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

§ 7.381. Use of passenger elevators as hoists. (a) A new installation of a passenger elevator in a new building or one undergoing alterations where the hatchways, enclosures and gates have not been completed, may be used as a builders’ hoist provided the car is enclosed on three …

§ 7.382. Change of certificate. When a building is completed, the certificate under which any freight or passenger elevator has been operated as a builders’ hoist shall become void and a new certificate shall be taken out to operate the installation as a freight or passenger elev…

§ 7.383. Signal system. Either an electric or manual signal system shall be used on a builders’ hoist installed inside or outside a building. Electric signal systems shall be provided and used on all converted elevators and they shall be so installed and connected to shaftway gat…

§ 7.384. Special personnel hoists used in chimney construction. (a) General. The provisions of this chapter shall apply generally. The employer shall comply with the manufacturer’s specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of these special hoists. Where the manuf…

GENERAL § 7.411. Scope. The provisions of this subchapter outline safety standards for the transportation of passengers for recreational purposes on devices usually referred to as aerial tramways, chair lifts, gondola lifts, skimobiles, T-bar lifts, J-bar lifts, platter lifts, fi…

§ 7.412. Stipulations. In addition to detailed requirements provided for the principal categories of this Subchapter, the following stipulations apply to each category of this subchapter: (1) For purposes of design, the average passenger shall be considered as having a weight of …

§ 7.413. Inspections and tests. (a) Before any tramway is placed in operation it shall be subjected to thorough inspection and tests to confirm that it meets the requirements of the approved plans and specifications in every respect. This shall include but not necessarily be limi…

§ 7.414. Maintenance. (a) Routine. A schedule for systematic maintenance shall be developed and set down in writing for all installations subject to the provisions of this Subchapter. Such schedule should be based on a maintenance manual which shall be provided by the designer of…

§ 7.415. Operation. (a) Requirements regarding the marshalling of passengers for smooth and safe loading and unloading without interference are subject to a clear plan of operations. Once such a plan is established by management, succeeding steps shall include the training of att…

SINGLE AND DOUBLE REVERSIBLE AERIAL TRAMWAYS § 7.421. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section and § § 7.422—7.432 (relating to single and double reversible aerial tramways), shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates othe…

§ 7.422. Applicability. The provisions of § § 7.421—7.432 (relating to single and double reversible aerial tramways) apply to that class of aerial tramways in which the carriers reciprocate between the terminals, particularly those referred to as single reversible (‘‘to and fro’’…

§ 7.423. Location. (a) In selecting the location and alignment of tramways, consideration shall be given to the following: (1) Electric power lines. (2) Railways. (3) Highways. (4) Structures. (5) Rock and earth slides, cave-ins, washouts, and the like. (6) Avalanches of snow. (7…

§ 7.424. Width of clearing. The clearing shall be wide enough to prevent interference with the tramway by the adjacent vegetation. Such clearings shall be protected, if necessary, to avoid washouts which might endanger the tramway or its foundations. Dead trees shall be cleared o…

§ 7.425. Towers. (a) Towers shall be located to conform to the profile of the terrain and designed to provide clearance of the cabins and ropes from all obstructions and ski or hiking trails. Under the most adverse loading conditions, a minimum space of 5 feet shall exist between…

§ 7.426. Capacity and speed. (a) Capacity. The design capacity of each cabin shall be posted in a conspicuous place in that cabin and at each loading platform. (b) Speed. Maximum car speeds shall be as follows: (1) Bicable tramways using track cable brakes on the carriage shall n…

§ 7.427. Terminals and stations. (a) Power source. Electrical and internal combustion energy may be utilized as a power source, as follows: (1) Electrical. Exposed electrical transmission wiring shall be so located that in case of collapse or breakage of the power line it will no…

