34 Pa. Code Ch. 7 — Elevators, Lifts, Escalators, Dumbwaiters, Hoists and Tramways

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 r…

§ 7.100. Removal and reerection. The removal and reerection of any sidewalk elevator in a new location shall be in conformity with the requirements governing the installation of new sidewalk elevators.

§ 7.101. Stop switch and light. A stop switch and light shall be installed in the cars of new sidewalk elevators.

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 …

§ 7.111. Shaftway construction. (a) The shaftways of orchestra and organ console elevators shall be of fire-resistive construction below the top landing. The inside surface of such shaftways, within the limits of travel, shall have a smooth finish without any projections or reces…

§ 7.112. Lifting capacity. (a) The lifting capacity of an orchestra or organ console elevator shall be equal to a live load of not less than 25 pounds per square foot of floor area of the platform. (b) The lifting capacity of a stage elevator shall be equal to a live load of not …

§ 7.113. Control apparatus. (a) Operating switches shall be provided in a suitable location on the platforms of orchestra and organ console elevators. Emergency stop switches shall be provided and placed adjacent to the operating switches in as convenient a location as possible. …

§ 7.114. Driving mechanism. (a) When elevating screws are used they shall be of the direct connected type, either worm or beveled gears, and all gears shall be enclosed in a housing, except that chain drive lumber hoists are permitted when provided with equalizing chains or when …

§ 7.115. Electrical equipment. (a) A suitably lighted room shall be provided outside of the shaftway for the motor controller and brake unless the motor and controller are placed in the pit, in which case stone or masonry piers or columns shall be provided to take sufficiently th…

§ 7.116. Platform construction. (a) The platforms of stage, orchestra, organ console and lumber elevators shall be of steel frame construction designed with a factor of safety of not less than six based on the rated load, uniformly distributed. Other parts of the equipment shall …

§ 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 operat…

§ 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 construc…

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS § 7.131. Scope. This subchapter applies only to the elevators installed for the personal use of an individual, and one attendant, who submits to the Department certificate of a physician stating that the individual is not physically able to walk up and down s…

§ 7.132. Removal from service. Personal service elevators shall be removed or sealed out of service upon the termination of the service for which they were orginally installed.

§ 7.133. Limitations. The following may not be exceeded: (1) The inside area of car shall be 12 square feet or less. (2) The speed with load shall be 50 feet or less per minute. (3) The contract load shall be 700 pounds or less. (4) The operation shall be only be means of key-ope…

§ 7.134. Approval and operation. Plans and specifications for personal service elevators shall be filed with the Department and an erection permit secured in accordance with § 7.31 (relating to submission and approval of plans) and section 11 of the act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518…

§ 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 th…

SPECIFICATIONS § 7.141. Hoistway enclosure. The hoistway shall be constructed and enclosed in accordance with § 7.51 (relating to shaftway construction).

§ 7.142. Clearance. (a) There shall be a clearance of at least 3/4 inch between the car and the hoistway enclosure, and between the car and its counterweight. (b) The clearance between the car platform and the landing threshold shall be at least 1/2 inch, but not more than 1 1/2 …

§ 7.143. Pits and overtravel. (a) The structure at the bottom of a hoistway shall be sufficiently strong to withstand without failure the impact of the car with contract load and the impact of the counterweight, when either is descending at contract speed, or at governor-tripping…

§ 7.144. Overhead support. (a) Machinery and sheaves shall be so supported and secured as to effectually prevent any part becoming loose or displaced. The supporting beams shall be composed of steel, sound timber or reinforced concrete. (b) In computing the loads on overhead beam…

§ 7.145. Pipes and wiring. (a) Wiring shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 39, Subchapter B (relating to electric safety). (b) No pipes conveying steam, gas or liquids, which if discharged into the hoistway would endanger life, may be installed in the elevator or counter…

§ 7.146. Counterweights. (a) Counterweights, when used, shall operate in guides located within the elevator shaftway, in accordance with the requirements of § 7.52(d) (relating to shaftway equipment). (b) If a car counterweight is used, it shall not be of sufficient weight to cau…

§ 7.147. Guide rail construction. (a) Car and counterweight guide rails shall be constructed of steel. (b) Guide rails shall be securely fastened in accordance with the following: (1) Guide rails and their fastenings shall not deflect more than 1/4 inch under normal operation. (2…

§ 7.148. Protection of hoist cables. Hoist and counterweight ropes or suspension chains shall be located inside the hoistway enclosure.

§ 7.149. Hoistway doors. (a) Landing openings shall be protected by doors of the horizontally swinging or sliding type. Grille or lattice-type construction shall not be used when fire-resistive hoistway enclosures are required. (b) When swing-type doors are used the clearance bet…

§ 7.15. Inspection. (a) Frequency. Inspection of equipment regulated by this chapter shall take place as follows: (1) All passenger elevators and escalators shall be inspected at least once every 3 months. (2) Freight elevators, including gravity elevators, shall be inspected at …

§ 7.150. Elevator cars. (a) Construction. Elevator cars shall have metal or combination metal and wood suspension frames and platforms with a safety factor of not less than five, based on the contract load. Cast iron shall not be used in the construction of any member of the car …

§ 7.151. Limitations. When the contract load exceeds 700 pounds or the contract speed exceeds 50 feet per minute, or the net inside car platform area exceeds 12 square feet, the elevator shall conform to all requirements of this chapter.

