Elevators [§407]

Elevators [§407]

Elevator Landing Requirements [§407.2]

Elevator landing showing hall signals located 72” min. high measured to centerline and call buttons with clear floor space and located within reach range measured to centerline. Details show hall signal visible indicators 2 ½” high min, call buttons ¾” min. in diameter (smallest dimension) that are raised and flush. Hoistway sign detail show number 2” high min and raised 1/32” with a 3/8” min. separation from braille below and raised borders. Notes: Hall Signals (§407.2.2) - Required at each hoistway (including elevators with only 2 stops); Indicate car arrival and travel direction (separate fixtures are not required to indicate direction); Visible indicators can be vertical or side-by-side; Visible from area of hall call button, including those in cars (1 in-car lantern is acceptable if visible from the hall call button); Audible signals: one (up)/ two (down) or annunciator; Frequency: 1500 Hz max. (300 – 3,000 Hz verbal annunciator); Signal level: 10 dB min. above ambient, 80 dB max. Call Controls (§407.2.1) - ithin reach range, measured to centerline of highest operable part; compliant as operable part; Up button above down button; Visual indication of call registered and call answered; Raised from, or flush with, faceplate or, if provided, trim ring or ferrule. Hoistway Signs (§407.2.3) - Both jambs, 48” – 60” AFF (measured to raised character baseline); Characters and symbols raised 1/32” min., sans serif; Compliance with other requirements in 703.2 for raised characters (upper case, style ,character proportion and spacing, stroke thickness, and line spacing); Grade II braille complying with 703.3 below raised characters; 	Tactile star with braille (“MA’IN’”) required on both jambs at the main entry level

Elevator Door Requirements [§407.3]

Timing distance shown measured 60” in front of farthest call button controlling car to centerline of hoistway door. Caption: Door and Signal Timing (§407.3.4) - Timing begins at audible and visible notification of car arrival based on when the signal becomes visible from the specified location point in front of the call button. At elevators with in-car lanterns, timing begins once doors open wide enough for the signal to be visible from this point. Minimum timing from car arrival notification to start of door closing: D / 1.5 ft/s (no less than 5 sec.)

Elevator door must fully open 3 seconds min. to min. clear width of 36” (42” for center door of 80” min by 51” min car). A tolerance of minus 5/8” allowed for 36” min. clear width only. Reopening device detection points: 5” high and 29” high. Caption: Door Delay (§407.3.5)- Doors must remain fully open 3 seconds min. in response to a call.

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]

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.

Destination-Oriented Elevators

With destination-oriented elevators, passengers indicate the floor destination when calling an elevator, usually through a keypad. Lobby indicators designate which car to use, which is programmed by the time of arrival. This type of elevator reduces the number of stops per trip. The requirements of §407 apply to destination-oriented elevators, but some provisions or exceptions, which are summarized here, are unique to this type of elevator.

Destination-Oriented Elevators: Call Signals

Destination oriented elevator with details showing hall signals and hoistway signs with floor and car designations that are 2” high min. raised 1/32” min, and separated 3/8” min from braille and raised borders. Notes: Hall Signals (§407.2.2) - Visible and audible signals indicating the arrival of designated car (if the same tone/ announcement in calling a car is used to signal car arrival, then compliance with audible specifications, such as the indication of direction, is not required); Visible and audible signals are not required at each elevator if they include car designation; Visible signals centered 72” min AFF and visible from floor area adjacent to hoistway entrance; Visible signal element 2 ½” min. measured along vertical centerline of element; Audible and visible differentiation of each elevator in a bank. Hoistway Signs (§407.2.3) - Both jambs, 48” – 60” AFF (measured to raised character baseline); Car designation required below floor designation; Characters and symbols raised 1/32” min., sans serif; Compliance with other requirements in 703.2 for raised characters (upper case, style ,character proportion and spacing, stroke thickness, and line spacing); Grade II braille complying with 703.3 below raised characters.

