Charles A. Buckman, CSS, CEI
elevator & escalator consultant
Codes
Elevator and Escalator Codes for the Elevator World. A new addition to the site, it's become obvious that there is a need for code references relating to vertical transportation devices not only nationally (USA) but also in Canada and internationally. To that end I have embarked on researching and defining codes which will hopefully be helpful to those of you interested. I shall be including building codes and electrical codes where pertinent (and possible).
As of this writing, I have but begun. I shall continue to add to this data and invite code experts, internationally, to provide their expertise and comments. You might want to visit Ed Donoghue's site at http://www.eadai.com. It contains a tremendous trove of code data. You'll need to right click on back to return.
On this page I have defined the basic referenced standards. The nav bar below provides transport to specifics for mandated local codes and international codes.
[ Home ] [ International ] [ Provincial Codes ] [ State Codes ]
American: The generally accepted standard for elevator equipment, elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walks etc. in the United States is ASME A17.1 (described below). Accepted as the Referenced Standard by the three national building codes, B.O.C.A, I.C.B.O. and S.B.C.C.I., ASME A17.1 is often modified by state, county and municipal codes and then most often referred to as the "referenced standard for elevators as modified..." in the code appendix.
The following elevator codes are available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 22 Law Drive, Box 2300, Fairfield, New Jersey 07007-2300. Telephone: (201) 882-1167 or (800) 843-2763
 | Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators - ASME A17.1-(latest edition) "The Code 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 elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, material lifts with automatic transfer devices, wheelchair 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 the Code is used." A17 Main Committee |
| Inspectors Manual for Electric Elevators - ASME A17.2.1-(latest edition) Provides guidance for inspectors in the inspection and testing procedures as well as items to be inspected on Electric (roped) elevators, as well as a cross reference for the various code requirements affecting them. |
| Inspectors Manual for Hydraulic Elevators - ASME A17.2.2-(latest edition) Provides guidance for inspectors in the inspection and testing procedures as well as items to be inspected on Hydraulic elevators, as well as a cross reference for the various code requirements affecting them. |
| Inspectors Manual for Escalators and Moving Walks- ASME A17.2.3-(latest edition) Provides guidance for inspectors in the inspection and testing procedures as well as items to be inspected on Escalators and Moving Walks, as well as a cross reference for the various code requirements affecting them. |
| Safety Code for Existing Elevators - ASME A17.3-(latest edition) Provides minimum retroactive requirements for existing elevators and escalators that will offer a reasonable degree of safety for passengers on older elevator equipment. In general these requirements provide for improvements in the code not considered at the time of the installation of the equipment. |
| Guide for Emergency Evacuation of Passengers from Stuck Elevators - ASME A17.4-(latest edition) Provides a guide for emergency personnel as well as building owners/managers in the recommended procedures in the removal of stuck passengers from elevators. It also contains a list of requisite equipment for the safety of the passengers and emergency personnel. |
| Elevator and Escalator Electrical Equipment - ASME A17.5 (CAN/CSA-B44.1)-(latest edition) "The purpose of ASME A17.5 is to reduce the risk of injury to persons and damage to property from fire and electrical shock. To this end, ASME A17.5 is a safety standard for the design and construction of equipment to be used in conformity with the rules of the applicable elevator and electrical code (i.e., A17.1 and NFPA 70, or CSA B44 and C22.1)" Canadian Standards Association |
| Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors - ASME QEI-1--(latest edition) This standard provides the criteria for the qualification of elevator inspectors and supervisors, as well as their duties. |
The following are major codes referencing or referenced by ASME A17.1. See ASME A17.1 Table 4(a) for a complete list of reference documents.
| Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA). A national building code referenced by most jurisdictions in the northern and western United States. It may be obtained from BOCA, 4051 West Flossmoor Rd., Country Club Hills, Illinois 60477. Telephone: (708) 799-2300 |
| Uniform Building Code - International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). It may be obtained from ICBO, 5360 South Workman Mill Rd. Whittier, California 90601. Telephone: (213) 699-0541 |
| Southern Building Codes Congress International (SBCCI). A national building code referenced by most jurisdictions in the southern United States. It may be obtained from SBCCI, 900 Montclair Rd. Birmingham, Alabama 35213. Telephone: (205) 591-1853. |
| National Electric Code - ANSI/NFPA-70 (Latest Edition). It may be obtained from many sources including your local electrical supply house. Of course it may be procured from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 11 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036. Telephone: (212) 642-4900 and the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269. Telephone: (617) 770-3000. |
Canadian: The generally accepted standard for elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, freight platform lifts, and their hoistways or wellways, in Canada is CAN/CSA-B44-M94 (described below). It is the product of a not-for-profit, nonstatutory, voluntary membership association engaged in standards development and certification activities and known as the Canadian Standards Association. The CSA was chartered in 1919 and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the National Standards system in 1973. As in the American elevator code (ASME A17.1) it is designed to be the basis for provincial, municipal, and other jurisdictional authorities in drafting regulations governing the installation, testing, inspection, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, material lifts with automatic transfer devices, wheelchair 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 the Code is used.
An ad-hoc harmonization committee has been formed including both members of ASME A17 and CSA-B44 to harmonize the American and Canadian elevator codes. This committee has been active since 1988.
The following codes publications are available from the Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale Boulevard, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W1R3, Canada. Telephone: (416) 747-4000 http://www.csa.ca
| Safety Code for Elevators - National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA-B44-M (latest edition) "This National Standard of Canada establishes minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, freight platform lifts, and their hoistways or wellways, and temporary use of permanent elevators for carrying workmen or materials." Canadian Standards Association |
| Elevator and Escalator Electrical Equipment - National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA-B44.1 (ASME A17.5) - (latest edition) "The purpose of CAN/CSA-B44.1 is to reduce the risk of injury to persons and damage to property from fire and electrical shock. To this end, CAN/CSA-B44.1 is a safety standard for the design and construction of equipment to be used in conformity with the rules of the applicable elevator and electrical code (i.e., A17.1 and NFPA 70, or CSA B44 and C22.1)" Canadian Standards Association |
| Elevator Devices Log Book, B44 Log Book-(latest edition) "...designed to be used in conjunction with the Safety Code for Elevators CAN/CSA-B44-M94. The log book is set up to allow recording of maintenance activities for elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walks. It contains sections to record maintenance for monthly, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, 2-year, and 5-year periods. It also includes sections for general maintenance, landing and car door maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, and call backs." Canadian Standards Association |
| Elevating Devices for the Handicapped in Private Residences: CAN/CSA-B613-M |
| Elevating Devices for the Handicapped: CAN/CSA-B355-M |
| Canadian Electrical Code Part 1, C22.1- Safety Standard for Electrical Installations; |
| Canadian Electrical Code Part 2, C22.2 No. 0-M91- General Requirements; |
The following are major codes referencing or referenced by CAN/CSA-B44-M:
| National Building Code of Canada. Available from National Research Council Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A OR6 (613) 993-2463 http://www.irc.nrc.ca |
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Last revised on Monday, March 20, 2000
