Elevators should comply with the safety standards and specifications outlined in the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. Each Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) adopts ASME 17.1 specific to the code year of their choice; they additionally may adopt parts or all of the code as it is published for that year. Contact your AHJ to learn the ASME 17.1 rules for operating your vertical transportation. To learn more about the ASME 17.1-2016 guidelines, please directly visit ANSI where you can also purchase a copy of the Safety Code.
In addition, all elevators and buildings must meet federally-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. For a detailed guide about the rules and specifications for elevators and accessibility lifts, please visit the United States Access Board’s ADA standards.
According to the United States Access Board, “Elevators, including LULA and private residence elevators, must meet the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The ADA Standards currently require compliance with the A17.1-2000, including the 2002 and 2003 addenda. This edition must be followed until the Standards are updated to reference a later edition of the ASME A17.1 code. In the interim, compliance with a later edition of the ASME A17.1 (now ASME A17.1/CSA B44) may be possible under the provision for “equivalent facilitation” (§103) only if it is comparable to, or stricter than, the referenced edition.”
The following represents U.S. ADAAG Guidelines for Elevators and Accessibility Lifts (2010). To view the full ADAAG Guidelines directly, please visit the United States Access Board’s ADAAG.
407 Elevators
407.1 General. Elevators shall comply with 407 and with ASME A17.1 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). They shall be passenger elevators as classified by ASME A17.1. Elevator operation shall be automatic.
Advisory 407.1 General. The ADA and other Federal civil rights laws require that accessible features be maintained in working order so that they are accessible to and usable by those people they are intended to benefit. Building owners should note that the ASME Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators requires routine maintenance and inspections. Isolated or temporary interruptions in service due to maintenance or repairs may be unavoidable; however, failure to take prompt action to effect repairs could constitute a violation of Federal laws and these requirements.
407.2 Elevator Landing Requirements. Elevator landings shall comply with 407.2.
407.2.1 Call Controls. Where elevator call buttons or keypads are provided, they shall comply with 407.2.1 and 309.4. Call buttons shall be raised or flush.
EXCEPTION: Existing elevators shall be permitted to have recessed call buttons.
407.2.1.1 Height. Call buttons and keypads shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in 308, measured to the centerline of the highest operable part.
EXCEPTION: Existing call buttons and existing keypads shall be permitted to be located at 54 inches (1370 mm) maximum above the finish floor, measured to the centerline of the highest operable part.
407.2.1.2 Size. Call buttons shall be 3/4 inch (19 mm) minimum in the smallest dimension.
EXCEPTION: Existing elevator call buttons shall not be required to comply with 407.2.1.2.
407.2.1.3 Clear Floor or Ground Space. A clear floor or ground space complying with 305 shall be provided at call controls.
Advisory 407.2.1.3 Clear Floor or Ground Space. The clear floor or ground space required at elevator call buttons must remain free of obstructions including ashtrays, plants, and other decorative elements that prevent wheelchair users and others from reaching the call buttons. The height of the clear floor or ground space is considered to be a volume from the floor to 80 inches (2030 mm) above the floor. Recessed ashtrays should not be placed near elevator call buttons so that persons who are blind or visually impaired do not inadvertently contact them or their contents as they reach for the call buttons.
407.2.1.4 Location. The call button that designates the up direction shall be located above the call button that designates the down direction.
EXCEPTION: Destination-oriented elevators shall not be required to comply with 407.2.1.4.
Advisory 407.2.1.4 Location Exception. A destination-oriented elevator system provides lobby controls enabling passengers to select floor stops, lobby indicators designating which elevator to use, and a car indicator designating the floors at which the car will stop. Responding cars are programmed for maximum efficiency by reducing the number of stops any passenger experiences.
407.2.1.5 Signals. Call buttons shall have visible signals to indicate when each call is registered and when each call is answered.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Destination-oriented elevators shall not be required to comply with
407.2.1.5 provided that visible and audible signals complying with 407.2.2 indicating which elevator car to enter are provided.
2. Existing elevators shall not be required to comply with 407.2.1.5.
407.2.1.6 Keypads. Where keypads are provided, keypads shall be in a standard telephone keypad arrangement and shall comply with 407.4.7.2.
