Okla. Admin. Code § 380:70-7-2

Current through Vol. 42, No. 3, October 15, 2024

Section 380:70-7-2 - Minimum standards for existing installations

(a)Maintenance. Existing installations subject to the provisions of this Act shall be maintained in accordance with the original manufacturer's installation, operation and maintenance requirements. For those installations where the original manufacturer's requirements are not available, they shall be operated, repaired and maintained in accordance with the Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.3, good engineering practices, current acceptable industry standards and this Act.

(b)Existing installation requirements. Existing installations in operation before the enactment date of this Act shall be subject to the following requirements contained in the Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.3:

(1) Electrically-powered elevator driving machines shall be equipped with a friction brake applied by a spring or springs or by gravity and released electrically;

(2) The car of every elevator suspended by wire ropes shall be provided with one or more safety devices. These safeties shall be attached to the car frame and one safety shall be located within or below the lowest members of the car frame (safety plank);

(3) Operating devices for electrically-powered or electrically-controlled elevators shall be of the enclosed electric type;

(4) Rope or rod operating devices activated directly by hand, or rope operating devicesactivated by wheels, levers or cranks shall not be used;

(5) Elevator hoistways shall be enclosed throughout their height and all hoistway landing openings shall be protected with doors or gates. Hoistway enclosures shall be constructed to have a fire resistive rating of not less than one (1) hour;

(6) Each elevator car shall be permanently enclosed on all sides and the top, except the sides for entrance and exit. Car side enclosures shall be of such strength and so designed and installed that when subjected to a pressure of 75 pounds applied horizontally at any point on the walls of the enclosure, the deflection will not exceed one inch;

(7) Car top enclosures shall be so designed and installed as to be capable of sustaining a load of not less than 100 pounds at any one (1) point;

(8) An emergency exit with cover shall be provided in the top of all elevator cars. The exit opening shall have an area of not less than 400 square inches and shall not measure less than 16 inches on any side. The exit shall be so located as to provide a clear unobstructed passage through it. The exit cover shall open outward and be hinged or otherwise attached to the car top and arranged to be opened from the top of the car only;

(9) A door or gate shall be provided at each entrance to the car;

(10) Doors shall be of horizontally or vertically sliding type. Gates shall be of the vertically sliding or horizontally sliding collapsible type located not more than 1-3/4 inches from the car sill. Gates shall extend from a point not less than one inch above the car floor to not less than six (6) feet above the car floor;

(11) Vertically sliding gates when in the fully opened position shall provide an entrance of not less than six (6) feet in height. Such gates shall be provided with pull straps to facilitate closing of the gate;

(12) Each car door shall be equipped with a car door or gate electric contact so located as to be inaccessible from inside the car door and shall stop the car when the gate is opened a maximum of two (2) inches.

(c)Exceptions. Existing installations in warehouses of not more than two (2) floors that are not accessible to the general public are exempt from Sub-Section (b)(4) through (b)(12) of this Section provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The warehouse shall be used solely for the purpose of storing materials and products;

(2) Hoistways that are not fully enclosed shall be protected by guards to prevent access to the hoistways by other than elevator personnel;

(3) All capabilities of operating the elevator from the car or platform shall be removed;

(4) Riders shall not be permitted to ride the car or platform; and

(5) A sign stating "Absolutely No Riders Permitted" in letters not less than one (1) inch high on a contrasting background shall be posted at each entrance to the elevator.

(d)Time extension for compliance. Upon the recommendation of a licensed elevator inspector, an existing installation may be granted an extension from compliance to the provisions of this Section, at the discretion of the Chief Elevator Inspector. All such extension requests shall be in writing and contain a list of non-compliant conditions and indicate the required date of compliance. All such extension requests shall be subject to approval of the Chief Elevator Inspector.

(e)Conflicts. If a conflict exists between the requirements of the original manufacturer's instructions and recommendations and the ASME Code, the Chief Elevator Inspector shall make a determination as to which requirement is to take precedence.

Okla. Admin. Code § 380:70-7-2

Added at 24 Ok Reg 29, eff 11-1-06 (emergency); Added at 24 Ok Reg 2231, eff 6-25-07