GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
§ 7.51. Shaftway construction.
(a) General. New and existing shaftways of passenger elevators shall conform to the following:
(1) New shaftways. The shaftways of new passenger elevators in buildings over two stories in height shall be enclosed by continuous walls of fire-resistive construction, except when overhead loads are carried on a steel or angle iron tower or by the structural parts of the building, in which case fire-resistive curtain walls may be provided in lieu thereof. There shall be no openings other than those for fire-resistive doors, windows, or skylights. When basement machines are installed, and when the openings in the shaftway walls for cables or sheaves exceed ten square feet, the machine rooms shall be constructed of fire-resistive materials. When fire-resistive construction is not required, the shaftways of passenger elevators shall be enclosed with a solid or substantial grille or latticework on all sides to ceiling height, except space required for landing doors. The open spaces in such grille or latticework shall be such that a ball two inches in diameter will not pass, and the wire or material used shall not be less than No. 10 standard steel wire gauge (.135 inch). When bordering on counterweight runways, or when moving parts are within four inches of such enclosures, the open spaces shall be such that a ball 3/8 inch in diameter will not pass. Machine room doors shall be locked at all times, except when repairs are being made or when the machinery is being inspected or serviced. Oil-electric pump units installed in basement areas do not require a machine room if the controller is enclosed in a fire-resistive cabinet equipped with a lock and the pumping unit is properly guarded.
(2) Existing shaftways. The shaftways of existing passenger elevators are not required to be of fire-resistive construction unless, in the judgment of the Department, such construction is essential for the protection of the occupants of the buildings in which such elevators are located. When such existing enclosures are composed of grille or metalwork of open construction which does not extend to full height from floor to ceiling, the owner may be required to continue such enclosures to the full height on the open side or sides of the car and on such other sides where hazards exist, such as stairways and similar conditions. All portions of enclosures within four inches of moving parts shall be further protected by wire screen of not more than 3/8 inch mesh to a height of not less than six feet from the floor and to a distance of at least six inches to the right and left of such moving parts.
(b) Overhead loads. Overhead loads shall conform to section 105 of the ANSI A17.1-1971 Code, Rules 105.1 through 105.5 inclusive and all subsequent amendments thereto. Overhead loads supported by bearing walls shall conform to the following:
Material Ultimate Tensile Strength
(in pounds per square inch)Medium steel 60,000 Cast iron 16,000 Ash 9,000 Yellow pine 9,000
(1) When overhead loads are carried by bearing walls of brick, concrete, or other approved materials and are erected independently of walls carrying building loads or resisting stresses or when independent shaftway and building walls jointly carry loads, they shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the values governing safe bearing loads as follows:Safe Bearing Loads
Brick Work
Type of
MotorPounds per Square Inch Lime 100 Portland cement 200 Rosendale cement 150 Masonry Material Pounds per Square Inch Granite, capstone 700 Stonework, squared 350 Sandstone, capstone 350 Stonework, squared 175 Rubble stonework in lime mortar 80 Rubble stonework in cement mortar 150 Limestone, capstone 500 Squared stonework 250 Rubble, in lime mortar 80 Rubble, in cement mortar 150 Concrete (one Portland, two sand, five broken stone) 150 Foundation Soils Material Tons per Square Foot Hard rock in native bed 100 Rock equal to ashlar masonry 25—40 Rock equal to best brick 15—120 Clay beds, dry and thick 4—6 Clay beds, moderately dry and thick 2—4 Clay beds, soft 1—2 Gravel and coarse sand, well cemented 8—10 Sand, well cemented and compact 4—6 Sand, clean and dry 2—4 Quicksand, alluvial soils, etc. 0.5—1 (2) Existing shaftway construction is acceptable if, in the judgment of the Department, such shaftways properly protect the occupants of buildings in which they are located and conform in other respects to safe practices.
(c) Contiguous shaftways. If passenger elevator shaftways are contiguous and are required to be of fire-resistive construction, it is not necessary to erect walls between such shaftways.