407.2.2 Hall Signals. Hall signals, including in-car signals, shall comply with 407.2.2.
407.2.2.1 Visible and Audible Signals. A visible and audible signal shall be provided at each hoistway entrance to indicate which car is answering a call and the car's direction of travel. Where in-car signals are provided, they shall be visible from the floor area adjacent to the hall call buttons.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Visible and audible signals shall not be required at each destination-oriented elevator where a visible and audible signal complying with 407.2.2 is provided indicating the elevator car designation information.
2. In existing elevators, a signal indicating the direction of car travel shall not be required.
407.2.2.2 Visible Signals. Visible signal fixtures shall be centered at 72 inches (1830 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground. The visible signal elements shall be 2 1/2 inches (64 mm) minimum measured along the vertical centerline of the element. Signals shall be visible from the floor area adjacent to the hall call button.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Destination-oriented elevators shall be permitted to have signals visible from the floor area adjacent to the hoistway entrance.
2. Existing elevators shall not be required to comply with 407.2.2.2.
407.2.2.3 Audible Signals. Audible signals shall sound once for the up direction and twice for the down direction, or shall have verbal annunciators that indicate the direction of elevator car travel. Audible signals shall have a frequency of 1500 Hz maximum. Verbal annunciators shall have a frequency of 300 Hz minimum and 3000 Hz maximum. The audible signal and verbal annunciator shall be 10 dB minimum above ambient, but shall not exceed 80 dB, measured at the hall call button.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Destination-oriented elevators shall not be required to comply with 407.2.2.3 provided that the audible tone and verbal announcement is the same as those given at the call button or call button keypad.
2. Existing elevators shall not be required to comply with the requirements for frequency and dB range of audible signals.
407.2.2.4 Differentiation. Each destination-oriented elevator in a bank of elevators shall have audible and visible means for differentiation.
407.2.3 Hoistway Signs. Signs at elevator hoistways shall comply with 407.2.3.
407.2.3.1 Floor Designation. Floor designations complying with 703.2 and 703.4.1 shall be provided on both jambs of elevator hoistway entrances. Floor designations shall be provided in both tactile characters and braille. Tactile characters shall be 2 inches (51 mm) high minimum. A tactile star shall be provided on both jambs at the main entry level.
407.2.3.2 Car Designations. Destination-oriented elevators shall provide tactile car identification complying with 703.2 on both jambs of the hoistway immediately below the floor designation. Car designations shall be provided in both tactile characters and braille. Tactile characters shall be 2 inches (51 mm) high minimum.
407.3 Elevator Door Requirements. Hoistway and car doors shall comply with 407.3.
407.3.1 Type. Elevator doors shall be the horizontal sliding type. Car gates shall be prohibited.
407.3.2 Operation. Elevator hoistway and car doors shall open and close automatically.
EXCEPTION: Existing manually operated hoistway swing doors shall be permitted provided that they comply with 404.2.3 and 404.2.9. Car door closing shall not be initiated until the hoistway door is closed.
407.3.3 Reopening Device. Elevator doors shall be provided with a reopening device complying with 407.3.3 that shall stop and reopen a car door and hoistway door automatically if the door becomes obstructed by an object or person.
EXCEPTION: Existing elevators with manually operated doors shall not be required to comply with 407.3.3.
407.3.3.1 Height. The device shall be activated by sensing an obstruction passing through the opening at 5 inches (125 mm) nominal and 29 inches (735 mm) nominal above the finish floor.
407.3.3.2 Contact. The device shall not require physical contact to be activated, although contact is permitted to occur before the door reverses.
407.3.3.3 Duration. Door reopening devices shall remain effective for 20 seconds minimum.
407.3.4 Door and Signal Timing. The minimum acceptable time from notification that a car is answering a call or notification of the car assigned at the means for the entry of destination information until the doors of that car start to close shall be calculated from the following equation:
T = D/(1.5 ft/s) or T = D/(455 mm/s) = 5 seconds minimum where T equals the total time in seconds and D equals the distance (in feet or millimeters) from the point in the lobby or corridor 60 inches (1525 mm) directly in front of the farthest call button controlling that car to the centerline of its hoistway door.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. For cars with in-car lanterns, T shall be permitted to begin when the signal is visible from the point 60 inches (1525 mm) directly in front of the farthest hall call button and the audible signal is sounded.
2. Destination-oriented elevators shall not be required to comply with 407.3.4.
407.3.5 Door Delay. Elevator doors shall remain fully open in response to a car call for 3 seconds minimum.
407.3.6 Width. The width of elevator doors shall comply with Table 407.4.1.
EXCEPTION: In existing elevators, a power-operated car door complying with 404.2.3 shall be permitted.
