34 Pa. Code § 7.33 - Operation of elevators under fire or other emergency conditions
(a) Automatic
elevators serving three or more landings in line and having a travel of 25 feet
or more above the lowest grade elevation, shall conform with the following:
(1) A three position-on, off and
by-pass-keyed switch shall be provided at the main floor for each single
elevator or for each group of elevators. The key shall be removable only in the
"on" and "off" positions. When the switch is in the "on" position, elevators
controlled by this switch which are on automatic service shall return nonstop
to the main or approved floor and the doors shall open and remain
open.
(2) Elevators without a
terminal landing at grade level shall be returned to that landing closest to
grade level or other approved level.
(3) An elevator traveling away from the main
or approved floor shall reverse at the next available floor without opening its
doors.
(4) Elevators equipped with
automatic power operated doors and standing at a floor other than the main or
approved floor with doors open shall close the doors without delay and proceed
to the main or approved floor.
(5)
Door reopening devices for power operated doors which are sensitive to smoke,
heat or flame shall be rendered inoperative.
(6) Elevator and corridor call buttons shall
be rendered inoperative and call registered lights and direction lanterns shall
be extinguished and remain inoperative.
(7) An elevator stopped at a landing shall
have its "Emergency Stop" switch rendered inoperative as soon as the doors are
closed, and it starts toward the main or approved floor. A moving elevator,
traveling to or away from the main or approved floor, shall have its "Emergency
Stop" switch rendered inoperative immediately.
(8) A sensor in each elevator lobby which
when activated prevents elevators from stopping at that floor may not be
substituted for the requirements of this subsection.
(9) In addition to the keyed switch required
in this subsection, an approved type heat and smoke or products of combustion
sensing device shall be installed in each elevator lobby at each floor except
the main or approved floor. The activation of a sensing device at any floor
shall cause all elevators in the group that serves that floor to return nonstop
to the main or approved floor. The operation shall conform to the requirements
of this section. The keyed switch required, when moved to the "bypass"
position, shall restore normal service independent of the sensing device.
(i)
Exception No. 1. Sensors
are not required in each elevator lobby of buildings which are completely
protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system, providing a smoke sensor
is installed either on each elevator car top or at the top of the elevator
hoistway the activation of which shall return the elevators to the main or
approved floor.
(ii)
Exception No. 2. Sensors are not required for elevators
located in or opening into manufacturing areas or elevators serving unenclosed
landings, providing a smoke sensor is installed either on each elevator car top
or at the top of the elevator hoistway the activation of which sensor shall
return the elevators to the main or approved floor.
(iii)
Exception No. 3. As an
alternate to sensors a building equipped with an approved fire alarm system may
arrange such system so that when activated it shall cause all elevators to
return nonstop to the main or approved floor in an operation conforming to the
requirements of this section.
(b) All elevators having a travel of 70 feet
or more and elevators having a terminal landing 70 feet or more above the
lowest grade elevation surrounding the building shall be provided with the
following operation:
(1) A two position, on
and off, keyed switch shall be provided in or adjacent to an operating panel in
each elevator and shall be effective only when the main or approved floor keyed
switch is in the position or when a sensor has been activated and the elevator
has returned to the main or approved floor. The key shall be removable only in
the "off" position and, when in the "on" position, shall place the elevator on
emergency service.
(2) The
operation of elevators on emergency service shall be as follows:
(i) An elevator shall be operable only by a
person in the elevator.
(ii)
Elevators shall not respond to elevator landing calls.
(iii) The opening of power operated doors
shall be controlled only by continuous pressure "open" buttons or switches. If
the switch or button is released prior to the doors reaching the fully open
position, the doors shall automatically reclose. Open doors shall be closed by
registration of an elevator call or by pressure on "Door Close" switch or
button.
(c) All
switches required by subsections (a) and (b) shall be operated by the same key
but shall not be part of a master key system.
There shall be a key for the corridor switch and for each elevator in the group and these keys shall be kept on the premises by persons responsible for maintenance and operation of the elevators, in a location readily accessible to authorized persons in an emergency, but not where they are available to the public.
(d) Elevators operated only by a designated
attendant in the elevator shall be provided with a signal system consisting of
both visual and audible signals to signal the attendant from the main floor or
approved level to return nonstop to the main floor or approved level.
Provisions shall be made to signal the attendant in the same manner when a heat
and smoke or products of combustion sensing device is activated.
(e) Elevators arranged for dual operation
shall, when on automatic operation, conform to subsection (a) and when on
operation by a designated attendant in the elevator, conform to subsection
(d).
(f) When an automatic elevator
is on attendant service such as independent hospital service and inspection
service, it shall be considered as being on operation by a designated attendant
in the elevator and shall comply with subsection (d) of this section.
(g) All elevator hoistways shall have floor
numbers, not less than six inches high with the principal strokes of letters
not less than 3/4 inches wide, placed on the walls or doors, or both, of
hoistways at intervals such that a person in a stalled elevator, upon opening
the elevator door, can determine his floor position.
(h) The provisions of this section shall
apply to existing automatic elevators which service an area above the tenth
story and are located in buildings with office, group habitation, or public
assembly occupancy. For purposes of this section, office buildings are defined
as buildings having office space above the tenth story. For purposes of this
section, group habitation buildings include but are not limited to hotels,
motels, motor inns, apartments, dormitories, lodging houses, nursing homes,
homes for the elderly, condominiums and personal care homes having group
habitation above the tenth story. For purposes of this section, public assembly
buildings include but are not limited to buildings used for purposes of sales,
government, education, recreation, transportation, dining, entertainment and
worship having public assembly above the tenth story. Compliance is mandatory
on June 1, 1981. Subsection (b) must be satisfied in any single elevator or no
fewer than two elevators in any group serving the building or portion of the
building in which new elevators meet the travel requirements of subsection (b)
or in which existing elevators meet the travel requirements of this
subsection.
(i) The requirements of
this section shall not apply to any elevator or bank of elevators in hospitals
which are licensed by the Department of Health.
(j) The provisions of this section shall
apply to all existing elevators which meet the travel requirements of
subsection (a) and which in addition have a new controller installed.
Notes
The provisions of this § 7.33 issued under act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518, No. 452) (35 P. S. §§ 1341-1356).
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