Iowa Admin. Code r. 875-72.11

Current through Register Vol. 47, No.14, January 8, 2025

Rule 875-72.11 - [Effective 2/12/2025] Wind tower lifts

Wind tower lifts authorized by this rule shall not be installed in grain elevators, high-rise buildings, water towers, television towers or any facility other than a wind tower built for the production of electricity. This rule applies to all wind tower lifts, whether installed before or after May 28, 2008; however, this exception does not apply to a wind tower lift if the contract for its installation is executed after an AECO is accredited.

(1) Wind tower lifts that meet the requirements of subrules 72.11(2) through 72.11(9) are exempt from the requirements of ASME A17.1. This temporary exemption terminates for a wind tower lift upon the occurrence of at least one of the following events:

a. Three weeks have passed since the accreditation of at least one AECO, and the manufacturer of the wind tower lift has not filed with the director an affidavit attesting that a request for Certificate of Conformance as described by ASME A17.7 (2007) was submitted to an AECO.

b. The AECO has reviewed a request pursuant to ASME A17.7 and refused to issue a Certificate of Conformance for the model or series of lifts.

c. The AECO has determined that modifications to the wind tower lift are necessary, and the modifications have not been made with reasonable diligence.

d. The AECO has determined that modifications to the wind tower lift are necessary, and the director determines the wind tower lift is not safe to operate prior to completion of the modifications.

e. The AECO has reviewed an application pursuant to ASME A17.7 and issued a Certificate of Conformance for the model or series of lifts.

(2) A wind tower lift placed in operation on or before May 28, 2008, shall be registered by the owner with the director no later than July 1, 2008, and shall pass an installation inspection by inspectors employed by the director according to the schedule set by the director. The wind tower lift shall receive a periodic inspection by the director annually thereafter.

(3) The owner of a wind tower lift installed after May 28, 2008, shall register the wind tower lift with the director prior to its installation. A wind tower lift installed after May 28, 2008, shall pass an installation inspection by the director prior to its being placed into operation. The wind tower lift will receive a periodic inspection annually thereafter.

(4) Registration pursuant to this rule requires submission of the following information to the director:

a. The unique identifier of the wind tower.

b. The name of the wind tower owner and contact information for the owner's representative.

c. The name of the wind tower lift manufacturer and contact information for the manufacturer's representative.

d. The location of the wind farm.

e. Three copies of the prints and design documents that are certified by a professional engineer duly licensed in the state of Iowa and that bear the professional engineer's P.E. stamp for the lifts.

f. The manufacturer's complete test procedures, inspection checklists, operating manual, service manual, and related documents as determined necessary by the director.

(5) The owner shall notify the director within 30 days of any change in the information provided pursuant to paragraphs 72.11(4)"b" and "c."

(6) The manufacturer of a lift must notify the director in writing within one week if one of its wind tower lifts anywhere in the world is involved in a personal injury accident requiring the service of a physician, a personal injury accident causing disability exceeding one day or death, or an incident causing property damage exceeding $2,000. The notification shall specifically identify the model number, serial number, and owner of the lift, and a description of the incident or accident. The director shall determine and require necessary inspections, tests, changes or enhancements to prevent a similar incident or accident in this state.

(7) The manufacturer shall notify the director within seven days of notification to the manufacturer that an AECO has:

a. Issued a Certificate of Conformance for the model or series of wind tower lifts,

b. Refused to issue a Certificate of Conformance for the model or series of wind tower lifts, or

c. Determined that modifications to the wind tower lifts are necessary.

(8) Wind tower lifts shall pass an inspection covering the following criteria:

a. Ascending speed, descending speed, and emergency descending speed will not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations.

b. Stop switch, interior lighting, cage entry door, door contact, operating controls, and remote operating controls will operate according to manufacturer's recommendations.

c. Interior floor and cage framework will appear to be structurally sound.

d. Enclosure signage recommended by the manufacturer will be in place.

e. Manufacturer's data plate will be visible.

f. Hoisting mechanism will appear to be structurally sound and intact from inside and outside the car.

g. Guide shoes will appear to be structurally sound and undamaged.

h. Suspended power cords and strain relief devices will reveal no visible damage.

i. Upper and lower normal and final limits will operate according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

j. Overspeed device will successfully pass a full-load test.

k. Overload device will successfully pass an overload test according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

l. Wire rope, safety rope, and guide rope will show no evidence of wear.

m. Guide rope attachments, suspension attachment beam, beam tower attachments, suspension rope attachment, suspension rope secondary attachment (if present), and guide wire rope attachments will show no evidence of wear or fatigue.

n. The wind tower lift will not drift when subjected to a static full load.

o. Maintenance logs, tags, and other necessary documentation will be available in sufficient detail to establish that maintenance is occurring pursuant to the manufacturer's schedule.

p. Guide rope tension device, safety rope tension device, and suspension rope tension device will pass a visual test for proper tension.

q. Power cord catch basket will pass a visual inspection.

r. Safety set distance, overspeed trip speed, overload limit setting, and maximum overload allowed will not exceed manufacturer's recommendations.

s. A communication device, if installed in the car, will be operable.

t. Any other items on the manufacturer's recommended inspection checklist will pass inspection.

(9) The owner or owner's representative shall provide weights as needed to perform necessary tests during inspections.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 875-72.11

Rescinded IAB 6/17/09, effective 7/22/09.

Adopted by IAB January 8, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 14, effective 2/12/2025