Elevator Safety Standards
The 1935-miami-dade-building-code establishes comprehensive safety regulations for elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, hoists, and other lifting apparatus in Chapter 48 (p. 311). These standards mandate compliance with the “Safety Code for Elevators” recommended by the american-standards-association (1925 Edition) and the “National Electrical Code” (1935 Edition) for electrical installations (p. 311).
Construction and Installation
Elevators and escalators do not count toward the required number of stairways in a building (p. 311). Elevator shafts must have walls and partitions complying with vertical-opening-enclosure requirements (p. 311). Not more than two elevators are allowed in one enclosure, and fire-resistive-construction-requirements of at least one hour are required between banks of two elevators (p. 311).
Before installation or alteration, owners must submit plans to the building-inspector for approval and obtain a certificate of inspection before service (p. 311-312). Elevator cars must be constructed of incombustible materials, except for hardwood flooring, and must be properly lighted (p. 313). Guide rails must be steel, bolted rigidly to the shaft sides (p. 313). A concrete slab with steel grating (max 1 inch spacing) is required at the top of the shaft under the sheaves (p. 313).
Operational Safety
Capacity and Load
Passenger elevators must have a carrying capacity of at least 100 pounds per square foot of platform area, indicated on a metal plate in the car (p. 312). Carrying beams for machinery must be designed for double the live loads (p. 313).
Operators and Controls
Every elevator, except full automatic push-button types, requires a competent operator at least 18 years old with a certificate of competency from the building-inspector (p. 312). Doors must be controlled by a mechanical device that prevents car movement until shaft doors are shut and prevents door movement until the car is locked, operable only by the car operator (p. 312).
Safety Devices
Elevators must have safety devices to stop the car without serious injury if it exceeds its rated speed by more than 40% or reaches 850 feet per minute (p. 314). These devices are not required for plunger-type or sidewalk elevators traveling less than 30 feet (p. 314). Counterweights must be strongly bolted, with 3 feet of clearance from overhead beams (p. 312). Substantial buffer springs are required at the top and bottom of all shafts (p. 313).
Inspection and Certification
Reporting Requirements
Under ordinance-no-2149, enacted in 1939, every elevator inspector—whether employed by the city-of-miami or by an insurance or casualty company—must file a full report of each inspection with the building-inspector (p. 365-366). This report must detail the exact condition of the apparatus and any required repairs (p. 366).
Certificates of Operation
If an inspection report indicates the apparatus is in a safe operating condition, the building-inspector issues a certificate of operation (p. 366). These certificates are valid for:
- Three months: Passenger elevators, freight elevators, escalators, and building hoists (p. 366).
- Six months: Dumbwaiters (electric or hand power), hand-power freight elevators, and other lifting apparatus (p. 366).
No elevator, escalator, dumbwaiter, hoist, or other lifting apparatus may be lawfully operated without this certificate conspicuously posted in the car, cage, or platform (p. 366).
Inspection Fees and Waivers
The fee for each inspection is 2.50 inspection fee if an approved inspector from an insurance or casualty company files a compliant report (p. 366). All fees collected for city inspections are paid to the city-of-miami Tax Collector, rather than a special elevator fund (p. 367).
Frequency and Enforcement
The building-inspector must inspect passenger and employee elevators at least once every three months (p. 314). Unsafe elevators must cease operation until repairs are made (p. 314).
Emergency and Maintenance
Passenger elevators must have a trap door in the top of the car for emergency egress (p. 314). In buildings exceeding 100 feet in height, at least one passenger elevator must be kept ready for immediate use by the fire department 24/7 (p. 314).
Definitions
- Elevator: Includes all elevators, escalators, or lifts for passengers or freight (p. 311).
- Dumbwaiter: Special elevator with horizontal section not exceeding 6 square feet and height not exceeding 4 feet, for small packages (p. 311).
- Hand Power Elevator: Must comply with all requirements if the rise is more than 35 feet (p. 311).
- Belt Elevators: Prohibited for passenger service if driven from a countershaft (p. 311).
See also: 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p305_324, fire-resistive-construction-requirements, egress-and-exit-standards.