Subchapter 6. Elevator Safety Orders
Article 7. Hoistways, Hoistway Enclosures, and Related Construction for Power Cable-Driven Passenger and Freight Elevators

§3010. Construction of Hoistways and Hoistway Enclosures.

The hoistway enclosure shall be building walls, ceiling materials, and fireproofing conforming to governing building codes. The regulations included in this section establish minimum standards for hoistway enclosures. These regulations are not intended to supersede applicable local building codes establishing higher standards.
(a) Enclosures of Hoistways.

(1) All sides of elevator hoistways on new installations shall be fully and permanently enclosed except for the necessary entrances.

Exception to subsection 3010(a)(1):

Observation elevators which comply with applicable requirements of Sections listed in Design Section 3113(a).

(A) Glass used in hoistways or as part of the hoistway enclosure shall be laminated glass conforming to the requirements of ANSI Z97.1.

(2) All sides of existing elevator hoistways shall be permanently enclosed, except for the necessary entrances, to a height of not less than 6 ft. (1.83 m) above each floor and shall also conform to the following:

(A) The enclosure shall extend from the floor to the ceiling on the counterweight portion, which shall extend at least 6 in. (152 mm) each side of the counterweight, and from the floor to the ceiling on the entrance side, except for the necessary entrance.

(B) The maximum height of the entrance on elevators without car gates will be the height of the car crosshead or 10 ft. (3.05 m) for elevators without a crosshead. Above this height, the front of the hoistway shall be enclosed.

(C) Where material is stored on any side of the hoistway, the hoistway enclosure on that side shall extend to the ceiling or at least 6 ft. (1.83 m) above the stored material.

(3) Enclosures shall be building walls, solid fixed partitions, metal grating, wood, or grillwork. Where grillwork is used, the wire shall be not less than No. 10 W & M gage steel wire, 0.135 in (3.4 mm) diameter.

(4) The openings in grillwork or between vertical boards shall reject a 2 in. (51 mm) ball. Vertical slots exceeding 1 in. (25 mm) in width shall not exceed 24 in. (610 mm) in length.

(5) When moving parts within the hoistway, including sliding doors, are closer than 4 in. (102 mm) from the outside face of the enclosure, the openings in the grillwork or between vertical boards or bars shall not exceed 1/2 in. (13 mm) in width or length.

A combination of steel bars or vertical boards, spaced as specified in Section 3010(a)(4), covered with hardware cloth or of grillwork covered with hardware cloth may be used for such enclosures.

(6) The hoistway enclosure of observation elevators shall comply with the following:

(A) The hoistway enclosure on the side facing a car entrance shall extend from floor to floor vertically and 8 in (203 mm) beyond the line of moving equipment in the hoistway on each side and shall comply with the requirements for fully enclosed hoistways.

(B) A hoistway enclosure not less than 8 ft. (2.44 m) high shall be provided at the sides or rear of any landing or level where any means of access is within 4 ft. (1.22 m) of the line of moving equipment in the hoistway.

(C) Landings or levels not used for observation purposes shall be provided with a fully enclosed hoistway.

(b) Strength of Enclosures.

(1) Enclosures shall be so supported and braced as to deflect not more than 1 in. (25 mm) when subjected to a force of 100 lbf (445 n) applied horizontally at any one point. Existing enclosures shall not deflect into the minimum running clearance allowed between the elevator car or counterweight and the enclosure when subjected to a similar force.

(2) The hoistway enclosure adjacent to landing openings and the structure supporting the doors or gates and their locks shall be of sufficient strength to support in true alignment the landing doors or gates with their operating mechanism and locking devices.

(c) Construction at Bottom of Hoistways.

(1) Pits extending into the ground shall be so designed as to prevent entry of ground water into the pit.

(2) The pit floor on any hoistway not extending to the ground shall be capable of sustaining a live load of not less than 125 psf (5.98 Kpa) in all open areas. Elevator equipment weight and forces resulting from compensating sheave or buffer impact shall be considered when this equipment is supported by the pit-floor structure.

