Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 7 - ELEVATORS, LIFTS, ESCALATORS, DUMBWAITERS, HOISTS ANDTRAMWAYS › Subchapter I - FREIGHT ELEVATORS › SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 7.297 - Hand elevators

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(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.
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code §
													7.291 (relating to
						  general).