Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-28-.17 - Design Criteria

Structural material and construction of rides shall conform to recognized engineering practices, procedures, standards, and specifications. The design, materials, and construction features shall incorporate safety factors acceptable to the Office. If a designer or manufacturer of equipment wishes to use materials not now covered by these rules or by reference to existing standards, full information concerning these materials or methods shall be submitted to the Office. The design, detail, materials, and construction features shall provide safety factors acceptable to the Office.

(a) Manufacturers' analyses. Before a new carnival ride is put into operation for the public's use, or whenever any additions or alterations are made which change the structure, mechanism, classification, or capacity of any ride or device, the owner shall file with the Office a notice of his intention and shall furnish design data, safety factors, materials utilized, stress analysis is, and other pertinent data deemed necessary by the Office. This information shall also be furnished by the manager for existing rides if required by the Office. Such stress analysis and other data pertinent to the design, structure, factors of safety, or performance characteristics shall be in accordance with accepted engineering practices acceptable to the Office and written in English. Such data may be requested for, but not limited to, the following materials, parts, or components of rides; structural materials including bars; cables; chains; ropes; rods; tubing; pipes; girders; braces; fittings; fasteners; trusses; pressure vessels; piping; gears; clutches; speed reducers; welds; bearings couplings; carriers such as tubs, cars, chairs, gondolas, or seating and carrying apparatus of any description; axles, hangers, pivots, safety bars, belts, harnesses, chains, gates; or other restraining, containing, or retaining devices. Data shall be furnished at the request of the Office on forces generated by acceleration, or deceleration centrifugal action, inertia kinetic, or other forces either constant, reversible, or eccentric.

(b) Rating. Manufacturers shall identify the capacity of a carnival ride in terms of number of passengers and operating speed. This information shall be included on the identification and rating plates.

(c) Seating and Carrying Devices.

1. Tubs, cars, chairs, seats, gondolas, and other carriers used on rides shall be designed and constructed as strong as practicable. The interior and exterior parts with which passengers may come in contact with shall be smooth, rounded, free from sharp, rough or splintered edges or corners, and with no protruding screws or projections which might cause injury. Parts upon or against which passengers might be thrown by action of the ride shall be adequately padded to prevent or minimize the possibility of injury. The upholstery or decoration shall be permitted.

2. Propellers or other moving parts or decorations attached to tubs, cars, chairs, seats, gondolas, and other carriers shall be securely fastened to such equipment and keyed or otherwise secured so that they cannot come off during operation of the ride. Vanes, canopies, or other attachments which might become disengaged shall be secured with safety straps to prevent their flying away in case of breakage or dislocation.

(d) Speed Limiting. An carnival ride capable of exceeding its maximum safe operating speed shall be provided with a maximum speed-limiting device.

(e) Brakes and Stops.

1. On a ride where coasting renders the operation dangerous, either during the period while the ride is being loaded or unloaded or in case of power failure or other unforeseeable situation, a method of breaking shall be provided.

2. If cars or other components of an amusement ride may collide in such a way as to cause personal injuries upon failure of normal controls, emergency brakes sufficient to prevent such collisions shall be provided.

3. On rides which make use of inclined tracks; automatic anti-rollback devices shall be installed to prevent backward movement of the passenger carrying units in case of failure of the propelling mechanism.

(f) Retaining, Restraining, and Containing Safety Devices.

1. Safety Retainer. Tubs, cars, chairs, seats, gondolas, or other carriers on a ride that depends upon a single means of attachment or support shall be equipped with safety retainers to prevent a carrier from being catapulted from the ride and to prevent any action of the carrier which might throw the occupants from the carrier if it becomes disengaged from its support or attachment.

2. Restraining Safety Devices. Restraining devices used on tubs, cars, chairs, seats, gondolas, or other carriers on a ride, wherein the forces generated by the action of the ride require retention, restraint or actual physical support of the passenger, shall be designed, constructed, and installed to withstand impact and forces of a minimum of 850 pounds per passenger.

