 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Double-button control elevator—An elevator, the operation of which is controlled by self-centering buttons or switches located in the car and at the landings in such a manner that the elevator operates only when the button or switch is held closed manually and stops when the button or switch is released. Double-deck—An elevator consisting of a car structure containing two elevator cabs or compartments. Drive sheave, or bull wheel—The tread diameter which ranges from three to 14 feet, depending upon the type of installation. Either designation refers to the main drive sheave. Dual control elevator—An elevator capable of operation either by an authorized operator in the car or automatically by electric buttons or switches. Dumbwaiter—A miniature freight elevator. Elevator—A car, cage, or platform raised or lowered vertically in permanent guides or rails, including the necessary operating mechanism, used to transport persons or materials. Elevator car—The load carrying unit, including the platform supporting and guiding frame, and enclosure. Escalator—A moving continuous inclined stairway or runway used for raising or lowering persons. Wheeled vehicles of any type are not permitted on escalators. Fiber rope tow—A type of transportation which pulls skiers riding on skis by a traveling fiber rope which the skier grasps by hand. Fire-resistive materials—Approved materials having fire-resistive qualities, such as brick, concrete, hollow tile, terra-cotta blocks, or concrete plaster on expanded metal lath supported by metal studs of an approximate total thickness of not less than 2 1/2 inches. Freight elevator—An elevator constructed and used for carrying materials. Full automatic door or gate—A door or gate which is opened and closed automatically by the motion of the elevator car. Grade—The level or the surface of the ground established by law, or on record where not established by law. This term includes the average level of the surface of the ground. Gravity elevator—A freight elevator used for lowering materials in a car, cage, or platform through a shaftway, the operation of which is accomplished by the excess weight of the car, cage or platform and the load over the car counterweights. Hand elevator—A freight elevator, the machinery of which is actuated by a rope or cable operated exclusively by hand. Independently-operated door or gate—A door or gate operated by power from an auxiliary source in no way derived from the motion of the car. Landing—The floor, balcony, or platform used to receive or discharge passengers or freight from an elevator car. Ch. 7 LIFTING DEVICES 34 § 7.1 7-3 (219879) No. 264 Nov. 96 Landing door or gate—The door or gate at the shaftway entrance of any landing. Locking device—A device which prevents the operation of an elevator away from the landing while any gate or door at that landing is open and unsecured and also prevents the opening of the door unless the car is at the landing; this term is also referred to as ‘‘interlock.’’ Lumber elevator—A platform equipped with screws to raise or lower stacked lumber in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute, with a travel not exceeding 20 feet. Machinery—The hoisting mechanism and equipment used in the operation of an elevator. Manlift—The type of elevator which operates by an endless vertical belt which revolves over fixed pulleys at the top and bottom limits of travel and to which steps and hand holds are attached so that persons may ride on it. Manually-operated door or gate—A door or gate which is opened and closed by hand. Orchestra elevator—A platform for raising and lowering musicians in an orchestra in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute. Organ console elevator—A platform for raising and lowering an organ console, including the organist, in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute. Passenger elevator—An elevator constructed and operated to transport persons. Private dwellings—Convents, rectories, and parsonages, which are ex- empt from this chapter, unless portions thereof are used for the housing or assembling of persons other than members of the religious order, if the occupancy is not in excess of 25 persons. Rated capacity—The capacity established by the designer of equipment. Rope—Wire rope, and cable are interchangeable, except for rope tows if rope means a fiber rope. Safety gate stops—A device which automatically stops a tramway when in contact with a passenger or the weight of a passenger. Semiautomatic door or gate—A door or gate which is manually opened but automatically closed when the elevator car leaves the landing. Shaftway—A shaft, well-hole, hatchway or other vertical opening or space, partly or wholly enclosed within which an elevator is raised or lowered in a vertical direction. Sheaves—Pulleys or wheels grooved for rope. Sidewalk elevator—An elevator which travels from a point below the sidewalk level to the sidewalk, or to an elevation not to exceed wagon or freight car loading level. 34 § 7.1 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY Pt. I 7-4 (219880) No. 264 Nov. 96 Copyright