§ 7.152. Machines and sheaves. (a) Winding drums, traction sheaves and overhead and deflecting sheaves shall be of cast iron or steel, of a diameter not less than 30 times the diameter of the wire hoist ropes. The rope grooves shall be machined. Where eight by 19 plow steel ropes…

§ 7.153. Limit switches. Upper and lower normal stopping devices shall be provided, set to stop the car at the upper and lower terminal landings. Final stopping devices shall be provided and set to operate if the car passes the terminal landings. Such stopping devices shall stop …

§ 7.154. Operation. (a) The following methods of operation are permitted: (1) Double-button control. (2) Momentary-pressure operation with ‘‘up-down’’ buttons or switches in the car and ‘‘up-down’’ buttons or switches, or call buttons, at each landing. It is not required that the…

§ 7.155. Suspension means. (a) Suspension means shall be wire ropes or suspension chains. There shall not be less than two such ropes or chains. (b) Steel tapes or tiller rope as suspension means is prohibited. (c) On elevators having a contract load of less than 450 pounds and o…

§ 7.16. Inspectors. (a) The Department will hold examinations for applicants as approved elevator inspectors, four times a year, on the first Thursday after the first Wednesday in March, June, September and December, or at such other times as the Board may direct. Special examina…

§ 7.17. Prohibited installations. (a) No hand elevator shall be equipped with any attachments or equipment for applying power, unless the hoisting machinery is permanently and completely converted into power-driven machinery. In such cases, all requirements for power-driven freig…

GENERAL § 7.171. Applicability. This subchapter applies only to elevators installed in industrial buildings, such as grain and feed mills, chemical and alcohol distilleries, cement storage towers, radio towers and similar industries, which are not accessible to the general public…

§ 7.172. Removal from service. Power-operated special industrial service elevators shall be removed or sealed out of service upon the termination of the service for which they were originally installed.

§ 7.173. Limitations. The following may not be exceeded: (1) The inside area of car shall be 900 square inches or less. (2) The speed with load shall be 100 feet or less per minute. (3) The contract load shall be 300 pounds or less. (4) The operation shall be only by means of pus…

§ 7.174. Approval and operation. Plans and specifications for power-operated special industrial service elevators shall be filed with the Department and an erection permit secured in accordance with § 7.31 (relating to submission and approval of plans) and section 11 of the act o…

SPECIFICATIONS § 7.181. Hoistway enclosure. The hoistway shall be constructed and enclosed in accordance with the requirements of § 7.51 (relating to shaftway construction), except that when a building is of open construction throughout, and the elevator does not travel through f…

§ 7.182. Clearance. (a) There shall be a clearance of not less than 3/4 inch between the car and the hoistway enclosure, and between the car and its counterweight. (b) The clearance between the car platform and the landing threshold shall be not less than 1/2 inch, nor more more …

§ 7.183. Pits and overtravel. (a) The structure at the bottom of a hoistway shall be sufficiently strong to withstand without failure the impact of the car with contract load, and the impact of the counterweight, when either is descending at contract speed, or at governor-trippin…

§ 7.184. Overload support. (a) All machinery and sheaves shall be so supported and secured as to effectually prevent any part becoming loose or displaced. The supporting beams shall be composed of steel, sound timber, or reinforced concrete. (b) In computing the loads on overhead…

§ 7.185. Pipes and wiring. (a) Wiring shall comply with Chapter 39, Subchapter B (relating to electric safety). (b) No pipes conveying steam, gas or liquids, which if discharged into the hoistway would endanger life, shall be installed in the elevator or counterweight hoistway. (…

§ 7.186. Counterweights. Counterweights, when used, shall operate in guides located within the elevator shaftway, in accordance with the requirements of § 7.52(d) (relating to shaftway equipment). Sides of the counterweight runway exposed to the outside shaftway shall be guarded.…

§ 7.187. Guide rail construction. (a) Car and counterweight guide rails shall be constructed of steel or wood. If wood is used it shall be maple or equivalent and of not less than 1-1/2 by 2 inches. (b) Guide rails shall be securely fastened, in accordance with the following: (1)…

§ 7.188. Protection of hoist cables. Hoist and counterweight ropes or suspension chains shall be located inside the hoistway enclosure.

§ 7.189. Hoistway doors. (a) Landing openings shall be protected by manually-operated doors or gates of the horizontally swinging or sliding type or vertically sliding type. Grille or lattice-type construction shall not be used where fire-resistive hoistway enclosures are require…

§ 7.190. Elevator cars. (a) Construction. Elevator cars shall have metal car frames and outside frames of platforms with a safety factor of not less than five, based on the rated load. Cast iron shall not be used in the construction of any member of the car frame or platform othe…

§ 7.191. Limitations. When conditions do not conform in all respects with the requirements of § 7.181 (relating to hoistway enclosure), the elevator shall conform to all requirements of this chapter.