3. Containing Safety Devices. On a ride design where, after inspection by the Office, it is deemed necessary to install safety devices to prevent accidental or inadvertent dislodgement of a passenger from any tub, car, chair, seat, gondola, or other carrier, a containing device shall be installed. This device shall be designed to withstand minimum forces of 850 pounds for the exclusive use of children, or the design load, whichever sets the greater minimum force.

4. Recommended passenger restrictions and limitations, where applicable, such as but not limited to, height, weight, age, passenger placement, or other appropriate restrictions shall be provided to the end user by the Manufacturer or seller of the amusement ride or device. In the event the manufacturer is unwilling or unable to provide said restrictions, thereby rendering himself in non-compliance with this law and ASTM Standards, the said restrictions and/or limitation must be established by the owner and/or manager and shall be acceptable to the Office.

(g) Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers shall be manufactured and utilized in accordance with Article 430, National Electric Code. Any motor operating with greater than 50 volts shall have its frame grounded with a conductor.

(h) Safety Stop Circuits. Electrical safety stop circuits shall be closed circuits so in case of power failure, the system will cause the ride to which the circuit pertains to fail safe. Circuits shall be all metallic.

(i) Stairways, Landings and Ramps.

1. Adequate stairways or ramps and the necessary landings and platforms shall be provided where people enter or leave a ride that is above or below grade or floor level at entrance to or exit from such ride. The design and construction of stairways, ramps, and railings shall conform to OSHA Standards for Walking-Working surfaces, except the requirement regarding the placement of stairway railings and guards. All stairs with more than one step shall have standard handrails or railings on both sides regardless of width, and when stairways are 88 inches or greater in width, a railing shall be placed approximately in the center. The construction of the standard railings and handrails shall be in accordance with the OSHA Rules and Regulations.

2. Design of Stairways, Landings and Ramps. Stairways, landings, and ramps shall be designed, constructed, and maintained so as to sustain safely a live load of at least 90 pounds per square foot.

3. Stairways, Ramps, and Platforms. Stairways and ramps shall be at least 21 inches wide. Stair treads shall be at least 9 inches deep exclusive of nosing and the height of rise shall not exceed 8 inches. Between any two levels the treads shall be of uniform depth and the risers of uniform height.

(j) Signal Systems shall be provided and utilized for controlling, starting, and stopping of a ride when the operator of the ride does not have a clear view of the point where passengers are loaded or unloaded. Where the need for coded signals is required, the code of signals adopted for operations of the ride shall be printed and kept posted at both the operator's and signalman's stations. Persons who use the signals shall be instructed in their use and shall be trained to understand thoroughly their operation and meaning. Signal systems shall be tested on each day prior to operation of the ride. A ride requiring a signal system shall not operate if the system is not performing correctly. Signals for the movement of operation of an amusement ride shall not be given until all passengers and other persons who may be endangered are in a position of safety.

(k) General Environment.

1. Hazardous Weather and Riot. During a lightning storm, high wind storm, a period of tornado warning; fire, or when violence, riot, or civil disturbance occurs or threatens in or is a direct threat to a fair or carnival lot, passengers shall be unloaded or evacuated from a ride and the ride shut down and secured immediately. Operations shall not resume until the situation has returned to a normal safe operating condition.

2. Illumination. Access and exit to and from amusement rides shall be provided with illumination by natural or artificial means of no less than 5 foot candles measured at grade level. No less than 10 foot candles of illumination shall be provided at work levels for assembly and disassembly of amusement rides.

3. A separate or emergency source of illumination shall be provided, excluding flashlights, in all portable trailers used as fun houses, dark rides, etc.

(l) Fire Prevention and Protection.