1996 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Single or double reversible tramway—A type of transportation in which passengers are carried in one or more enclosed cars that reciprocate between terminals. Stage elevator—A platform consisting of a section of the stage arranged to be raised and lowered above and below the stage level in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute. Stairway inclined lift—A power passenger inclined lift installed on a stairway for raising or lowering persons from one floor to another. Standard railing—A railing not less than 42 inches in height with an additional rail midway between the top rail and the floor. T-bar, J-bar and platter lifts and similar devices—Types of transportation which pull skiers riding on skis by devices propelled by a main overhead traveling wire rope. Toeboard—A board at least 6 inches in height, placed at right angles with floor or platform to prevent objects from falling from the floor or platform to the spaces below. Winch—A hand or power-operated machine having a rope coiled on one or more drums for the purpose of hauling, hoisting or lowering a load. Workmen’s hoist—A hoist installed in or outside of buildings during construction, alteration or demolition, and used primarily to raise or lower workmen and other persons connected with or related to the building project. Authority The provisions of this § 7.1 issued under act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518, No. 452) (35 P. S. §§ 1341—1356). Source The provisions of this § 7.1 amended through December 19, 1980, effective December 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4723. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (17285) and (36688). § 7.2. Scope. This chapter sets forth rules to safeguard the lives, limbs, maintenance and health of workers involved in the installation, operation and maintenance of elevators, lifts, escalators, dumbwaiters, hoists and tramways in this Commonwealth, and places the responsibility of compliance with the rules upon both employer and employe. § 7.3. Penalty. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is subject to summary proceedings before an alderman, magistrate or district justice and upon conviction, shall be penalized as provided in section 16 of the act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1513, No. 451) (35 P. S. § 1356). Ch. 7 LIFTING DEVICES 34 § 7.2 7-5 (219881) No. 264 Nov. 96 ADMINISTRATION § 7.11. Equipment of special design. The operation, erection and installation of types of hoisting and lowering equipment other than those covered in this chapter is subject to approval by the Department. When installing elevators with specially designed apparatus or equipment not provided for by this chapter, the elevators may not be operated until the design in question has been approved by the Department. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.251 (relating to general). § 7.12. Rules of operation. (a) Passenger or freight elevators, except when operated by automatic control or double-button control, shall be operated only by authorized persons who have received instruction in the proper operation thereof. (b) No person shall be allowed to operate an elevator unless he is at least 18 years of age and is selected with consideration for his ability to perform his duties in a careful and competent manner, and is free from mental or serious physical defects. (c) Operators of elevators shall see that all the provisions of this chapter are complied with. Operators shall report to their employers any violations or defects which come to their attention. (d) No person shall ride on elevators constructed and used as power-driven freight elevators, except the operator and designated assistants (not more than three). No person shall ride upon hand elevators, gravity elevators, dumbwaiters, or hoists. (e) A duplex elevator requires operators in each cab or compartment. (f) When seats are placed in the cars of elevators for the use of elevator operators they shall be of the collapsible type and without legs. (g) The provisions of this section apply to all installations. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.251 (relating to general); 34 Pa. Code § 7.37 (relating to combination elevators); and 34 Pa. Code § 7.283 (relating to safety requirements). § 7.13. Repairs. (a) Any existing device subject to this chapter which is damaged by fire or other causes including ordinary wear, when major repairs or replacement become necessary, shall be replaced or rebuilt in conformity with the requirements of this chapter for new construction and installation of such devices, except that it is not required that the hoistway be fireproof when the existing hoistway is used. 34 § 7.11 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY Pt. I 7-6 (219882) No. 264 Nov. 96 Copyright
1996 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (b) The removal and reerection of elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters in new locations shall be in conformity with the requirements for new elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters. Existing hoists, when used as permanent installations, may not be reerected in new locations. (c) Before work costing $1,000 or more is commenced on the repair of elevator devices, duplicate applications for such repair work shall be filed with the Department by the building owner or the elevator contractor. Before work costing $1,000 or more and involving major repairs as defined in subsection (e) is commenced on the repair of elevator devices, duplicate applications for such repair work plus a $50 fee for a permit shall be filed with the Department by the building owner or the elevator contractor and a permit covering such repairs or changes shall be obtained from the Department. (d) After work costing $1,000 or more is completed, the building owner or elevator contractor shall notify the Department and such repairs may be inspected by the Department for approval. After work costing $1,000 or more and involving major repairs as defined in subsection (e) is completed, the building