Subchapter H. STAIRWAY INCLINED LIFTS IN BUILDINGS OTHER
THAN PRIVATE RESIDENCES
Sec.
7.251. General.
7.252. Capacity, load and speed.
7.253. Carriages.
7.254. Free passageway on stairway.
7.255. Power unit.
7.256. Operating device.
7.257. Winding drums, sheaves and rope grooves.
7.258. Connecting means.
7.259. Terminal stopping devices.
7.260. Machine brake and driving machine.
7.261. Electric wiring.§ 7.251. General.
The installation of stairway inclined lifts in buildings other than private residences is prohibited, except when all of the following are complied with, as well as the specifications set forth in the remainder of this Subchapter:
(1) The lift shall not be installed on stairway locations which interfere with or obstruct full legal egress from the buildings, as required by Chapter 37 of this Title (relating to protection from fire and panic).
(2) No lift shall be installed or operated having a greater incline than 38 degrees from the horizontal.
(3) Each installation is subject to the requirements of § § 7.11—7.17 of this Title (relating to administration) and § 7.31 of this Title (relating to submission and approval of plans). Regular inspections shall be made at least every 12 months.
(4) In no case shall such lift provide transportation between more than two consecutive floors. Travel shall be limited to 35 feet, as measured on the incline.
§ 7.252. Capacity, load and speed.
(a) The capacity of stairway inclined lifts in buildings other than private residences shall not exceed two persons.
(b) The rated load shall be not less than 250 pounds for a single seat lift and not less than 400 pounds for a lift having two seats.
(c) The rated speed measured along the incline shall not exceed 50 feet per minute.
§ 7.253. Carriages.
(a) Specifications. The carriage or chair shall have a foot platform with a seat or seats and an outer arm rest and a back so arranged as to provide safe support for passengers, provided they are of the self-locking type. Swivel-type seats are permitted.
(b) Truck and guides. The carriage shall be securely anchored to a truck which supports it. The truck shall be retained in a track or guide rail assembly. Supporting guide rails shall be securely anchored to the stairs or sidewall.
(c) Factor of safety. The factor of safety used in the design of the carriage, truck, guide rails, sprockets and sheaves shall be not less than five, based on the rated load.
(d) Safety devices. The carriage shall be provided with a safety of the instantaneous type operating on failure or slackening of the hoisting rope or chain. A slack-rope or chain switch shall be provided which removes power from the motor and brake if the hoisting rope or chain fails or slackens. An exception exists where self-locking drives utilizing a lead screw or other positive gearing will stop and hold the carriage with rated load within less than four inches of down travel after power is removed.
§ 7.254. Free passageway on stairway.
Equipment shall be so constructed as to permit a free passageway width of not less than 32 inches throughout the length of the stairway. If the seat and platform fold automatically when not in use, this clearance may be measured from the folded position.
§ 7.255. Power unit.
The power unit may be mounted on the carriage or placed at a remote location. If remotely located, all intervening sheaves or sprockets shall be placed so that the rope or chain travels in proper alignment. All sheaves shall be enclosed or guarded.
§ 7.256. Operating device.
Operating shall be by continuous-pressure, key-operated switches, at the terminal landings only. Switches shall be so arranged that they do not remain in the ‘‘run’’ position unless forcibly held in such position, and automatically return to the ‘‘off’’ position and the key ejected from the switch if released. Keys shall be placed only in the hands of designated responsible persons and not be indiscriminately distributed, so that operation of the device may be closely supervised by a competent person at a terminal landing only. Key switches shall be so located as to permit an unobstructed view of the entire length of travel of the lift.
§ 7.257. Winding drums, sheaves and rope grooves.
Winding drums and sheaves shall be composed of cast iron or steel. The diameter of drums or sheaves shall be not less than 30 times the diameter of the wire hoist-ropes and shall have machined rope-grooves. An exception exists when eight by 19 elevator wire rope or seven by 19 aircraft cable is used as a connecting means between the carriage and the driving machine, the diameter of drums and sheaves may be reduced to 21 times the diameter of the rope or cable.
Source The provisions of this § 7.257 amended September 23, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2696. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (8127).
§ 7.258. Connecting means.
(a) When the carriage is connected to the driving machine by a rope, cable or chain, any one of the following connecting means may be used:
(1) Steel or iron elevator wire rope.
(2) Steel aircraft cable.
(3) Roller chain.
(b) The diameter of ropes or cables shall be not less than the following:
(1) 1/4 inch for elevator wire rope.
(2) 1/8 inch for aircraft cable.
(c) The connecting means shall have a factor of safety of not less than seven, based on the tension in the rope, cable, or chain when raising the carriage and its rated load. In no case shall the rated breaking strength of the rope, cable, or chain be less than 1,800 pounds.
§ 7.259. Terminal stopping devices.
Upper and lower normal terminal stopping switches operated by the carriage shall be provided and set to stop it at the normal top and bottom terminals of travel. A final terminal stopping switch, operated by the carriage, shall be provided and set to stop it should overtravel of the normal top terminal occur. The final terminal stopping device shall prevent movement of the carriage in both directions of travel. The normal and final terminal stopping devices shall not control the same switches on the controller unless two or more independent switches are provided, two of which shall be closed to complete the motor and brake circuits in each direction of travel.
§ 7.260. Machine brake and driving machine.
(a) A machine brake of the electrically-released, spring-applied type shall be provided. Self-locking drives utilizing a lead-screw or other positive gearing which will stop and hold the carriage with rated load within four inches of down travel after power is removed are excepted.
(b) The driving machine shall be directly connected to the motor, or may be connected to the motor by multiple V-belts, or by a multiple-link, belt-type chain. Where a chain-drive or belt-drive machine is used, a broken-chain or broken-belt device shall be provided to remove power from the motor and brake if the chain or belt fails or slackens.
§ 7.261. Electric wiring.
Electric wiring shall comply with Chapter 39, Subchapter B (relating to electric safety).
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