Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators

Includes Requirements for Electric and Hydraulic Elevators and Escalators

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

ASME A17.3–2005

(Revision of ASME A17.3–2002)

Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators

Includes Requirements for Electric and Hydraulic Elevators and Escalators

AN AMERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

Three Park Avenue • New York, NY 10016

This edition was approved by the American National Standards Institute on March 29, 2005. It was issued on September 30, 2005 and is effective as of March 31, 2006.

The next edition of this Code is scheduled for publication in 2008. 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

Copyright © 2005 by

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CONTENTS

Foreword vi

Committee Roster viii

Preface xiii

Summary of Changes xvi

Part V Escalators 41

Scope 41

1. Construction 41

2. Brakes 42

3. Operating and Safety Devices 42

4. Lighting of Escalators 43

5. Entrance and Egress Ends 43

Part VI Dumbwaiters 45

Scope 45

1. Hoistway, Hoistway Enclosures, and Related Construction 45

2. Machinery and Equipment for Hand and Electric Dumbwaiters 46

3. Machinery and Equipment for Hydraulic Dumbwaiters 48

Part VII Hand Elevators 50

Scope 50

1. Hoistway, Hoistway Enclosures, and Related Construction 50

2. Machinery and Equipment 51

Part VIII Sidewalk Elevators 53

Scope 53

1. Hoistway, Hoistway Enclosures, and Machine Rooms 53

2. Machinery and Equipment 53

Part IX Moving Walks 56

Scope 56

1. Protection of Floor Openings 56

2. Protection of Supports and Machine Spaces Against Fire 56

3. Construction Requirements 56

4. Entrance and Egress Ends 57

5. Driving Machine, Motor, and Brake 57

6. Operating and Safety Devices 57

7. Lighting and Access 58

Part X Private Residence Elevators 59

Scope 59

1. Hoistway, Hoistway Enclosures, and Related Construction 59

2. Cars 61

3. Counterweights 61

4. Safeties and Governors 62

5. Car and Counterweight Guide Rails and Fastenings 62

6. Car and Counterweight Buffers 62

7. Driving Machines, Sheaves, and Their Supports 62

8. Terminal Stopping Devices 64

9. Operating Devices and Control Equipment 64

10. Emergency Signal Devices 65

11. Limitation of Load, Speed, and Rise 65

12. Marking Plates 65

13. Suspension Means 65

Figures

3.7.1 Inside Net Platform Areas for Passenger Elevators 31

5.3.11 Caution Sign 44

Tables

1.6(a) Reference Documents 16

1.6(b) Procurement Information 17

3.7.1 Maximum Inside Net Platform Areas for the Various Rated Loads 30

1. Minimum Factors of Safety for Suspension Wire Ropes 36

   Nonmandatory Appendices

   1. Distances Between Hoistway Doors and Car Doors or Gates 67

   2. Types of Roped-Hydraulic Elevators 70

C A17.1–1987, Rules 211.3–211.8 71

D Rack and Pinion Machines (A17.1–1987, Rules 208.3–208.9d, and Rule

1200.4e) 74

Index 76

(05) FOREWORD

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has published since 1921 a safety code for elevators, escalators, and related equipment. The following is a brief history of how the various editions of this Code addressed the matter of retroactive requirements for existing installations.

The 1921 edition did not differentiate between new and existing installations.

The second edition (1925) and third edition (1931) contained the following statements in their Introductions:

“New and Old Installations. After the date on which the Code becomes effective, all new construction and installations shall conform to its provisions. Equipment installed prior to that date need not, however, be modified to conform to its rules except where required by the key number opposite the rule. Reference figures attached to the various rules or paragraphs indicate when such rules or paragraphs become effective when applied to existing installations as follows:

Key to Index Figures

1. To be applied immediately.

2. Not to be applied to existing installations.

3. To be applied to existing installations only to the extent ordered by the administrative authority.

4. To be applied to existing installations when next renewal of cables or other parts affected is made.

(6) To be applied to existing installations six months after the adoption of this Code.

(12) To be applied to existing installations 1 year (12 months) after the adoption of this Code.

(24) To be applied to existing installations two years after the adoption of this Code.” This practice was discontinued with the fourth edition. Quoting from ASA A17.1–1937:

“This Edition of the Code makes no reference to the application of the individual rules to Existing Installations, and the key numbers in the previous Edition have been omitted. This matter is left to the authorities drafting legal regulations, who are familiar with the local conditions. A too extensive retroactive application is not advisable in any case. The Code contains many rules intended to obviate minor hazards which can be easily eliminated in a new installation, but the change of an existing installation might involve a financial outlay entirely out of proportion to the benefits secured.

“The Sectional Committee recommends that rules for hoistway-door interlocks, car- gate contacts, hoistway limit switches, and the entire Part VI (Inspection, Maintenance, and Operation) be made applicable to every installation already existing at the time of the adoption of the Code, and that provisions be made also to secure adequate under- car safeties for such installations.”

This practice remained essentially unchanged through all later editions of the Code. Only the requirements for inspection, maintenance, alteration, repair, and replacement apply retroactively to existing installations. Quoting from the Preface of ANSI/ASME A17.1–1981:

“Not all of the Rules of the Code apply to equipment installed prior to its adoption by jurisdictional authorities, but those which do apply to existing as well as to new installations are outlined under Scope in the Introduction.

“The Code contains many Rules intended to obviate hazards which can be avoided in new installations; but, if such Rules were made to apply to existing installations, they would entail financial outlay out of proportion to the benefits derived.

“In view of past accident experience resulting in serious injuries at hoistway and car entrances, it is recommended that, as a minimum, the Rules covering safety requirements

for hoistway and car doors in this Code be made to also apply to existing elevator installations.

“The accident experience on elevators has also indicated that accidents occur on the older existing equipment, especially with a winding-drum-type machine and where the car safety device and the terminal stopping devices are either absent or inadequate. It is, therefore, recommended that adequate under-car safeties and terminal stopping devices be required for existing installations as well as new installations.

“On the basis of experience supported by accident records, the jurisdictional authority adopting the Code should decide on what requirements, if any, are to be applied to existing installations.”

Numerous state and local jurisdictions had taken this advice and developed their own codes for existing installations. The need for a nationally recognized consensus code for existing installations became evident and the ASME A17 Elevator and Escalator Committee undertook the task and issued the first edition of the A17.3 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators in 1986.

The second edition of the Code incorporated the revisions in A17.3a–1989 as well as additional revisions that appear for the first time in this edition.

The third edition of the Code incorporated the changes made in A17.3a–1991 and A17.3b–1992 as well as the revisions shown in the Summary of Changes. Part VII, Hand Elevator and Part VIII, Sidewalk Elevator, appear for the first time in this edition.

The fourth edition of the Code incorporated the changes made in A17.3a–1994 and A17.3b– 1995 as well as the revisions shown in the Summary of Changes. Part X, Private Residence Elevators, and Nonmandatory Appendix D appear for the first time in this edition.

The fifth edition of the Code incorporates the changes made in A17.3a–2000 as well as the revisions shown in the Summary of Changes.

This sixth edition of the Code incorporates the changes made in A17.3–2002 as well as the revisions shown in the Summary of Changes.

The following is a list of the final approval dates, dates of issuance, and effective dates for the previous editions and addenda: