Section 7.297. Hand elevators

(a) Car travel. New hand elevators shall not have a car travel in excess of four stories, or 60 feet.

(b) Conversion to power drive elevators. No hand elevator shall be equipped with any attachments or equipment for applying power, unless the hoisting machinery is permanently and completely converted into power-driven machinery. In such cases, all requirements of this chapter for power-driven freight elevators shall be complied with.

(c) Clearances. New hand freight elevators shall be so installed that the minimum clearance between the highest point of the elevator car and the underside of the protecting platform or grating under the overhead machinery shall not be less than 2 feet. There shall be a minimum clearance of two feet between the lowest point of the car, when at the lower limit of travel, and the bottom of the pit. Existing clearances and over travel may be accepted, except when changes are considered necessary by the Department for the safety of repairmen, oilers and inspectors.

(d) Counterweights. The counterweights of all hand elevators shall operate in guides, or in substantial boxing, the interior surfaces of which shall be flush and free from all projections. They shall be so arranged that they will land on a solidly constructed bottom of the counterweight runway when the car platform is not more than 6 inches above the upper terminal landing.

(e) Mounting of overhead machinery. New overhead machinery shall be supported by a substantial frame. When it is necessary to suspend bearings for sheaves or pull wheels, such bearings shall be secured to their supports by steel or wrought iron straps. When considered necessary by the Department, existing overhead machinery shall be relocated or changed to conform to safe practices.

(f) Latches. Latches shall be provided which function in the manner prescribed by § § 7.275—7.278 (relating to landing doors; latches; locking devices; and landing gates).

(g) Car enclosures. The cars of all hand elevators shall be solidly enclosed on at least two sides to a height of 6 feet or to the upper car beam.

(h) Brakes. The cars of each hand elevator shall be equipped with a substantial brake. The weight which balances the brake band shall be secured by an auxiliary chain or rope to prevent the weight from falling down the shaftway.

(i) Speed governors. When the car travel of new hand elevators is over two stories, or 30 feet, a centrifugal speed governor shall be provided to control the speed of the car in its descent.

(j) Car safeties. The cars of new hand elevators shall be fitted with substantial car safeties. When hand-operated elevators installed prior to December 15, 1924, carry only light loads and travel less than 15 feet, the installation of car safeties may be waived upon application to the Board, provided that all other requirements of this Chapter are complied with.

(k) Location of pull ropes. New hand elevators shall be so designed and installed that the pull rope is located on the landing side of the shaftway enclosure.

(l) Cable or rope locks. Hand elevators shall be provided with a cable or rope lock which, when locked, will prevent the car from being operated from any other floor or landing.

(m) Gates. The gates for new hand elevators shall be of the semiautomatic type, except that at terminal landings they may be of the full automatic type. Existing gates shall be replaced by other equipment if the Department so requires.

(n) Signs required. Hand elevators shall have signs posted at every landing and in the elevator car prohibiting all persons from riding on such elevator, except when special permission is granted by the Department.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.291 (relating to general).