owner or elevator contractor shall notify the Department and such repairs will be inspected by the Department for approval. (e) Major repairs shall include but shall not be limited to the following changes in an elevator: increase in the rated load or speed, increase in the dead weight of the car, change in travel, change in the type of operation or control, change in the size or number of suspension ropes, change in the size or type of guide rails, change in classification from freight elevator to passenger elevator, change in the power supply, change in the type of car or counterweight safety, installation of a new driving machine, installation of a new controller, installation of new brakes, replacement of hoistway doors, addition of landing door interlocks, addition of door operating devices, addition of auxiliary rope fastening devices, addition of car leveling, addition of roller guide shoes, and addition of new car or counterweight safety. As to hydraulic elevators, major repairs shall include the preceeding changes as appropriate, and shall include but shall not be limited to the following changes: installation of different control valves, replacement of existing relief and check valves, replacement of existing supply pipings and fittings, replacement of existing tanks, replacement of cylinder, replacement of plunger, and increase in the working pressure by more than 3.0%. Authority The provisions of this § 7.13 issued under act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518, No. 452) (35 P. S. §§ 1341—1356). Source The provisions of this § 7.13 amended December 19, 1980, effective December 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4723. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (8045) and (8046). Ch. 7 LIFTING DEVICES 34 § 7.13 7-7 (219883) No. 264 Nov. 96 Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.251 (relating to general). § 7.14. Tests. (a) New passengers and freight elevators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector to see that the car safeties, speed governors, brakes, bumpers, limit switches, and the like, perform their proper functions. The car safeties shall be tested with the elevator car carrying the maximum allowable load. In making the final test the hoisting cables shall be detached from the car, while at a height sufficient to indicate the efficiency of the car safeties. A runaway test is acceptable in lieu of the free drop test when approved safety devices are installed. For reostatic control elevators, the safeties shall be tested by tripping the governor. Broken rope safety devices shall be tested as such. (b) Existing installations shall be tested as follows: (1) The car safety of existing installations shall be tested with rated load in the car by tripping the governor by hand at rated speed, within five years of effective date and at least every five years thereafter by a reputable elevator company. Results of the test shall be certified by the elevator company on forms furnished by the Department, indicating the load for which the elevator was tested and a record of such test shall be filed with the Department. (2) A metal data plate furnished by the company performing the test shall be fastened to the car crosshead and show the date of the test and the company performing the test. (3) The governor shall be tested and the trip speed measured by a tachometer and, if necessary, adjusted to conform to the requirements of this section. Governors shall be resealed after each test. Speed governors for car safeties shall be set to trip at over speeds as follows: (i) At not less than 115% of rated car speed. (ii) At not more than the tripping speed listed opposite the applicable rated speed in the following table: Maximum Speeds at which Speed Governor Trips and Governor Overspeed Switch Operates Rated Speed (in feet per minute) Maximum Governor Trip Speed (in feet per minute) Maximum Speed at which Governor Overspeed Switch Operates (down feet per minute) 0— 34 § 7.14 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY Pt. I 7-8 (219884) No. 264 Nov. 96 Copyright
1996 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Rated Speed (in feet per minute) Maximum Governor Trip Speed (in feet per minute) Maximum Speed at which Governor Overspeed Switch Operates (down feet per minute) (4) Speed governors, where provided for counterweight safeties, shall be set to trip at an overspeed greater than, but not more than 10% above, that at which the car speed governor is set to trip. (5) Broken rope safeties shall be drop tested. (6) The provisions of this subsection do not apply to hand-powered freight elevators. (c) New escalators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector. The test shall consist of a physical examination of the escalator parts together with a running test of the escalator without load, including a test of all the safety features prescribed in § 7.324 (relating to safety equipment). (d) On the completion of any device provided for by this chapter, the owner, builder, contractor, manufacturer, or other responsible party or parties, shall file with the Department notice in writing that such installation has been constructed and installed in accordance with the plans as approved. Upon receipt of such notice the Department may arrange for inspection of the installation by a Department inspector. (e) New elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, gravity elevators and hoists shall not be operated temporarily pending final completion without permission of the Department. Source The provisions of this § 7.14 amended through June 21, 1974, 4 Pa.B. 1282. Immediately prece