§ 7.428. Line structures. (a) Towers. The design of towers shall satisfy the requirements of § 7.427(p) (relating to terminals and stations) and all of the following: (1) If clearance is not adequate, towers shall be equipped with guards designed to prevent the cabins from swingi…

§ 7.429. Line equipment. (a) Hauling ropes. Hauling ropes shall conform to the following: (1) Specifications and tests. A copy of the wire rope specifications of the manufacturer shall be available to the authority having jurisdiction. Such specifications shall include size, grad…

§ 7.430. Communications. (a) A communication system shall be provided. The following types of communication are recommended for major installations: (1) Terminal-to-terminal two-way telephone or radiophone communication independent of all other forms of communication. (2) Two-way…

§ 7.431. Signs. No signs are required other than those specified elsewhere in § § 7.421—7.432 if attendants and conductors are placed as specified. Signs, if used, should be short, simple, bold in design, and to the point. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.42…

§ 7.432. Evacuation. Tram cabins shall be equipped with a trap door and either a rope ladder or boatswain’s chair capable of reaching the ground from the highest point. Consideration should be given to the provision of auxiliary emergency cars for the evacuation of unusually timi…

CHAIR LIFTS, GONDOLA LIFTS AND SKIMOBILES § 7.441. Definitions. (a) The following words and terms, when used in this section and § § 7.442—7.453, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Carriers—Open chairs, cars, or gondolas, which may be per…

§ 7.442. Applicability. The provisions of § § 7.441—7.453 apply to that class of aerial tramways in which the carriers circulate around the system, traveling from one terminal to the other along one path of travel and returning along another path of travel, making U-turns in both…

§ 7.443. Location. The location of chair lifts, gondola lifts, and skimobiles is subject to the requirements specified for single and double reversible aerial tramways in § 7.423 (relating to location). Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.441 (relating to defin…

§ 7.444. Width of clearing. Clearings for chair lifts, gondola lifts, and skimobiles are subject to the requirements specified for single and double reversible aerial tramways in § 7.424 (relating to width of clearing). Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.441 (…

§ 7.445. Towers. (a) Towers shall be located to conform to the profile of the terrain and to provide for the proper deflection of the hauling rope so that passengers will not be higher above the ground than necessary, nor so close as to encourage them to disembark at locations ot…

§ 7.446. Capacity, speed and loading interval. No chair lift, gondola lift or skimobile shall be operated beyond their design capacity and speed. The following specifics shall also apply: (1) Single chair lifts. Lifts shall never be operated beyond their design capacity and speed…

§ 7.447. Terminals and stations. (a) Power source. Electrical and internal combustion energy may be utilized as a power source, under the requirements set forth in § 7.427(a) (relating to terminals and stations). (b) Prime movers. Prime movers shall have the capacity to handle th…

§ 7.448. Line structures. (a) Towers, trestles, and monorails. Towers, trestles and monorails shall conform to the following: (1) Towers. The design of towers shall satisfy the requirements of § 7.427(p) (relating to terminals and stations) and all of the following: (i) When clea…

§ 7.449. Line equipment. (a) Hauling ropes. Hauling ropes shall conform to the following: (1) Specifications and tests. Specifications and tests shall comply with the provisions of § 7.429(a)(1) (relating to line equipment). (2) Tension limitation. The tension of ropes shall comp…

§ 7.450. Communications. A two-way voice communication system shall be provided between the motor control point and all loading and unloading stations. A public address system reaching all points along the line is recommended. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § …

§ 7.451. Signs. (a) The following signs, if relevant to the type of lift, shall be posted where they may be read by all persons using the tramway: (1) If not familiar with use of lift, ask attendant for instructions. (2) Prepare to unload (at a distance of not less than 50 feet a…

§ 7.452. Evacuation. A system of planned evacuation of passengers from the lift, in the event of power failure or breakdown, shall be established to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction. Adequate equipment for such evacuation shall be available at all times for i…