(d) Windows. As regards new installations, windows in the outside walls of buildings opening into passenger elevator shaftways shall be constructed of fire-resistive materials. In all cases, windows shall be set in fixed sash. Elevator shaftway windows located within the first seven stories above a street or within four stories of the roof of an adjacent building shall be fitted with approved metal bars or rods at least 5/8 inch in diameter not more than 10 inches apart except when inside window protection is provided in accordance with subsection (e). When, in the judgment of the Department, outside window guards are necessary on existing installations, they shall be provided.
(e) Other recesses. Recesses other than for windows or recesses other than necessary for installation of elevator equipment shall not be permitted. Beams, floor slabs or other building construction shall not project more than 4 inches inside the general line of the hoistway unless the top surface of the projection is beveled at an angle of not less than 75° with the horizontal. When setbacks occur in the enclosure wall, the top of the setback shall be beveled at an angle of not less than 75° with the horizontal. Separator beams between adjacent elevators are not required to have bevels. The following shall also apply:
(1) New installations. All recesses or offsets in shaftways of fireproof construction, except door lintels in the enclosing walls on the open sides of the car, shall be protected by substantial curtain walls, grating or vertical bars set on a flush line with the interior walls of the shaftway, the distance between the vertical members not to exceed two inches. Such grating or bars shall be of metal. No part of the curtain walls, grating or bars shall be more than 3 inches from the car platform on any open side of the car. When the distance between the edge of the car top and rear shaftway wall exceeds 18 inches, a protective railing shall be installed the width of the car.
(2) Existing installations. When the distance from car sill to shaftway wall on any open side of a car exceeds 7 inches, curtain walls, fascia plates, vertical metal bars spaced not more than 2 inches, or a substantial metal grill of not more than 2 inch mesh shall be provided, unless the car gate on that side is equipped with an approved interlock. When the clearance exceeds 15 inches, the car door shall be solid and equipped with an approved interlock or the shaftway constructed as specified.
(f) Shaftways shorter than buildings. Passenger elevator shaftways which are required to be of fire-resistive construction and which do not extend to the entire height of the building shall be protected with a fire-resistive, unpierced covering.
(g) Skylights and ventilators. Skylights and ventilators are permitted in passenger elevator shaftways if the walls of the shaftway are continued to a point not less than 3 feet above the level of the roof. Skylights and glass ventilators shall be of wire glass not less than 1/4 inch in thickness.
(h) Penthouses. In new installations, where penthouses are provided over fire-resistive passenger elevator shaftways, such penthouses shall be constructed of approved fire-resistive materials with a permanent means of entrance provided from the roof level. Penthouse doors shall be locked at all times, except when repairs are being made or when the machinery is being inspected or serviced. Penthouses shall not have less than a clear inside height of 6 feet and shall permit free access to all parts of machinery and apparatus therein. In existing structures, fire-resistive penthouses are not required unless conditions necessitate such construction. Access to all penthouses, overhead machinery and machine rooms shall be provided by means other than through the shaftway.
(i) Depth of shaftways. Shaftways and counterweight runways of elevators serving the street levels shall extend to the pit floor of the lowest cellar or basement, and the bottom of the shaftway shall be covered with concrete or other approved fire-resistive material to a thickness of at least 4 inches. When the space below the shaftway is used for a passageway, is occupied by persons, or, if unoccupied, is not secured against unauthorized access, the cars and counterweights shall be provided with governor-operated safeties, except that safeties operated as a result of the breaking of the suspension means may be used for dumbwaiters. Also, car and counterweight-buffer supports shall be of sufficient strength to withstand without failure the impact resulting from buffer engagement at governor-tripping speed or at 125% of rated speed when no governor is provided.
(j) Shaftways used as thoroughfares. No elevator shaftway shall be used as a thoroughfare when the elevator is above or below the landing or when the elevator is at the landing, except upon special permission of the Department. Existing shaftways used as thoroughfares may be required to be removed or reerected in new locations or their use as thoroughfares abandoned.
Source The provisions of this § 7.51 amended June 11, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2278. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (8057).
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.55 (relating to machinery); 34 Pa. Code § 7.71 (relating to conflicts); 34 Pa. Code § 7.141 (relating to hoistway enclosure); and 34 Pa. Code § 7.181 (relating to hoistway enclosure).
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