A N A M E R I C A N N A T I O N A L S T A N D A R D

SAFETY STANDARD FOR PLATFORM LIFTS

AND STAIRWAY CHAIRLIFTS

ASME A18.1-2003

(Revision of ASME A18.1-1999)

Date of Issuance: September 12, 2003

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2006. This Standard will become effective 1 year after the Date of Issuance. There will be no addenda issued to this edition.

ASME issues written replies to inquiries concerning interpretations of technical aspects of this Standard. The interpretations will be included with this edition.

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This code or standard was developed under procedures accredited as meeting the criteria for American National Standards. The Standards Committee that approved the code or standard was balanced to assure that individuals from competent and concerned interests have had an opportunity to participate. The proposed code or standard was made available for public review and comment that provides an opportunity for additional public input from industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and the public-at-large.

ASME does not “approve,” “rate,” or “endorse” any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.

ASME does not take any position with respect to the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any items mentioned in this document, and does not undertake to insure anyone utilizing a standard against liability for infringement of any applicable letters patent, nor assumes any such liability. Users of a code or standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, is entirely their own responsibility.

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

Copyright © 2003 by

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

All rights reserved Printed in U.S.A.

CONTENTS

Foreword iv

Committee Roster v

Correspondence With the A18 Committee vi

Summary of Changes vii

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Figures

2.6.7

9.7

Tables

1.4-1

1.4-2

iii

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 ASME Committee on Platform Lifts and Stairway Lifts, was approved and designated as an ASME Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on June 21, 1999, and was 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.

Following approval by the A18 Standards Committee and ASME, and after public review, ASME A18.1-2003 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on July 29, 2003.

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.)

OFFICERS

G. L. Harmon, Chair

1. W. Boydston, Vice Chair

2. Cho, Secretary

COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

D. C. Balmer, Concord Elevator, Inc.

R. Murphy, Alternate, Concord Elevator, Inc.

B. D. Black, Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association

J. C. Bovis, Jon Bovis Consultants

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

J. Martin, Alternate, Accessibility Lifts, Inc.

P. Caploon, State of New Jersey

F. D. Carty, United Lift Service Co., Inc.

D. Hallman, Alternate, DME Access, Inc.

N. C. Chaitin, McKinley Equipment Corp.

W. M. McKinley, Alternate, McKinley Equipment Corp.

P. Chance, Inclinator Company of Central Pennsylvania

E. Cho, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

P. Edwards, Integrity Group Cos., Inc.

G. L. Harmon, National Wheel-O-Vator

K. Brinkman PE, Alternate, National Wheel-O-Vator

G. E. Hedman PE, University of Illinois

M. Magera, Underwriters Laboratories

R. Jokela, Alternate, Underwriters Laboratories

M. Mahoney, Access Industries, Inc.

S. C. Wittenburg, Alternate, Access Industries, Inc.

M. K. Mazz, The Access Board

S. J. Windley, Alternate, The Access Board

M. L. McDonald, Access Disability Advisors, Inc.

J. L. Meyer, State of California

P. M. Puno, Alternate, State of California

B. Page, Bruno Independent Living Aids

T. A. Andrus, Alternate, Bruno Independent Living Aids

R. L. Phillips, Georgia Department of Labor

G. Poblocki, State of Wisconsin

T. L. Pope, ACME Home Elevator

G. D. Hulgan III, Alternate, Elevators Etc.

G. A. Rogers, Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund

J. P. Scott, Walt Disney Engineering

M. Townsend, Garaventa (Canada) Ltd.

R. B. Weber, Weber Accessibility System, 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. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Secretary, A18 Standards Committee

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Three Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016-5990

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 interpreta- tion 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 recom- mended 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 meet- ings, which are open to the public. Persons wishing to attend any meeting should contact the Secretary of the A18 Standards Committee.

vi

ASME A18.1-2003 SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Following approval by the ASME A18 Committee and ASME, and after public review, ASME A18.1-2003 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on July 29, 2003.

ASME A18.1-2003 includes editorial changes, revisions, and corrections introduced in ASME A18.1a-2001 and ASME A18.1b-2001, as well as the following editorial changes identified by a margin note, (03).

subsequent paragraphs redesignated

9 2.1.3 (1) Revised

(2) New para. 2.1.3.2 added and subsequent paragraphs redesignated

SPECIAL NOTE:

The interpretations to ASME A18.1 are included in this edition as a separate section for the user’s convenience.

vii

viii

ASME A18.1-2003

SAFETY STANDARD FOR PLATFORM LIFTS AND STAIRWAY CHAIRLIFTS

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. Scope

      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.

      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

         2. personnel hoists within the scope of ANSI A10.4

         3. manlifts within the scope of ASME A90.1

         4. powered platform and equipment for exterior and interior building maintenance within the scope of ANSI A120.1

         5. portable equipment

         6. amusement devices

         7. stage and orchestra lifts

      3. Application. This Standard applies to new installations only.

         (03) 1.1.4 Effective Date. The requirements of this edition to the Standard are effective as of the date established by the local regulations of the authority having jurisdiction. Where the Standard has not been adopted by local regu- lation and a specific edition has not been stipulated by contractual agreement, compliance with this edition is recommended as of the effective date listed in the front of the document.

         
         

   2. Purpose and Exceptions

      The purpose of this Standard is to provide for the safety of life and limb, and to promote the public welfare.

      The provisions of this Standard are not intended to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equiv- alent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effec- tiveness, durability, and safety to those prescribed by this Standard provided that there is technical documen- tation to demonstrate the equivalency of the system, method, or device.

      The specific requirements of this Standard shall be permitted to be modified by the authority having juris- diction based upon technical documentation or physical performance verification to allow alternative arrange- ments that will assure safety equivalent to that which would be provided by conformance to the correspond- ing requirements of this Standard.

   3. Definitions

This section defines various terms used in this Standard.

alteration: any change to equipment other than mainte- nance, repair, or replacement.

approved: acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.

authority having jurisdiction: organization, office, or indi- vidual responsible for approving equipment. Where compliance with this Standard has been mandated by law, the “authority having jurisdiction” is the federal, state, or local department or individual so designated in the enacting legislation or administrative regulation.

authorized personnel: persons who have been instructed in the operation and/or maintenance of the equipment and designated by the owner to use or maintain the equipment.

building code: an ordinance that sets forth requirements for building design and construction, or where such an ordinance has not been enacted, one of the following model codes:

1. National Building Code

2. Standard Building Code

3. Uniform Building Code cable, traveling: see traveling cable. capacity: see rated load.

certified: a certification by a testing laboratory, a profes- sional engineer, a manufacturer, or a contractor that a device or an assembly conforms to the requirements of this Standard.

1