Elevator Code



Vision 450 Home Elevator

When getting a residential elevator installed into your home, it must follow a specific set of codes.



While some states may have their own codes, many states require you to follow the codes specified by ASME A17.1. Whether you are purchasing or installing a residential elevator, make sure the installation follows code to avoid injury to passengers.


Does Your Installation Require A Machine Room?



If the elevator to be installed requires a machine room, the door size must be at least 30 by 72 inches. Inside of the room, there should be no foreign wiring or piping. The room should also be on the same side as an earthquake joint if you should live in an area near fault lines. The room needs to be ventilated, whether it is natural or from mechanical means. The door leading to the machine room must be tagged with a fire rating, which should be equal to that of the hoist way. In the event of an emergency such as a fire, the switch, clearance, and equipment numbering more than two should be disconnected.


Guidelines to Follow in Regards to Lighting



There are also guidelines that need be followed in regards to lighting.

  • The machine room needs to be properly lighted for safety purposes.
  • The light switch must be located within 18 inches of the lock side of the door.
  • Any actual lights in the room should be at floor level, and if any lights are placed within eight feet above the floor, they need to be protected with a light guard.

Have Your Machine Room Up To Code



There are also a few safety devices that the machine room needs to be fitted with to have it up to code. The machine room, for both residential and commercial elevators, needs to have a class ABC fire extinguisher hung on the wall. You can either have a heat detector or a sprinkler with a connected flow with a head guard. To protect people in the machine room from electrical shock, the room should have a GFI outlet.


Protect Both Technicians and Elevator Passengers



The codes listed by ASME A17.1 are very important to protect the safety of both technicians and passengers. They are not, however, required by law. The codes are for both residential and commercial elevators but may differ by state. Commercial elevators will most likely have more codes than a residential elevator. At Nationwide Lifts, we recommend that you follow all elevator code requirements to have a residential elevator that is safe and can work to the best of its ability.


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