ASME A18.1-2011

(Revision of ASME A18.1-2008)

Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts

AN A MERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

Date of Issuance: October 31, 2011

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2014. This Standard will become effective 6 months after the Date of Issuance. There will be no addenda issued to this edition.

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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Three Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5990

Copyright © 2011 by

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

All rights reserved Printed in U.S.A.

CONTENTS

iii

(11) FOREWORD

This Standard is one of the numerous standards developed and published by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) under procedures accredited as meeting the criteria for American National Standards. The consensus committee that approved the Standard was balanced to ensure that individuals from competent and concerned interests have had an opportunity to participate.

This Standard is intended to serve as the basis for state, municipal, and other jurisdictional authorities in drafting regulations governing the installation, testing, inspection, maintenance, alteration, and repair of platform lifts and stairway chairlifts. It is also intended as a standard reference of safety requirements for the guidance of architects, engineers, insurance companies, manufacturers, and contractors, and as a standard of safety practices for owners and management of structures where equipment covered in the Scope of this Standard is used.

This Standard is available for public review on a continuing basis. This provides an opportunity for additional public input from industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and the public-at-large. Safety codes and standards are intended to enhance public health and safety. Revisions result from committee consideration of factors such as technological advances, new data, and changing environmental and industry needs. Revisions do not imply that previous editions were inadequate. It should be pointed out that any governmental jurisdiction has authority over any particular installation. Inquiries dealing with problems of a local character should be directed to the proper authority of such jurisdiction. It is recommended that, prior to adoption, all pertinent state and local laws or ordinances be reviewed and where there is a conflict with any of the requirements of this Standard, an exception to such conflicting requirement be noted, quoting the section of

the law that applies.

Equipment covered by this Standard was originally incorporated as a 1983 supplement to ANSI/ASME A17.1–1981, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. In ANSI/ASME A17.1b–1983, a new Part XXI covering private residence inclined stairway chairlifts and inclined and vertical wheelchair lifts was added. Part XX was added to cover these same devices installed in buildings other than private residences.

In 1996, as a result of the effort to harmonize the ASME A17.1 Code and the CAN/CSA-B44 Safety Code for Elevators, a new Main Committee on Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts was established. The Committee developed the first edition, which incorporates Parts XX and XXI, as well as the applicable cross-references in ASME A17.1–1996, up to and including ASME A17.1a–1997.

The first edition of this Standard was approved by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Committee on Platform Lifts and Stairway Lifts, was approved and designated as an ASME Standard by the American National Standards Institute on June 21, 1999, and issued on July 26, 1999. The A18.1a-2001 Addenda was approved on January 30, 2001 and issued on March 26, 2001. The A18.1b-2001 Addenda was approved on December 11, 2001 and issued on April 11, 2002.

The second edition of this Standard was approved by ANSI on July 29, 2003 and was issued on September 12, 2003.

The third edition of this Standard was approved by ANSI on May 6, 2005 and was issued November 29, 2005.

Following approval by the A18 Standards Committee and ASME, and after public review, ASME A18.1-2008 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on July 3, 2008.

The fifth edition of this Standard was approved by ANSI on August 31, 2011.

iv

ASME A18 COMMITTEE

Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts

(The following is the roster of the Committee at the time of approval of this Standard.)

