13 NCAC 15 .0202             EXISTING INSTALLATIONS OF ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS, DUMBWAITERS AND MOVING WALKS, ALTERATIONS, repairs AND EXCEPTIONS

(a)  Existing Installations.  Existing installations of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and moving walks shall be maintained under the departmental standards (if any) in effect at the time of their installation.  Existing installations shall also meet the following standards, whether or not there were departmental standards in effect at the time of their installation:

(1)           Electrically‑powered elevator driving machines shall be equipped with a friction brake applied by a spring or springs or by gravity and released electrically.

(2)           The car of every elevator suspended by wire ropes shall be provided with one or more safety devices.  The safeties shall be attached to the car frame and one safety shall be located within or below the lowest members of the car frame (safety plank).  All safeties shall be designed and installed in accordance with Section 2.17 of the A17.1 - American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

(3)           Operating devices for electrically‑powered or electrically‑controlled elevators shall be of the enclosed electric type.  Rope or rod operating devices activated directly by hand, or rope operating devices activated by wheels, levers or cranks shall not be used.

(4)           Elevator hoistways shall be enclosed throughout their height and all hoistway landing openings shall be protected with doors or gates.  Hoistway enclosures shall be constructed to have a fire resistive rating of not less than one hour.

(5)           Hoistway enclosure doors or gates shall be equipped with electric interlocks.

(6)           Each elevator car shall be permanently enclosed on all sides and the top, except the sides for entrance and exit.  Car side enclosures shall be of such strength and so designed and installed that when subjected to a pressure of 75 pounds applied horizontally at any point on the walls of the enclosure, the deflection will not exceed one inch.

(7)           Car top enclosures shall be so designed and installed as to be capable of sustaining a load of not less than 100 pounds at any one point.

(8)           An emergency exit with a cover shall be provided in the top of all elevator cars.  The exit opening shall have an area of not less than 400 square inches and shall not measure less than 16 inches on any side.  The exit shall be so located as to provide a clear unobstructed passage through it.  The exit cover shall open outward and be hinged or otherwise attached to the car top and arranged to be opened from the top of the car only.

(9)           A door or gate shall be provided at each entrance to the car.

(10)         Doors shall be of the horizontally or vertically sliding type. Gates shall be of the vertically sliding or horizontally sliding collapsible type located not more than 1‑3/4 inches from the car sill. Gates shall extend from a point not less than one inch above the car floor to not less than six feet above the car floor.

(11)         Vertically sliding gates when in the fully opened position shall provide an entrance of not less than six feet in height.  Such gates shall be provided with pull straps to facilitate closing of the gate.

(12)         Each car door shall be equipped with a car door or gate electric contact so located as to be inaccessible from inside the car door and shall stop the car when the gate is opened a maximum of two inches.

The completion of any of the items in Subparagraphs (a)(1) through (12) of this Rule that increases the gross load of the elevator shall not reduce the safety factor of the driving machine below that required by Rule 2.24.3 of the A17.1 - American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

(b)  Exceptions.  Existing elevators in warehouses of not more than two floors that are not accessible to the general public are exempt from Subparagraphs (a)(4) through (12) of this Rule providing that all of the following conditions are met:

(1)           The warehouse shall be used solely for the purpose of storing materials and products.

(2)           Hoistways that are not fully enclosed shall be protected by guards to prevent access to the hoistways by other than elevator personnel.

(3)           All capabilities of operating the elevator from the car or platform shall be removed.

(4)           Riders shall not be permitted to ride the car or platform.

(5)           A sign stating "Absolutely No Riders Permitted" in letters no less than one inch high on a contrasting background shall be posted at each entrance to the elevator.

(c)  If an existing installation meets the requirements of Paragraph (a) of this Rule, it shall be issued a regular certificate of operation pursuant to Rule .0306 of this Chapter.  If an existing installation is maintained under the departmental standards (if any) in effect at the time of its installation and is not exposing the public to an unsafe condition likely to result in serious personal injury or property damage, but does not meet the twelve standards specifically set out in Paragraph (a) of this Rule, it shall be issued a certificate of operation containing the following statement:

"Warning:  This elevator has been inspected and found to be in a reasonably safe condition; however, it is not equipped with some of the safety features now required by the Department of Labor."

If the existing installation is not in compliance with the requirements of Paragraph (a) of this Rule, the following sign in letters no less than one inch high on a contrasting background shall be posted within and at each entrance to the elevator:

"Riders prohibited ‑‑ only a trained operator may ride this elevator."

(d)  Units of existing installations which are out‑of‑service and not continuously maintained for a period exceeding one year shall be properly landed by complying with the following:

(1)           Land both car and counterweight (if any) at the bottom of the hoistway.  Elevators of the roped type shall have their hoist ropes disconnected at both ends.

(2)           All electric power shall be removed by disconnecting and removing the power feeders.

(3)           All hoistway entrances shall be permanently secured to prevent accidental or inadvertent entry into the hoistway.

Any elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator or moving walk that has been properly landed or otherwise removed from service for a period exceeding one year shall comply with the requirements of the A17.3 - American National Standard Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators in effect at the time they are returned to service, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  This incorporation includes subsequent amendments and editions of this Code.  Copies of the A17.3 - American National Standard Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators are available for public inspection in the office of the Division, and may be obtained from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), via U.S. Mail at United Engineering Center, 345 East 47^th Street, New York, New York 10017, via telephone at (800) 843-2763, or via the internet at www.asme.org.  The cost is seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per copy.

(e)  Alterations, repairs, replacement, maintenance, inspections and operation of existing installations of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters or moving walks shall conform to the requirements of Sections 8.6 and 8.7 of the A17.1 - American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 95‑110.5;

Eff. August 1, 1987;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2005; May 1, 1992;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.