1. Fire Resistance of Fabrics. Fabrics constituting part of an amusement ride shall be fire-resistant to meet the following standards: Two strips or test sections either of the fabric used or other fabric identical therewith shall be tested. Each strip shall not be less than 6 inches wide and 12 inches long. Each strip shall be thoroughly dry and shall then be subjected to an open flame applied to the lower edge while the strip is held vertically for twelve seconds. Neither strip shall flame for more than two seconds after the test flame is removed from contact nor shall the average length of char exceed 2 1/2 inches. Such a test is not required by this section if other evidence of the required degree of fire resistance is accepted by the Office as sufficient.

2. Fire Extinguishers. Approved fire extinguishers shall be provided at or within fifty (50) feet of the operator station to secure reasonable and adequate protection from fire hazards.

3. Flammable Waste. Flammable waste such as oily rags and other flammable materials shall be placed in a covered metal container which shall be kept in easily accessible location.

4. Flammable Liquids and Gases. Gasoline and other volatile liquids and flammable gases when stored shall be kept in reasonably cool and ventilated places. Such liquids shall be in approved safety cans. Smoking and the carrying of lighted cigars, cigarettes, or pipes is prohibited in any area where such liquids or gases are stored or are transferred from one container to another.

(m) Cleanliness. A suitable number of metal containers for refuse shall be provided in and around all amusement rides. Excessive accumulations of trash or rubbish shall be promptly removed. All parts of amusement rides used by passengers or customers shall be maintained in a clean condition.

(n) Equipment. Equipment used in connection with any ride shall be constructed, equipped and maintained to insure safe operation.

(o) Oil and Hydraulic Systems. Oil and hydraulic systems and other related equipment used in connection with amusement rides shall be free of leaks and maintained to insure safe operation at all times. Such systems shall have a dumping or bypass valve that shall be drilled and sealed at 125% of working pressure by the manufacturer and witnessed by a representative of the Office. Such systems shall be inspected at least annually and must be inspected before being put into service. All pressure gauges shall have the maximum safe working pressures conspicuously marked thereon. All systems shall have a manual lowering valve.

(p) Pressure Vessels. Pressure Vessels used in conjunction with rides that meet the following criteria must be constructed in accordance with the ASME Code, repaired in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code, and safety inspected by a state inspector once each year.

(q) Machinery and Machine Guarding.

1. General Requirements are as follows: machinery used in or with an amusement ride shall be enclosed, barricaded, or otherwise effectively guarded against contact. Guards removed for maintenance purposes shall be replaced before normal operation is resumed. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the public from injury. An example of double guarding is public barriers and gear shielding. Guards shall be fixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard or barrier shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself. Barriers shall be securely stacked or sandbagged to prevent movement or tip over by the public falling, pressing, or stumbling against them, and be at least 30 inches high. The barriers shall be located to keep the public at least six feet away from all major or spectacular rides, and at least three feet away from all kiddie rides. Ride entrances shall have a passenger waiting line retaining chain, bar gate, or device. All machinery designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving. All rides containing or having a mounting or mountings that would catch, wind up, or entangle long hair shall have attached warning signs.

2. Mechanical Power Transmission. All power transmission devices and associated moving parts shall be shielded, enclosed, or barricaded to protect the public.

(r) Welding, Cutting, and Brazing. No welding, cutting, or brazing shall be accomplished where the public can directly observe the process or be hit by sparks or flying materials generated by the process. Any welding, cutting, and brazing accomplished when the general public is in attendance, shall be accomplished behind temporary erected solid barriers. The ends of these shall be overlapped to prevent any direct exposure. If the operation cannot be shielded, the manager shall provide a means of keeping the public away from the point of work for a distance of 35 feet for all soldering, brazing, cutting, and gas welding up to 1/2 inch, 50 feet for all gas welding over 1/2 inch, and 150 feet for all welding utilizing electrodes up to 3/16 inch diameter. All larger arc welding operations shall be accomplished behind solid shielding or prior to or after public attendance hours.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-28-.17

O.C.G.A. Sec. 25-15-83.

Original Rule entitled "Design Criteria. Amended"adopted. F. Jan. 10, 2014; eff. Jan. 30, 2014.