STANDARDS COMMITTEE OFFICERS

D. W. Boydston, Chair

M. Townsend, Vice Chair

R. Mohamed, Secretary

P. D. Barnhart, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

D. W. Birdsall, Hogan Manufacturing, Inc.

STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

S. Leathley, Stannah Stairlifts

M. K. Mazz, US Access Board

J. Fusco, Alternate, Lift-U/Division of Hogan Manufacturing, Inc.

J. C. Bovis, Meditek Stairlifts, Ltd.

D. W. Boydston, Handi-Lift, Inc.

1. Martin, Alternate, Accessibility Lifts, Inc.

2. L. Brinkman, National Wheel-O-Vator

J. H. Burpee, State of Maine

F. D. Carty, Consultant

P. Chance, Elevator Ready, Inc.

J. L. Mickel, Alternate, Mickel Elevator Consulting

A. DiGiovanni, Hoveround Corp.

R. J. Munch, Alternate, Hoveround Corp.

P. Edwards, Integrity Home Lifts

D. Hallman, DME Access, Inc.

G. L. Harmon, Retired

G. E. Hedman, University of Illinois at Chicago

F. M. Hoch, Inclinator Company of America

S. J. Windley, Alternate, US Access Board

W. M. McKinley, McKinley Elevator Co.

J. L. Meyer, James Meyer Consulting, Inc.

R. Mohamed, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

G. L. Nuschler, Otis Elevator Co.

W. R. Page, Bruno Independent Living Aids

T. E. O’Brien, Alternate, Bruno Independent Living Aids

W. Richardson, Savaria Concord Lifts, Inc.

G. A. Rogers, Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund

C. W. Rogler, State of Michigan

J. R. Runyan, Elevator Consulting Services, Inc.

1. Z. Sanossian, SZS Consulting Group

2. Shield, T. L. Shield & Associates, Inc.

M. Townsend, Garaventa (Canada) Ltd.

R. J. Murphy, Alternate, Garaventa Lift

R. B. Weber, Accessibility Systems, Inc.

E. J. Zuercher, Ascension, a Division of AGM

v

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE A18 COMMITTEE

General. ASME Standards are developed and maintained with the intent to represent the consensus of concerned interests. As such, users of this Standard may interact with the Committee by requesting interpretations, proposing revisions, and attending Committee meetings. Corre- spondence should be addressed to:

Secretary, A18 Standards Committee

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Three Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016-5990

E-mail: infocentral@asme.org

Proposing Revisions. Revisions are made periodically to the Standard to incorporate changes that appear necessary or desirable, as demonstrated by the experience gained from the application of the Standard. Approved revisions will be published periodically.

The Committee welcomes proposals for revisions to this Standard. Such proposals should be as specific as possible, citing the paragraph number(s), the proposed wording, and a detailed description of the reasons for the proposal, including any pertinent documentation.

Interpretations. Upon request, the A18 Standards Committee will render an interpretation of any requirement of the Standard. Interpretations can only be rendered in response to a written request sent to the Secretary of the A18 Standards Committee.

The request for interpretation should be clear and unambiguous. It is further recommended that the inquirer submit his/her request in the following format:

Subject: Cite the applicable paragraph number(s) and the topic of the inquiry.

Edition: Cite the applicable edition of the Standard for which the interpretation is being requested.

Question: Phrase the question as a request for an interpretation of a specific requirement suitable for general understanding and use, not as a request for an approval of a proprietary design or situation. The inquirer may also include any plans or drawings which are necessary to explain the question; however, they should not contain proprietary names or information.

Requests that are not in this format will be rewritten in this format by the Committee prior to being answered, which may inadvertently change the intent of the original request.

ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of any interpretation when or if additional information that might affect an interpretation is available. Further, persons aggrieved by an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME Committee or Subcommittee. ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse” any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity. Attending Committee Meetings. The A18 Standards Committee regularly holds meetings, which are open to the public. Persons wishing to attend any meeting should contact the Secretary of

the A18 Standards Committee.

vi

ASME A18.1-2011 SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Following approval by the ASME A18 Standards Committee and ASME, and after public review, ASME A18.1-2011 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on August 31, 2011.

The 2011 edition of ASME A18.1 includes revisions that are identified by a margin note, (11). The following is a summary of the latest revisions and changes.

ix

ASME A18.1-2011

SAFETY STANDARD FOR PLATFORM LIFTS AND STAIRWAY CHAIRLIFTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Scope

1.1.1 Equipment Covered by This Standard. This safety Standard covers the design, construction, installa- tion, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of inclined stairway chairlifts and inclined and vertical platform lifts intended for transportation of a mobility impaired person only. The device shall have a limited vertical travel, operating speed, and platform area. Operation shall be under continuous control of the user/attendant. The device shall not penetrate more than one floor. A full passenger enclosure on the plat- form shall be prohibited.

1. 1.1.2 Equipment Not Covered by This Standard. Equipment not covered by this Standard includes, but is not limited to, the following:

   1. elevators, escalators, moving walkways, material lifts, and dumbwaiters within the scope of ASME A17.1b–1997 and later edition