407.4 Elevator Car Requirements. Elevator cars shall comply with 407.4.
407.4.1 Car Dimensions. Inside dimensions of elevator cars and clear width of elevator doors shall comply with Table 407.4.1.
EXCEPTION: Existing elevator car configurations that provide a clear floor area of 16 square feet (1.5 m2) minimum and also provide an inside clear depth 54 inches (1370 mm) minimum and a clear width 36 inches (915 mm) minimum shall be permitted.
407.4.2 Floor Surfaces. Floor surfaces in elevator cars shall comply with 302 and 303.
407.4.3 Platform to Hoistway Clearance. The clearance between the car platform sill and the edge of any hoistway landing shall be 1 1/4 inch (32 mm) maximum.
407.4.4 Leveling. Each car shall be equipped with a self-leveling feature that will automatically bring and maintain the car at floor landings within a tolerance of 1/2 inch (13 mm) under rated loading to zero loading conditions.
407.4.5 Illumination. The level of illumination at the car controls, platform, car threshold and car landing sill shall be 5 foot candles (54 lux) minimum.
407.4.6 Elevator Car Controls. Where provided, elevator car controls shall comply with 407.4.6 and 309.4.
EXCEPTION: In existing elevators, where a new car operating panel complying with 407.4.6 is provided, existing car operating panels shall not be required to comply with 407.4.6.
407.4.6.1 Location. Controls shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in 308.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Where the elevator panel serves more than 16 openings and a parallel approach is provided, buttons with floor designations shall be permitted to be 54 inches (1370 mm) maximum above the finish floor.
2. In existing elevators, car control buttons with floor designations shall be permitted to be located 54 inches (1370 mm) maximum above the finish floor where a parallel approach is provided.
407.4.6.2 Buttons. Car control buttons with floor designations shall comply with 407.4.6.2 and shall be raised or flush.
EXCEPTION: In existing elevators, buttons shall be permitted to be recessed.
407.4.6.2.1 Size. Buttons shall be 3/4 inch (19 mm) minimum in their smallest dimension.
407.4.6.2.2 Arrangement. Buttons shall be arranged with numbers in ascending order. When two or more columns of buttons are provided they shall read from left to right.
407.4.6.3 Keypads. Car control keypads shall be in a standard telephone keypad arrangement and shall comply with 407.4.7.2.
407.4.6.4 Emergency Controls. Emergency controls shall comply with 407.4.6.4.
407.4.6.4.1 Height. Emergency control buttons shall have their centerlines 35 inches (890 mm) minimum above the finish floor.
407.4.6.4.2 Location. Emergency controls, including the emergency alarm, shall be grouped at the bottom of the panel.
407.4.7 Designations and Indicators of Car Controls. Designations and indicators of car controls shall comply with 407.4.7.
EXCEPTION: In existing elevators, where a new car operating panel complying with 407.4.7 is provided, existing car operating panels shall not be required to comply with 407.4.7.
407.4.7.1 Buttons. Car control buttons shall comply with 407.4.7.1.
407.4.7.1.1 Type. Control buttons shall be identified by tactile characters complying with 703.2.
407.4.7.1.2 Location. Raised character and braille designations shall be placed immediately to the left of the control button to which the designations apply.
EXCEPTION: Where space on an existing car operating panel precludes tactile markings to the left of the controls, markings shall be placed as near to the control as possible.
407.4.7.1.3 Symbols. The control button for the emergency stop, alarm, door open, door close, main entry floor, and phone, shall be identified with tactile symbols as shown in Table 407.4.7.1.3.
407.4.7.1.4 Visible Indicators. Buttons with floor designations shall be provided with visible indicators to show that a call has been registered. The visible indication shall extinguish when the car arrives at the designated floor.
407.4.7.2 Keypads. Keypads shall be identified by characters complying with 703.5 and shall be centered on the corresponding keypad button. The number five key shall have a single raised dot. The dot shall be 0.118 inch (3 mm) to 0.120 inch (3.05 mm) base diameter and in other aspects comply with Table 703.3.1.
