Section 7.14. Tests

(a) New passengers and freight elevators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector to see that the car safeties, speed governors, brakes, bumpers, limit switches, and the like, perform their proper functions. The car safeties shall be tested with the elevator car carrying the maximum allowable load. In making the final test the hoisting cables shall be detached from the car, while at a height sufficient to indicate the efficiency of the car safeties. A runaway test is acceptable in lieu of the free drop test when approved safety devices are installed. For reostatic control elevators, the safeties shall be tested by tripping the governor. Broken rope safety devices shall be tested as such.

(b) Existing installations shall be tested as follows:

(1) The car safety of existing installations shall be tested with rated load in the car by tripping the governor by hand at rated speed, within five years of effective date and at least every five years thereafter by a reputable elevator company. Results of the test shall be certified by the elevator company on forms furnished by the Department, indicating the load for which the elevator was tested and a record of such test shall be filed with the Department.

(2) A metal data plate furnished by the company performing the test shall be fastened to the car crosshead and show the date of the test and the company performing the test.

(3) The governor shall be tested and the trip speed measured by a tachometer and, if necessary, adjusted to conform to the requirements of this section. Governors shall be resealed after each test. Speed governors for car safeties shall be set to trip at over speeds as follows:

(i) At not less than 115% of rated car speed.

(ii) At not more than the tripping speed listed opposite the applicable rated speed in the following table:
Maximum Speeds at which Speed Governor Trips
and Governor Overspeed Switch Operates

Rated Speed (in feet per minute)	Maximum Governor Trip Speed (in feet per minute)	Maximum Speed at which Governor Overspeed Switch Operates (down feet per minute)
0—125	175	175
150	210	190
175	250	225
200	280	252
225	308	277
250	337	303
300	395	355
350	452	407
400	510	459
450	568	512
500	625	563
600	740	703
700	855	812
800	970	921
900	1085	1031
1000	1200	1140
1100	1320	1254
1200	1440	1368
1300	1560	1482
1400	1680	1596
1500	1800	1710

(4) Speed governors, where provided for counterweight safeties, shall be set to trip at an overspeed greater than, but not more than 10% above, that at which the car speed governor is set to trip.

(5) Broken rope safeties shall be drop tested.

(6) The provisions of this subsection do not apply to hand-powered freight elevators.

(c) New escalators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector. The test shall consist of a physical examination of the escalator parts together with a running test of the escalator without load, including a test of all the safety features prescribed in § 7.324 (relating to safety equipment).

(d) On the completion of any device provided for by this chapter, the owner, builder, contractor, manufacturer, or other responsible party or parties, shall file with the Department notice in writing that such installation has been constructed and installed in accordance with the plans as approved. Upon receipt of such notice the Department may arrange for inspection of the installation by a Department inspector.

(e) New elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, gravity elevators and hoists shall not be operated temporarily pending final completion without permission of the Department.

The provisions of this § 7.14 amended through June 21, 1974, 4 Pa.B. 1282. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (8047) and (8048).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.251 (relating to general).