New-York tribune., 1914-11-29
Applies TO Its ConStruc-
ton, Operation and
Maintenance.
PROVIDES ALSO FOR
AMUSEMENT DEVICES
Shoot-the- ChuteS, Roller Coast
erS. etc, Come Under Scope
of Proposed Measure.

tenanee OF elevators takes the place of
Sections 100 and 10l Of the present
Building Code and includes several
new matters suggested so various times
for enactment into law. Some Of the
matters included are now provided for
by the rules authorized under the pres
ent Building Code. and are made part
Of this ordinance because of their great
importance.
The ordinance directs the superin-
tendents of buildings 20 make rules for
the construction, operation and MAIN
tensnce Of elevators, with view 10
safety. This is the same as the exist
ing provision, except that 10 Is made
clear that the rules shall apply TO the
construction as well as 10 the operation
and inspection of elevators, and their
application is extended 10 ali kinds OF
elevators and 90 amusement devices as
well. While the present rules promul-
gated by the Superintendents become
effective as soon as issued, under TINS
new ordinance they would be required
to be published for eight weeks before
they would become operative, safe
guard against q too hasty adoption or
change of rules. If public hearing Is
requested such must be held before the
rules 90 into effect
A distinction is made in the ordi-
nance between passenger elevators and
freight elevators, IL being understood
by passenger elevator any device such
rs an elevator or escalator used Tor
transporting persons other than those
Cccssary for their safe operation or
.he handling Of the freight on freight
elevators Provision is also made for
amusement devices, such as roller
coasters, shoot-the-chutes, etc, the
,erm including any device operated
wholly or in part by some mechanical
means on which persons ride or are
permitted 20 ride as @ form Of amuse-
ment
The requirement as TO permits and
repairs 70 elevators is practically the
same as is now provided for IN the eN-
listing rules.
A new requirement, in Section 1 Of
this ordinance, is the issuance Of O
certificate by the Superintendent Of
buildings of the safety OF the elevator
OF amusement device. 10 is incorpo-
rated as q protection 10 the owner or
oLerator Of the elevator and as safe
guard TO the public Il is made un-
lawful 90 operate an elevator or
amusement device until such certlh-
cate has been issued. TO prevent un-
necessary delay in the issuance OF
such certificate il Is provided that the
Superintendent Of Buildings mus
make an inspection within reasonable
time after the completion Of the Work
and must issue such certihcate.
In Section 8 provision is made for
the recording Of new as we'll as exist
ing passenger elevators. While at the
present time the records OF the bu-
roau Of Buildings show what elevator IS
ave installed. and while the peuodlca.
renorts show the conditions oi sue.
elevators. there Is now no way OF
readily identifying amy one elevator.
The record win also have the add
ttoraI value of making 10 poSs.plc t3
,-et reliable statistical Information
concerning tho passenger elevators o.
tie ely. ..~-
Inspec.ion Of passenger elevators
once ir every three months is proEIuvu
for. as in the present Building Code
supplementcd by provision Tor the ln-
sDccrion of other elevators ana anus
went devices 81 least once year. OF
when there is reason 10 believe th"'
am unsafe condition exists .,,.--
The Superintendent OF halldi.hss
orc authorized 20 accept lh- htclloH'
made by any properly accrec-'-d Gag "
altv company or Inspection e4 ~
urovided that they are SATISFIED Vha'
the company inspectors aT. coInpgJ-
cont arc that such company VIII ao.de
bv the rules Of the Bureau Oh DuI-u-
iros and will file reports oI al lh-
epections made with their IccomiIleH
dations. Thi, viii probably save oNl.
ers considerable ANNOYANCE eS -rs7 uo..,s
evav with the duplication OF lhspeC-
- b,, the c;ty inspectors and those
of .rl casualty companies. l4N
~ elevator in the city.
e,. bv some company, and lit-
covoDapies. for their own protec'lo"
Leor 8 force Of competent men 70 see
tbot tbe elevators are maintained ll
- condition. While the companies
- will make the inspections al
.;roos that are convenient to the own
w. The citv inspectors would generaiily
~ FOR the shutting down OF the ere
t.o.ors during business hours, olJen 4H
nve,iencing the tenants as wen az
the owners. .-...or eleva.
;s nrobibited except for the eleN@'
~ onerator and those persons ueCgS'
~. WI ~ handle freight on lrelght eIe.
1at9r Every freight elevator ilSs, NJ.
49, ,oated ON IL a sign indicating ."e, a.
- IL q freight elevator ana '""' ~ '
,'nlavful 20 ride Oh the same ,..;r,
provision is also made IoI PiL~o,5ss
The operation OF elevators , IN tie =. Is
of competent persons. ms o,,
understood that an oldlhaISo 80
pending for the licensing o. oPVi..'i'or iors
roeSenger elevators, the pIoFialC. ~
% Ps, 40 not i'm any way conflict WIN
~ ,,,,ro,,;sions of that ordinance III
~, - is intended by this to leave
o~~+.;r measure Of control over the
o,arotore i'm the hands Of the super,
tdnderts of buildings. That Is also eiie .
;9ter+ion OF the ordinance Tor AceHs'H ;
ooers+ors The superintendenls o!
fuiidings must necessarily be lhe Oe1'
Judges Of the competency or caIeluI-
ness % elevator operators.
Another matter not heretofore pro
y;ded for and now included IS
the reporting OF elevator acclotH -
This is probably one OF the mos1
Important innovations no" pfopOacu'
II is only through accurate com
plete and reliable information OF
accidents and injuries tha' prov
sion can be made 20 prevent 'he N
yocurrcuce. The value OF this IS well
Illustrated I'm the experience Of the Bu-
roou Of buildings of Manhattan a IeW
,.oars ago. when as a result of two &C
cidcnts due 20 the breaking Of the ola
style sheave straps 10 hydrauhc eieVa-
+ors a new rule was promulgated re-
ouiring the replacement OF all such
Etrone Within the course of O year or
I;tt1e more one thousand elevators
,vore altered 20 comply with inns RUE
During the course OF the ailei~tlohs ~
10 found that quite "a number OF
10 stTaps i'm existing elevators were
broken fro Without a chance Of discovery,
as The straps were hidden by other heI
osrts "a of the machinery. lt was only a