407.4.8 Car Position Indicators. Audible and visible car position indicators shall be provided in elevator cars.
407.4.8.1 Visible Indicators. Visible indicators shall comply with 407.4.8.1.
407.4.8.1.1 Size. Characters shall be 1/2 inch (13 mm) high minimum.
407.4.8.1.2 Location. Indicators shall be located above the car control panel or above the door.
407.4.8.1.3 Floor Arrival. As the car passes a floor and when a car stops at a floor served by the elevator, the corresponding character shall illuminate.
EXCEPTION: Destination-oriented elevators shall not be required to comply with
407.4.8.1.3 provided that the visible indicators extinguish when the call has been answered.
407.4.8.1.4 Destination Indicator. In destination-oriented elevators, a display shall be provided in the car with visible indicators to show car destinations.
407.4.8.2 Audible Indicators. Audible indicators shall comply with 407.4.8.2.
407.4.8.2.1 Signal Type. The signal shall be an automatic verbal annunciator which announces the floor at which the car is about to stop.
EXCEPTION: For elevators other than destination-oriented elevators that have a rated speed of 200 feet per minute (1 m/s) or less, a non-verbal audible signal with a frequency of 1500 Hz maximum which sounds as the car passes or is about to stop at a floor served by the elevator shall be permitted.
407.4.8.2.2 Signal Level. The verbal annunciator shall be 10 dB minimum above ambient, but shall not exceed 80 dB, measured at the annunciator.
407.4.8.2.3 Frequency. The verbal annunciator shall have a frequency of 300 Hz minimum to 3000 Hz maximum.
407.4.9 Emergency Communication. Emergency two-way communication systems shall comply with 308. Tactile symbols and characters shall be provided adjacent to the device and shall comply with 703.2.
408 Limited-Use / Limited-Application Elevators
408.1 General. Limited-use/limited-application elevators shall comply with 408 and with ASME A17.1 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). They shall be passenger elevators as classified by ASME A17.1. Elevator operation shall be automatic.
408.2 Elevator Landings. Landings serving limited-use/limited-application elevators shall comply with 408.2.
408.2.1 Call Buttons. Elevator call buttons and keypads shall comply with 407.2.1.
408.2.2 Hall Signals. Hall signals shall comply with 407.2.2.
408.2.3 Hoistway Signs. Signs at elevator hoistways shall comply with 407.2.3.1.
408.3 Elevator Doors. Elevator hoistway doors shall comply with 408.3.
408.3.1 Sliding Doors. Sliding hoistway and car doors shall comply with 407.3.1 through 407.3.3 and 408.4.1.
408.3.2 Swinging Doors. Swinging hoistway doors shall open and close automatically and shall comply with 404, 407.3.2 and 408.3.2.
408.3.2.1 Power Operation. Swinging doors shall be power-operated and shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 (1997 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1).
408.3.2.2 Duration. Power-operated swinging doors shall remain open for 20 seconds minimum when activated.
408.4 Elevator Cars. Elevator cars shall comply with 408.4.
408.4.1 Car Dimensions and Doors. Elevator cars shall provide a clear width 42 inches (1065 mm) minimum and a clear depth 54 inches (1370 mm) minimum. Car doors shall be positioned at the narrow ends of cars and shall provide 32 inches (815 mm) minimum clear width.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Cars that provide a clear width 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum shall be permitted to provide a clear depth 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum provided that car doors provide a clear opening 36 inches (915 mm) wide minimum.
2. Existing elevator cars shall be permitted to provide a clear width 36 inches (915 mm) minimum, clear depth 54 inches (1370 mm) minimum, and a net clear platform area 15 square feet (1.4 m2) minimum.
408.4.2 Floor Surfaces. Floor surfaces in elevator cars shall comply with 302 and 303.
408.4.3 Platform to Hoistway Clearance. The platform to hoistway clearance shall comply with 407.4.3.
408.4.4 Leveling. Elevator car leveling shall comply with 407.4.4.
408.4.5 Illumination. Elevator car illumination shall comply with 407.4.5.
408.4.6 Car Controls. Elevator car controls shall comply with 407.4.6. Control panels shall be centered on a side wall.
408.4.7 Designations and Indicators of Car Controls. Designations and indicators of car controls shall comply with 407.4.7.
408.4.8 Emergency Communications. Car emergency signaling devices complying with 407.4.9 shall be provided.
409 Private Residence Elevators
409.1 General. Private residence elevators that are provided within a residential dwelling unit required to provide mobility features complying with 809.2 through 809.4 shall comply with 409 and with ASME A17.1 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). They shall be passenger elevators as classified by ASME A17.1. Elevator operation shall be automatic.
