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 › GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 7.272 - Shaftway construction

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
New shaftways-general.
Shaftways of freight elevators erected
					 in buildings over two stories in height shall be constructed of fire-resistive
					 material, except when overhead loads are carried on a steel or angle iron
					 tower, or by the structural parts of the building, in which case fire-resistive
					 curtain walls may be provided in lieu of such fire-resistive material. There
					 shall be no opening except for necessary fire-resistive doors, windows or
					 skylights. When basement machines are installed, and the openings in the
					 shaftway walls for cables or sheaves exceed ten square feet, the machine rooms
					 shall be constructed of fire-resistive material. When fire-resistive
					 construction is not required the shaftways of freight elevators shall be
					 enclosed with a solid or substantial grille or latticework on all sides from
					 floor to ceiling, except at landing gates and doors. The open spaces in such
					 grille or latticework shall be such that a ball two inches in diamtere will not
					 pass, and the wire or material used shall not be less than No. 10 standard
					 steel wire gauge (0.135 inch). When bordering on counterweight runways, or when
					 moving parts are within four inches of such enclosures, the open spaces shall
					 be such that a ball 3/8 inch in diameter will not pass. Machine room doors
					 shall be locked at all times, except when repairs are being made or when the
					 machinery is being inspected or serviced. Oil-electric pump units installed in
					 basement areas will not require a machine room provided the controller is
					 enclosed in a fire-resistive cabinet equipped with a lock and the pumping unit
					 is properly guarded.
(b)
Existing shaftways-general.
The shaftways of freight
					 elevators, when not completely enclosed with fire-resistive or other
					 construction, shall be encased with a solid or wire mesh enclosure to a height
					 of at least 6 feet from the floor at all landings. If wire screen is used it
					 shall not be greater than two inch mesh and of not less than No. 10 standard
					 steel wire gauge 0.135 inch in diameter, When moving parts are within 4 inches
					 of the shaftway enclosures, such enclosures shall be covered with wire screen
					 of not more than 3/8 inch mesh, to a height of not less than 6 feet from the
					 floor and to a distance of at least 6 inches to the right and left of such
					 moving parts. When shaftways are equipped with automatic horizontal hatch
					 covers, standard railings and toeboards may be substituted for the enclosure
					 specified in this subsection, if they are located at least 12 inches from the
					 line of the shaftway. When in the judgment of the Department, fire-resistive
					 construction is necessary for the protection of the occupants of buildings or
					 employes, such construction shall be provided.
(c)
Grillework and enclosing walls.
The grillework and enclosing walls of freight elevator shaftways
					 shall be flush with all floor openings at landings, as well as with the line of
					 the elevator shaftway at each side; except that approved landing gates may be
					 operated inside of the shaftway or enclosure.
(d)
Windows into shaftways.
Windows in the outside walls of buildings opening into new freight elevator
					 shaftways shall be constructed of fire-resistive materials. In all cases,
					 windows shall be set in fixed sash. Elevator shaftway windows located within
					 the first seven stories above a street or within four stories of the roof of an
					 adjacent building shall be fitted with approved metal bars or rods at least 5/8
					 inch in diameter, spaced not more than 10 inches apart except where inside
					 window protection is provided in accordance with subsection (e). Such window
					 guards shall be provided in existing installations when, in the judgment of the
					 Department, they are necessary.
(e)
Recesses in shaftway walls.
Recesses other than for windows or
					 recesses other than necessary for installation of elevator equipment, are not
					 permitted. Beams, floor slabs or other building construction shall not project
					 more than 4 inches inside the general line of the hoistway unless the top
					 surface of the projection is beveled at an angle of not less than 75° with
					 the horizontal. When setbacks occur in the enclosure wall, the top of the
					 setback shall be beveled at an angle of not less than 75° with horizontal.
					 Separator beams between adjacent elevators are not required to have bevels. The
					 following also apply:
(1)
New
					 installations.
Recesses or offsets in shaftways of fireproof
					 construction, except door lintels in the enclosing walk on the open sides of
					 the car, shall be protected by substantial curtain walls, grating or vertical
					 bars set flush with the interior walls of the shaftway, the distance between
					 the vertical members not to exceed two inches. Such grating or bars shall be of
					 metal. No part of the curtain walls, grating or bars shall be more than 7
					 inches from the car platform on any open side of the car. When the distance
					 between the edge of the car top and rear shaftway wall exceeds 18 inches, a
					 protective railing shall be installed the width of the car.
(2)
Existing installations.
When the distance from car sill to shaftway wall on any open side of car
					 exceeds 7 inches, curtain walls, fascia plates, vertical metal bars spaced not
					 more than 2 inches, or a substantial metal grille of not more than 2 inch mesh,
					 shall be provided, unless the car gate on that side is equipped with an
					 approved interlock. When such clearance exceeds 15 inches, the car door shall
					 be solid and equipped with an approved interlock or the shaftway constructed as
					 specified.