§ 7.453. Operation. In addition to the requirements provided in § 7.415 (relating to operation), reference shall be made to § 7.427(g) (relating to terminals and stations) or § 7.447(g) (relating to terminals and stations). Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.4…

T-BAR LIFTS, J-BAR LIFTS, PLATTER LIFTS ANDSIMILAR DEVICES § 7.461. Definitions. The definitions specified in § 7.421 (relating to definitions) shall apply to this section and § § 7.462—7.472. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.462 (relating to applicability).…

§ 7.462. Applicability. The provisions of § § 7.461—7.472 apply to that class of aerial tramways subject to the provisions of § § 7.441—7.453, but is limited to those devices in which the passengers are in contact with the ground or snow during the trip. Such devices are normally…

§ 7.463. Location. The location of T-bar lifts, J-bar lifts, platter lifts, and similar devices is subject to the requirements specified for single and double reversible aerial tramways in § 7.423 (relating to location). In addition, the location shall be selected so that the ski…

§ 7.464. Width of clearing. Clearings for T-bar lifts, J-bar lifts, platter lifts, and similar devices are subject to the requirements specified for single and double reversible aerial tramways in § 7.424 (relating to width of clearing). Cross References This section cited in 34 …

§ 7.465. Towers. (a) Towers shall be located to conform to the profile of the terrain and be so located that, under the most adverse loading conditions, the towing device is unable to lift any passenger off the snow. Also, under the most adverse conditions, the hauling rope shall…

§ 7.466. Capacity, speed, and loading interval. The combination of rope speed and action of the towing outfit shall be such that the skiers are accelerated at a safe rate as they are mounting the lift. When the average level of ability of the skiers to mount the lift is relativel…

§ 7.467. Terminals and stations. (a) Power source. Electrical and internal combustion energy may be utilized as a power source, as follows: (1) Electrical. The utilization of electrical energy shall conform to the provisions of § 7.427(a)(1) (relating to terminals and stations). …

§ 7.468. Line structures. (a) Towers. The design of towers shall satisfy the requirements of § 7.427(p) (relating to terminals and stations) and all of the following: (1) A minimum clearance of 36 inches shall be maintained between the base of a tower and the vertical plane of th…

§ 7.469. Line equipment. (a) Hauling ropes. Hauling ropes shall conform to the following: (1) Specifications and tests. Specifications and tests shall comply with the provisions of § 7.429(a)(1) (relating to line equipment). (2) Tension limitations. The tension of ropes shall com…

§ 7.470. Communications. A two-way communication system shall be provided between all stations except where the lift is so short that direct communication is possible. A public address system reaching all points along the line is recommended. Cross References This section cited i…

§ 7.471. Signs. (a) The following signs shall be posted where they may be read by all persons using the lift: (1) ‘‘If not familiar with use of lift, ask attendant for instructions.’’ (2) ‘‘Prepare to unload’’ (at a distance of not less than 50 feet ahead of unloading area). (3) …

§ 7.472. Operation. Operation shall conform to § 7.453 (relating to operation). In addition, the ski path shall be centered under the ascending rope. It shall be kept reasonably smooth and there shall be no obstruction within three feet of the center line of the path. The side sl…

FIBER ROPE TOWS § 7.481. Location. All fiber rope tows shall be located far enough from terrain features, such as overhanging ledges, electric power lines and other structures so as not to endanger skiers.

§ 7.482. Width of clearing. The tow path shall be cleared of all obstructions for a distance of 3 feet on both sides of the normal uphill rope path. Dead trees or dead limbs of living trees near enough to fall within the tow path shall be removed.

§ 7.483. Path of rope. There shall be a minimum distance of 5 feet between the uphill rope and the return rope poles at the loading point, and a minimum distance of 3 feet between the uphill rope and any pole located between the loading and unloading points. Cross References This…

§ 7.484. Speed. Rope speed shall not exceed 1,500 feet per minute, except that the tow may be capable of higher speed for ski patrol emergency only.