Section 7.1. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Aerial passenger tramway—A general usage which denotes a device used to transport passengers by single and double reversible tramway; chair lifts, gondola lifts and skimobiles; T-bar lifts, J-bar lifts, platter lifts and similar devices; or a fiber rope tow.

Automatic control elevator—An elevator, the operation of which is controlled by electric buttons or switches in such a manner that all stops at landings are made automatically and which may be started by switches or buttons at the landing.

Basement—A floor level partly or completely below grade as measured from the floor level immediately above; it shall be considered a story if more than 33-1/3% of the exterior wall perimeter is five feet or more above grade.

Basement lift—A sidewalk elevator.

Bucket—A metal bucket or tank operating in guides raised and lowered by steel cables and used for the purpose of distributing concrete or other building material to various floor levels.

Builder’s hoist—An elevator erected for temporary use, built in or adjoining a building under construction or alterations.

Car door or gate—The door or gate in an elevator car.

Chair lifts, gondola lifts, and skimobiles—A type of transportation in which passengers are carried on chairs or cars, or in gondola cabs attached to and suspended from a moving wire rope or attached to a moving wire rope or chain and supported on a standing wire rope or other structure.

Diameter—Tread diameter when it refers to sheaves, wheels, or pulleys.

Double-button control elevator—An elevator, the operation of which is controlled by self-centering buttons or switches located in the car and at the landings in such a manner that the elevator operates only when the button or switch is held closed manually and stops when the button or switch is released.

Double-deck—An elevator consisting of a car structure containing two elevator cabs or compartments.

Drive sheave, or bull wheel—The tread diameter which ranges from three to 14 feet, depending upon the type of installation. Either designation refers to the main drive sheave.

Dual control elevator—An elevator capable of operation either by an authorized operator in the car or automatically by electric buttons or switches.

Dumbwaiter—A miniature freight elevator.

Elevator—A car, cage, or platform raised or lowered vertically in permanent guides or rails, including the necessary operating mechanism, used to transport persons or materials.

Elevator car—The load carrying unit, including the platform supporting and guiding frame, and enclosure.

Escalator—A moving continuous inclined stairway or runway used for raising or lowering persons. Wheeled vehicles of any type are not permitted on escalators.

Fiber rope tow—A type of transportation which pulls skiers riding on skis by a traveling fiber rope which the skier grasps by hand.

Fire-resistive materials—Approved materials having fire-resistive qualities, such as brick, concrete, hollow tile, terra-cotta blocks, or concrete plaster on expanded metal lath supported by metal studs of an approximate total thickness of not less than 2 1/2 inches.

Freight elevator—An elevator constructed and used for carrying materials.

Full automatic door or gate—A door or gate which is opened and closed automatically by the motion of the elevator car.

Grade—The level or the surface of the ground established by law, or on record where not established by law. This term includes the average level of the surface of the ground.

Gravity elevator—A freight elevator used for lowering materials in a car, cage, or platform through a shaftway, the operation of which is accomplished by the excess weight of the car, cage or platform and the load over the car counterweights.

Hand elevator—A freight elevator, the machinery of which is actuated by a rope or cable operated exclusively by hand.

Independently-operated door or gate—A door or gate operated by power from an auxiliary source in no way derived from the motion of the car.

Landing—The floor, balcony, or platform used to receive or discharge passengers or freight from an elevator car.

Landing door or gate—The door or gate at the shaftway entrance of any landing.

Locking device—A device which prevents the operation of an elevator away from the landing while any gate or door at that landing is open and unsecured and also prevents the opening of the door unless the car is at the landing; this term is also referred to as ‘‘interlock.’’

Lumber elevator—A platform equipped with screws to raise or lower stacked lumber in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute, with a travel not exceeding 20 feet.

Machinery—The hoisting mechanism and equipment used in the operation of an elevator.

Manlift—The type of elevator which operates by an endless vertical belt which revolves over fixed pulleys at the top and bottom limits of travel and to which steps and hand holds are attached so that persons may ride on it.

Manually-operated door or gate—A door or gate which is opened and closed by hand.

Orchestra elevator—A platform for raising and lowering musicians in an orchestra in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute.

Organ console elevator—A platform for raising and lowering an organ console, including the organist, in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute.

Passenger elevator—An elevator constructed and operated to transport persons.

Private dwellings—Convents, rectories, and parsonages, which are ex- empt from this chapter, unless portions thereof are used for the housing or assembling of persons other than members of the religious order, if the occupancy is not in excess of 25 persons.

Rated capacity—The capacity established by the designer of equipment.

Rope—Wire rope, and cable are interchangeable, except for rope tows if rope means a fiber rope.

Safety gate stops—A device which automatically stops a tramway when in contact with a passenger or the weight of a passenger.

Semiautomatic door or gate—A door or gate which is manually opened but automatically closed when the elevator car leaves the landing.

Shaftway—A shaft, well-hole, hatchway or other vertical opening or space, partly or wholly enclosed within which an elevator is raised or lowered in a vertical direction.

Sheaves—Pulleys or wheels grooved for rope.

Sidewalk elevator—An elevator which travels from a point below the sidewalk level to the sidewalk, or to an elevation not to exceed wagon or freight car loading level.

Single or double reversible tramway—A type of transportation in which passengers are carried in one or more enclosed cars that reciprocate between terminals.

Stage elevator—A platform consisting of a section of the stage arranged to be raised and lowered above and below the stage level in a vertical direction at a speed not exceeding 15 feet per minute.

Stairway inclined lift—A power passenger inclined lift installed on a stairway for raising or lowering persons from one floor to another.

Standard railing—A railing not less than 42 inches in height with an additional rail midway between the top rail and the floor.

T-bar, J-bar and platter lifts and similar devices—Types of transportation which pull skiers riding on skis by devices propelled by a main overhead traveling wire rope.

Toeboard—A board at least 6 inches in height, placed at right angles with floor or platform to prevent objects from falling from the floor or platform to the spaces below.

Winch—A hand or power-operated machine having a rope coiled on one or more drums for the purpose of hauling, hoisting or lowering a load.

Workmen’s hoist—A hoist installed in or outside of buildings during construction, alteration or demolition, and used primarily to raise or lower workmen and other persons connected with or related to the building project.

The provisions of this § 7.1 amended through December 19, 1980, effective December 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4723. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (17285) and (36688).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 7.1 issued under act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518, No. 452) (35 P. S. § § 1341—1356).