409.2 Call Buttons. Call buttons shall be 3/4 inch (19 mm) minimum in the smallest dimension and shall comply with 309.
409.3 Elevator Doors. Hoistway doors, car doors, and car gates shall comply with 409.3 and 404.
EXCEPTION: Doors shall not be required to comply with the maneuvering clearance requirements in 404.2.4.1 for approaches to the push side of swinging doors.
409.3.1 Power Operation. Elevator car and hoistway doors and gates shall be power operated and shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 (1997 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). Power operated doors and gates shall remain open for 20 seconds minimum when activated.
EXCEPTION: In elevator cars with more than one opening, hoistway doors and gates shall be permitted to be of the manual-open, self-close type.
409.3.2 Location. Elevator car doors or gates shall be positioned at the narrow end of the clear floor spaces required by 409.4.1.
409.4 Elevator Cars. Private residence elevator cars shall comply with 409.4.
409.4.1 Inside Dimensions of Elevator Cars. Elevator cars shall provide a clear floor space of 36 inches (915 mm) minimum by 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum and shall comply with 305.
409.4.2 Floor Surfaces. Floor surfaces in elevator cars shall comply with 302 and 303.
409.4.3 Platform to Hoistway Clearance. The clearance between the car platform and the edge of any landing sill shall be 1 1/2 inch (38 mm) maximum.
409.4.4 Leveling. Each car shall automatically stop at a floor landing within a tolerance of 1/2 inch (13 mm) under rated loading to zero loading conditions.
409.4.5 Illumination Levels. Elevator car illumination shall comply with 407.4.5.
409.4.6 Car Controls. Elevator car control buttons shall comply with 409.4.6, 309.3, 309.4, and shall be raised or flush.
409.4.6.1 Size. Control buttons shall be 3/4 inch (19 mm) minimum in their smallest dimension.
409.4.6.2 Location. Control panels shall be on a side wall, 12 inches (305 mm) minimum from any adjacent wall.
409.4.7 Emergency Communications. Emergency two-way communication systems shall comply with 409.4.7.
409.4.7.1 Type. A telephone and emergency signal device shall be provided in the car.
409.4.7.2 Operable Parts. The telephone and emergency signaling device shall comply with 309.3 and 309.4.
409.4.7.3 Compartment. If the telephone or device is in a closed compartment, the compartment door hardware shall comply with 309.
409.4.7.4 Cord. The telephone cord shall be 29 inches (735 mm) long minimum.
410 Platform Lifts
410.1 General. Platform lifts shall comply with ASME A18.1 (1999 edition or 2003 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). Platform lifts shall not be attendant-operated and shall provide unassisted entry and exit from the lift.
Advisory 410.1 General. Inclined stairway chairlifts and inclined and vertical platform lifts are available for short-distance vertical transportation. Because an accessible route requires an 80 inch (2030 mm) vertical clearance, care should be taken in selecting lifts as they may not be equally suitable for use by people using wheelchairs and people standing. If a lift does not provide 80 inch (2030 mm) vertical clearance, it cannot be considered part of an accessible route in new construction.
The ADA and other Federal civil rights laws require that accessible features be maintained in working order so that they are accessible to and usable by those people they are intended to benefit. Building owners are reminded that the ASME A18 Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts requires routine maintenance and inspections. Isolated or temporary interruptions in service due to maintenance or repairs may be unavoidable; however, failure to take prompt action to effect repairs could constitute a violation of Federal laws and these requirements.
410.2 Floor Surfaces. Floor surfaces in platform lifts shall comply with 302 and 303.
410.3 Clear Floor Space. Clear floor space in platform lifts shall comply with 305.
410.4 Platform to Runway Clearance. The clearance between the platform sill and the edge of any runway landing shall be 1 1/4 inch (32 mm) maximum.
410.5 Operable Parts. Controls for platform lifts shall comply with 309.
410.6 Doors and Gates. Platform lifts shall have low-energy power-operated doors or gates complying with 404.3. Doors shall remain open for 20 seconds minimum. End doors and gates shall provide a clear width 32 inches (815 mm) minimum. Side doors and gates shall provide a clear width 42 inches (1065 mm) minimum.
EXCEPTION: Platform lifts serving two landings maximum and having doors or gates on opposite sides shall be permitted to have self-closing manual doors or gates.
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