(d) Floor Over Hoistways of Power Elevators.

(1) Where the elevator machine is located over the hoistway, a metal or concrete floor shall be provided above or level with the top of the machine beams.

(A) The floor is not required to be located below the secondary or deflecting sheaves of traction machines provided the sheaves can be serviced from the top of the car, or means are provided for servicing the sheaves from outside the hoistway.

(2) Where the elevator machine is located below or at the side of the hoistway, a metal or concrete floor shall be provided below the overhead sheaves unless the following requirements are conformed to:

(A) Means of access for inspection and servicing of each governor is provided from outside the hoistway in such a manner that the action of the tripping mechanism can be inspected while the car is running and the governor, and governor switches where provided, can be reset by a person working from a permanent platform furnished as part of this access means.

(B) When the car is level with the top landing, the center line of the overhead sheaves or hoist rope dead end hitch plates shall not be more than 6 ft. (1.83 m) above the crosshead or 8 ft. (2.44 m) above the car top.

(C) A top-of-car inspection station conforming to Section 3040(a)(4) is provided.

(D) An access switch for access to the top of the car conforming to Section 3021(k) is provided.

(3) The floor shall be capable of sustaining a concentrated load of 300 lb (136 Kg) on any 4 in.2 (26 cm2); and where it constitutes the floor of the main or secondary level machinery space, it shall be designed for a live load of not less than 125 psf (5.98 Kpa) in all open areas. Where the elevator machine is to be supported solely by the machine room floor slab, the floor slab shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of Design Section 3111(a).

(4) The openings in perforated or openwork metal floors shall reject a ball 1/2 in. (13 mm) in diameter and the greatest dimension shall be not more than 3 in. (76 mm). Cable or tape openings in floors shall be protected by a guard not less than 4 in. (102 mm) high.

(5) The floor shall extend over the entire area of the hoistway where crosssectional area is 100 ft.2 (9.3 m2) or less. Where the cross-sectional area is greater, the floor shall extend not less than 2 ft. (610 mm) beyond the general contour of the machine or sheaves or other equipment, and to the entrance to the machinery space at or above the level of the platform. Where the floor does not cover the entire horizontal area of the hoistway, the open or exposed sides shall be provided with a standard guardrail and toeboard.

(6) Differences in level of machine room and machinery space floors shall be avoided when practicable. Where there is a difference in level in such floors exceeding 15 in. (381 mm), a standard guardrail shall be provided at the edge of the higher level, and stairs or a ladder shall be provided for access between levels.

(e) Projections, Recesses, and Setbacks in Hoistway Enclosures of Power Elevators. Hoistway enclosures shall have substantially flush surfaces on the hoistway side, subject to the following:

(1) Landing sills, hoistway doors, door tracks and hangers may project inside the general line of the hoistway. Landing sills and associated facia-guards shall comply with subsection 3020(a)(3). Note:The intent of this order is to allow recesses necessary for the installation of elevator equipment and minor recesses caused by floor beams and slabs. The phrase substantially flush does not include unnecessary horizontal surfaces or surface projections such as reinforcing rods, snap-ties, screws, etc., which may cause injury The intent of this order is to allow recesses necessary for the installation of elevator equipment and minor recesses caused by floor beams and slabs. The phrase substantially flush does not include unnecessary horizontal surfaces or surface projections such as reinforcing rods, snap-ties, screws, etc., which may cause injury.

(Title 24, Part 7, section 7-3010)

<General Materials (GM) - References, Annotations, or Tables>

   Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

 HISTORY 

   

1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (e) filed 10-25-74; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 74, No. 43).

2. Repealer and new subsection (e) filed 6-23-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 26).

3. Repealer and new subsection (a)(6) filed 12-22-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 1)

4. Amendment filed 6-23-87; operative 6-23-87 (Register 87, No. 27).

5. Editorial corrections (Register 95, No. 26).

6. New group II heading filed 9-25-98; operative 10-25-98 (Register 98, No.39).

7. Amendment of group 2 subheading filed 4-1-2008; operative 5-1-2008 (Register 2008, No. 14).