WAC 296-56-60180 through 296-56-60207 apply to the installation,
design, and use of all one man capacity, hand power counterweighted elevators
subject to inspection under RCW 49.17.120.
(1) Every hoistway landing shall be protected on all sides other than
the landing opening side with a standard guard rail and intermediate guard
rail. All landings except the bottom landing shall have a toe board installed
on all sides except the landing opening side.
(2) All hoistway entrances shall be not less than six feet six inches
in height and in no case shall the width exceed the corresponding car
dimensions.
(3) All hoistway entrances must be provided with an approved maze or
with a hoistway gate which shall:
(a) Be at least thirty-six inches in height.
(b) Extend downward to within one inch of the landing sill.
(c) Be of the self-closing type, designed to swing horizontally out
from the hoistway and closing against a full jam stop.
(d) Be located within four inches of the hoistway edge of the landing
sill.
(e) Have a “DANGER” sign conspicuously posted on the landing side of
the hoistway gate.
(f) Withstand a two hundred fifty pound horizontal thrust.
(4) All projections extending inwardly from the hoistway enclosure at
the entrance side of the car platform shall be bevelled and substantially
guarded on the underside by smooth solid material set at an angle of not
less than sixty degrees, nor more than seventy-five degrees from the horizontal
when cars are not equipped with gates.
There shall be no habitable space below the elevator hoistway or counterweight
shaft unless the floor is supported to withstand any impact caused by
the car or counterweight dropping freely onto the floor.
(1) There shall be a minimum of two opposing guide rails extending to
a point six inches beyond the full height of travel of the car when the
counterweight buffer is fully compressed.
(2) All rails shall be attached by bolts, lag screws or other approved
methods to a vertical supporting member which shall not exceed one-half
inch deflection with the application of a two hundred fifty pound horizontal
thrust at any point.
(3) Wood guide rails shall be at least one and one-half inch by one and
one-half inch vertical grain fir or equivalent and shall not vary more
than three-sixteenth inch in thickness on the sides which the brakes contact.
All joints shall be kept smooth and even.
Substantial spring buffers shall be installed below the car and
also below the counterweight. The hoisting rope shall be of such length
that the car platform will not be more than eight inches above the top
landing when the counterweight buffer spring is fully compressed.
(1) The car shall be built to the following specifications:
(a) The car platform shall be not greater than thirty inches on either
side (6.25 square feet area).
(b) The car frame and platform shall be of steel or sound seasoned
wood construction and be designed with a safety factor of not less than
four for metal and six for wood, based on a maximum capacity of two
hundred fifty pounds.
(c) All frame members shall be securely bolted, riveted or welded and
braced. If bolted, lock washers or lock nuts shall be used.
(d) Where wooden frame members are bolted, large washers or metal plates
shall be used to minimize the possibility of splitting or cracking the
wood.
(2) The sides of the car shall be enclosed by a minimum of two safety
guard rails with the top rail not less than thirty-six inches nor more
than forty-two inches from the car floor. Rails shall sustain a horizontal
thrust of two hundred fifty pounds. If solid material is used it shall
be smooth surfaced and not less than one-half inch thickness, if wood;
not less than sixteen gauge thickness, if steel; and shall be constructed
from the car floor to a height of not less than three feet.
(a) Where the hoistway is not enclosed on the entrance side of the
car, a self-locking or drop bar gate must be provided. The car gate
may be of the folding type, horizontally swung, provided it swings into
the car enclosure. Drop bar gates must be of two bar construction, parallelogram
type, and conform to requirements specified for car guard rails.
(b) The car gate shall drop into locking slots or be provided with
a positive locking type latch capable of withstanding two hundred fifty
pounds horizontal thrust.
(3) Every car shall have a substantial protective top. The front half
may be hinged. The protective top may be made from number nine U.S. wire
gauge screen, eleven gauge expanded metal, fourteen gauge sheet steel,
three-quarter inch or heavier plywood. If made of wire screen or metal,
the openings shall reject a one-half inch diameter ball.
(4) Every car shall have a proper rack to hold the balance weights.
(5) A sign bearing the following information shall be conspicuously posted
within the car:
(a) Maximum capacity one person;
(b) Total load limit in pounds;
(c) For authorized personnel use only.
(6) Every car shall be equipped with a spring loaded foot brake which:
(a) Operates independently of the car safeties;
(b) Operates in both directions and will stop and hold the car and
its load;
(c) Locks the car in its position automatically whenever the operator
releases the pressure on the foot pedal.
(7) Every car shall be equipped with a car safety device which:
(a) Applies to the sides of the main guide rails;
(b) Stops and holds the car and its load immediately when the hoisting
rope breaks.
(8) Every car shall have a minimum clearance of six feet six inches from
the top of the car platform to the bottom edge of the crosshead or any
other obstruction.
(9) A tool box with minimum dimensions of four inches wide by sixteen
inches long by three inches in depth shall be provided and firmly attached
to the car structure.
(1) The assembly of sectional counterweights shall conform to the following
requirements:
(a) Rectangular counterweights shall be held together by at least two
tie rods one-half inch in diameter fastened with lock washers and double
nuts or other approved means.
(b) One three-quarter inch rod may be used to hold the sections of
a round counterweight together. Any additional sections or weights shall
be secured by an approved means.
(2) The eye bolt for the rope hitch shall be attached to the counterweight
in a manner that will prevent the eye bolt from coming loose. The eye
of eye bolts shall be welded to prevent it from opening.
(3) Every counterweight runway shall be enclosed with substantial unperforated
material for its full distance of travel. Inspection openings shall be
provided at either the top or bottom of the counterweight runway. These
openings shall be substantially covered at all times except when actually
being used for inspection of counterweight fastenings.
(4) Workmen shall load the counterweight for the proper balance of the
heaviest person using the elevator and others shall use compensating weights,
which shall be available, to maintain a balance.
(5) On elevators with travel of seventy-five feet or more, a compensating
chain or cable shall be installed to maintain the proper balance of the
counterweight to the car and load in all positions.
(1) Hoisting rope shall be of good grade traction elevator wire rope,
and shall:
(a) Be not less than three-eighths inches in diameter.
(b) Provide a safety factor of five based on the maximum weight supported.
(c) Be of sufficient length to prevent the counterweight from striking
the overhead structure when car is at bottom, and prevent the car from
striking the overhead before the counterweight is at its lower limit
of travel.
(d) Be fastened at each end by at least three or more clamps, with
the “U” of the clamp bearing on the dead end of the rope.
(e) Where passed around a metal or other object less than three times
the diameter of the cable, have a thimble of the correct size inserted
in the eye.
(2) Approved sockets or fittings with the wire properly turned back and
babbitted may be used in place of clamps noted in subsection (1)(d) of
this section.
The operating rope shall be of soft hemp or cotton at least three-quarter
inch in diameter. It shall be securely fastened at each end and shall
be in proper vertical alignment to prevent bending or cutting where it
passes through the openings in the platform or the protective top of the
car.
(1) No person other than an employee or duly authorized person shall
ride or be permitted to ride in the car.
(2) Escape ladders shall be installed extending the full length of the
hoistway and shall be located in a position so that, in an emergency,
a person can safely transfer from the car platform to the ladder. An “IMPAIRED
CLEARANCE” sign shall be posted at the bottom of a ladder when the face
of the ladder is less than thirty inches from any structure.
(3) An automatic safety dog or device which will prevent the car from
leaving the landing until manually released by the operator shall be installed
at the bottom landing.
(4) A fire extinguisher in proper working condition shall be available
in the car.
Note: For additional requirements relating to portable
fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300.
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