Destination-Oriented Elevators: Car Arrival

Destination-oriented elevator car with details of hall signal and hoistway signs. Notes: Hall Signals (§407.2.2) - Visible and audible signals indicating the arrival of designated car (if the same tone/ announcement in calling a car is used to signal car arrival, then compliance with audible specifications, such as the indication of direction, is not required); 	Visible and audible signals are not required at each elevator if they include car designation; Visible signals centered 72” min AFF and visible from floor area adjacent to hoistway entrance; Visible signal element 2 ½” min. measured along vertical centerline of element; Audible and visible differentiation of each elevator in a bank. Hoistway Signs (§407.2.3) - Both jambs, 48” – 60” AFF (measured to raised character baseline); Car designation required below floor designation; Characters and symbols raised 1/32” min., sans serif; Compliance with other requirements in 703.2 for raised characters (upper case, style ,character proportion and spacing, stroke thickness, and line spacing); Grade II braille complying with 703.3 below raised characters; floor and car designation 2” high min, raised 1/32” min, 3/8” min separation from braille and from raised borders

Destination-oriented elevator car position indicator

Other provisions unique to destination-oriented elevators:

Elevator Door Requirements (§407.3)

Specifications for door and signal timing do not apply (§407.3.4, Ex. 2)

Car Position Indicators (§407.4.8)

Visual display of each floor a car has been programmed to stop at and automatic verbal announcement of each car stop are required
Visual indicators: ½” min. character height, location above control panel/keypad or door, must extinguish when call answered
Automatic verbal announcement (300 – 3,000 Hz, 10dB min. above ambient to 80 dB max.)

Existing Elevators (Alterations)

Alterations to Existing Elevators

When an alteration is made to an existing car, it also must be made to all other cars that respond to the same hall call.

The Standards apply to existing elevators that are altered. Compliance is determined by the scope of the project. For example, if a car operating panel is upgraded, at a minimum the new panel must comply. Other elements of a car that are not altered are not required to comply. Alterations made to an existing car also must be made to each elevator programmed to respond to the same hall call so that a consistent level of accessibility within banks is maintained.

Requirements for new elevators are also applied to those that are altered, but specific exceptions or alternative specifications are permitted for existing elevators that are altered. These provisions unique to existing elevators are summarized here. In addition, altered elevators must meet applicable sections of the referenced A17.1 code that apply to alterations.

Provisions or exceptions specifically for existing elevators do not apply to elevators that are newly added to an existing facility which must comply with the requirements for new elevators. Certain alterations or additions to a facility may trigger the requirement for an accessible route between floors, including:

where stairs or escalators are added in an alteration or addition where none existed previously and major structural modifications are necessary, an accessible route must connect each level served by the new stair or escalator (§206.2.3.1);
as needed to provide an accessible path of travel to a primary function area that is altered or that is part of an addition, unless the cost is more than 20% of the overall cost (§202.4).

Provisions or Exceptions Specific to Existing (Altered) Elevators

Existing (altered) elevator car. Notes: Hall Signals (§407.2.2) - Visible signals are not required to comply and audible signals are exempt from frequency and decibel ranges; Signals do not have to indicate travel direction; Call Controls (§407.2.1) - Call buttons can be recessed; Existing call buttons can be less than ¾” in size and can be located 54” max. (instead of 48”) above the floor, measured to the centerline of the highest operable part; Elevator Door Requirements (§407.3) - Existing manually operated doors without reopening devices that meet door requirements (§404.2) are permitted; Power-operated doors can have a narrower clear width (32” min. if the hoistway depth is 24” max.); Elevator Car Requirements (§407.4) - Existing cars with a clear depth 54” min., a clear width 36” min., and a clear floor area of 16 sq. ft. are permitted; When new compliant operating panels are installed, existing panels that remain are not required to comply; Car control buttons can be recessed and can be 54” max. above the floor if a parallel approach is provided; If space does not permit location of tactile markings to the left of control buttons, they can be placed as near to the control as possible. ISA Designation (§216.7) - In facilities with existing non-compliant elevators, the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) must clearly identify those elevators that do meet §407.

Recommendation: For greater usability, make those altered elements covered by an exception fully comply wherever practicable.

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Destination-Oriented Elevators

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