N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 23-7.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 23-7.3 - Temporary use of permanent elevators

(a) Temporary use permitted. Passenger or freight elevators being installed in buildings or other structures for permanent use may be used before completion of the building or other structure during construction to carry persons or material, or both, provided such elevators conform to the following requirements:

(b) Hoistway enclosures. The hoistway of any such elevator shall be enclosed with its permanent enclosure and permanent doors or such hoistway shall be enclosed with either solid or openwork material, except for access openings, as follows:

(1) Openwork enclosures shall be either wire mesh of at least No. 18 U.S. gage steel or expanded metal of at least No. 18 U.S. gage. The openings of such openwork material shall reject a one-half inch diameter ball. Such enclosures shall be provided with unperforated kick plates installed at every floor level above the lowest floor. Where a counterweight is provided such openwork enclosure shall be covered on the counterweight side with wire mesh of not less than No. 18 U.S. gage steel with openings that will reject a one-half inch diameter ball. Such mesh covering shall extend the full width of the counterweight plus one foot on each side.

(2) Solid enclosures shall consist of partitions of exterior grade plywood at least three-eighths inch thick or of other material of equivalent strength.

(3) Every such enclosure shall be so supported and braced that when subjected to a horizontal pressure of 100 pounds applied at any point the resulting deflection shall not exceed one inch and shall not reduce the running clearance to less than one inch.

(c) Hoistway doors. Where permanent hoistway doors are not in place, temporary hoistway doors shall be provided as follows:

(1) Every floor landing opening in a hoistway enclosure shall be provided with a solid door extending across the full width of the opening and not less than 78 inches in height. The clearance between the bottom of any such door and the floor shall be not less than one inch nor more than two inches. Each such door shall be provided with a vision panel of not more than 80 square inches in area. Every such vision panel shall be covered with wire mesh of No. 18 U.S. gage steel with openings which will reject a one-half inch diameter ball. Each such hoistway door shall be provided with a lock or latch which is openable from the hoistway side only and inaccessible from the landing side.

(2) If the hoistway door at the lowest terminal landing is locked automatically when closed with the car at the landing, such door shall be provided with a means to unlock it from the landing side to permit access to the car. Such means shall be accessible only to designated persons.

(3) Where such hoistway doors are of the vertical sliding type, they shall be of a type that requires counterweights. Provisions shall be made for the containment of the counterweights if their means of suspension should fail.

(d) Elevator car. Except where permanent elevator cars are used, temporary elevator cars used in permanent hoistways shall be constructed to conform to the following requirements:

(1) Frame. The frame of every such car shall consist of a safety plank and vertical stiles gusseted to a crosshead constructed of steel channels. Such frame shall be designed and constructed to carry safely all the loads intended to be imposed thereon. Steel diagonal bracing shall be provided to support the four corners of the car platform.

(2) Platform. The platform of every such car shall consist of a channel steel or aluminum frame and steel or aluminum stringers assembled as a unit and secured to the safety plank. Platform flooring shall be constructed of steel or aluminum plate or of wood. If wood is used, it shall be of structural grade lumber not less than two inches thick and shall be protected on the underside by steel sheeting of at least No. 26 U.S. steel. Such flooring shall be securely fastened to the car platform.

(3) Car enclosures. Such temporary elevator cars shall be enclosed on the top and on all sides except those sides used as entrance and exit openings. Such enclosures shall consist of planking at least two inches thick, laid tight, or of other material of equivalent strength. The top of every such elevator car shall have an emergency exit opening in the enclosure of not less than 400 square inches in area with the least dimension at least 16 inches. Such emergency exit openings shall be provided with hinged hatch covers.

(4) Car doors or gates.

(i) Each such car shall be provided with a car door or gate on the landing side. Such door or gate shall be at least six feet in height and shall be of construction equivalent in strength to that of the car enclosure.

(ii) Every opening in such car door or gate shall be of such size and shape as to reject a three-inch diameter ball.

(iii) Every such car door or gate shall be equipped with an approved electric contact so arranged that the car cannot be operated unless the door or gate is within two inches of full closure. Such electric contact shall not be readily accessible from within the car.

(iv) Such car doors or gates shall be of the horizontally or counterweighted vertically sliding type. Where a horizontal gate is used, such gate may be arranged to swing inward when fully collapsed.

(5) Car controls. The car controls of such elevators shall be so arranged that such cars can be operated or controlled only from within the cars.

(e) Elevator operators. Such elevator cars shall be operated only by competent, trained, designated persons.

(f) Testing. Prior to the initial use of any temporary elevator installed in a permanent hoistway, such elevator shall be tested by a designated person. Such testing shall be in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) The car of such elevator shall be loaded to its rated capacity and operated at its rated speed to the upper and lower limits of its travel at least twice in order to test the operation of the upper and lower auomatic limit devices as well as the operation of the hoisting machine brake at various levels of the hoistway.

(2) With the rated load in place, the car safeties shall be actuated by tripping the governor by hand while the car is traveling downward at rated speed.

(3) Such test shall be repeated with no load at least once every month while the elevator is in use by operating at a slow speed and tripping the governor by hand.

(4) A written report of each test shall be made and signed by the designated person making such tests. Such reports shall include the dates, test loads and speeds involved as well as the test results. Such written reports shall be kept in a log book on the job site available for examination by the commissioner.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 23-7.3