Section 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.

The provisions of this § 7.33 amended through December 19, 1980, effective December 20, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4723. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (40538).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 7.33 issued under act of May 2, 1929 (P. L. 1518, No. 452) (35 P. S. § § 1341—1356).

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.71 (relating to conflicts); and 34 Pa. Code § 7.291 (relating to general).