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Guide to the ADA Standards

Elevator Car Requirements [§407.4]

The ADA Standards specify the minimum car dimensions. Alternative configurations that provide unobstructed wheelchair turning space (60” diameter circle or T-turn) with the doors closed are permitted.

Elevator Car Dimensions (§407.4.1)

One figure shows an elevator car with a centered door.  The door clear width is 42” minimum and the car width measured side to side is 80“ minimum.  The car depth is 51“ minimum measured from the back wall to the front return, and 54“ minimum measured from the back wall to the inside face of the door.  Second figure shows an elevator car with an off-centered door. The door clear width is 36” minimum and the car width measured side to side is 68“ minimum.  The depth is 51” minimum measured from the back wall to the front return, and 54” minimum measured from the back wall to the inside face of the door.  Third figure shows a car with a clear door width of 36” minimum and the car width measured side to side is 54” minimum.  The car depth is 80’ minimum measured from the back wall to the front return.  Fourth figure shows a car with a clear door width of 36” minimum and the car width measured side to side is 60“ minimum.  The car depth is 60“ minimum measured from the back wall to the front return.  Any 36” min wide door permitted a tolerance of minus 5/8”.

Elevator Car Requirements [§407.4.2 – §407.4.5]

Other requirements for elevator cars include:

  • compliant floor surfaces

  • a maximum 1¼” horizontal clearance between car platform sill and hoistway landing

  • a self-leveling feature

  • 5 ft. candles min. illumination at platform, controls, threshold, and landing sill

Car Leveling and Platform to Hoistway Clearance

1 ¼” max clearance between hoistway landing and car platform.  Car platform must have compliance surface and be automatic self-leveling within ½” tolerance maintained under 0 to rated loading conditions.

Car Controls [§407.4.6 and §407.4.7]

If more than one car control panel is provided in a car, both must comply (except in existing cars where only 1 panel must comply).

Car control panel shown with number in ascending order and columns that read left to right.  Max. height for buttons is 48” max. (54” max if car serves over 16 openings and parallel approach provided).  Emergency controls buttons grouped at bottom of panel 35” min. measured to centerline of bottom buttons.

Car Controls (§407.4.6 and §407.4.7)

Car control panel detail.  Notes:  Raised characters to immediate left of button, raised 1/32” min, sans serif (sufficient color contrast from the background is recommended); raised characters 5/8” to 2” high; Buttons ¾” min. in diameter (smallest dimension) must be raised from or flush with faceplate/ trim ring (ferrule); Braille (Grade 2) below or next to raised characters or symbols; 3/16” min separation between braille and raised numbers; Floor designation buttons provide visual indication of registered call that extinguishes upon car arrival; Main Entry Floor (required tactile symbol with braille); Door open and close buttons, where provided, identified by required tactile symbols and braille and located above emergency buttons; Emergency buttons (alarm and, where provided, emergency stop) grouped at bottom 35” min AFF measured to button centerline and identified by required tactile symbols and braille; Emergency stop (where provided on existing panels – no longer permitted by the ASME A17.1 code); In-car switches not for passenger use (e.g., fireman’s operations) are not required to comply; Keypads (§407.4.6.3 and §407.4.7.2) - Keypads, if provided in cars, must comply:	Location within reach range, measured to centerline of highest operable part; Standard phone keypad arrangement; Raised or flush buttons, ¾” min. in smallest dimension; Raised dot “5” key (0.025”-0.037” high, 0.118”  0.120” base diameter); Compliant visual characters (§703.5) centered on button

Car position indicators shown above door or above control panel

Car Position Indicators [§407.4.8]

Position indicators are required for all cars, including those of 2-stop elevators. Specifications include:

  • ½” min. character height

  • Illumination of each floor level passed or stopped at

  • Automatic verbal announcement of stop or non-verbal audible signal of passed floors and stops (if elevator not destination-oriented and has a rated speed of 200 ft./ minute max.)

  • Frequency: 300 – 3,000 Hz for verbal annunciator, 1500 Hz max. for non-verbal signal

  • Signal level: 10 dB min. above ambient to 80 dB max.

Emergency Communication 407.4.9]

Emergency phone

The ASME A17.1 code addresses features of required two-way emergency communication devices, including controls and visual indicators. The ADA Standards apply requirements for operable parts and tactile characters and symbols.

The ASME A17.1 code requires a two-way means of emergency communication in elevator cars. This system establishes direct communication with authorized personnel and must be activated by a push button. Handsets, which are vulnerable to vandalism, and closed compartments are prohibited. The activating button must be permanently identified by a tactile phone symbol and the term “HELP” located either on or adjacent to the button. Operating instructions are also required.

The ASME A17.1 also requires a visual signal, such as a labeled LED light or lighted jewel, to acknowledge that the emergency call has been received. The visual signal is considered a component of the two-way communication, though voice communication may also be established. The visual indication must be on the same panel as the “HELP” push button and extinguish when a communications link is terminated.

In addition to the ASME requirements, the ADA Standards require that the push button and other device controls comply as operable parts (§309). They also require the push button to be labeled with a specified tactile phone symbol and braille. Operating instructions and other information, including the label for the visible signal, must meet criteria for visual characters but are not required to be tactile.

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