New licensing system launches May 8, 2023. | Hmoob The article stands apart from the rest of the code in the sense it exempts these categories of circuits from the general requirements for wiring in most occupancies, found in Chapter 3. These conductors may be covered with suitable shielding for telephone, audio, video or higher-frequency communications circuits. | Chinese/, License forms, permits, plan review and local governments, Residential contractors, remodelers, roofers. ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Use the below learning-reinforcement questions to study for the Continuing Education Assessment Exam available online at www.elevatorbooks.com or on page 81 of this issue. Which equipment requires a separate branch circuit in the elevator car? Is lighting required to be GFCI protected in the machine room? Where is the lighting switch to be located in the machine room? What is the maximum raceway conductor fill in an elevator hoistway? How many disconnecting means are required for an elevator power supply? <> Although it can seem like a pain, the truth is they exist to encourage the overall safety and comfort of your propertys tenants- something that is undeniably important. <> Part VII, Overcurrent Protection, divides this topic into four categories for elevators and similar equipment, depending upon the nature of the specific equipment: For operating devices and control and signaling circuits, protection against overcurrent is in accordance with the requirements of Sections 725.43 and 725.45. In order to comply, the electrical system designer must determine the maximum available fault current at the elevator disconnecting means and assure the elevator disconnecting means overcurrent protective device will clear any overcurrent condition, up to the maximum available fault current, before any upstream overcurrent devices will operate. A recent news story highlights how an iPhone safety feature may be adversely affecting 911 call centers. Chapter 31 Special Construction. Responses are provided by NFPA Technical Staff on an informal basis. SECTION2701GENERAL. %PDF-1.4 Per the 2017 NEC, if the elevator is designated as an emergency system load, the disconnect must be protected by a surge protective device (SPD). endobj If this is not done and the available fault current exceeds the elevator controller SCCR, other solutions to reduce fault current must be reviewed or equipment changes and field evaluations may be needed. <> stream The elevator rails, like the ground system of the entire building electrical structure, are to be bonded to the lightning-system ground electrode so these all remain at the same potential even during a lightning event, ensuring side flash does not occur. <> endstream endobj startxref Article 620 of the Los Angeles Electrical Code (LAEC) and California Electrical Code (CEC) covers . GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. As always, the best advice in all instancesdo your homework, communicate often, and document decisions made. Click to reveal For platform lifts and stairway chairlifts, the duty is intermittent. You are a subscriber that needs to Sign In. This standard also covers maintenance and testing requirements for existing elevators. Elevator power disconnect (with utility feed marking) located in the machine room or other permitted location. Fluid pressure in the cylinder raises and lowers the elevator cab. This is important as the tradition of using only time-current curves for the analysis of overcurrent device operation is usually not sufficient since the time-current curves traditionally stop at 0.01 second (not time zero). 45.55.184.53 If the smoke detector at the designated landing goes into alarm, the elevator will stop at a predetermined alternate floor, which is usually the floor above the designated floor. Part VIII, Machine Rooms, Control Rooms, Machinery Spaces, and Control Spaces, states elevator and similar-installation driving machines, motor-generator sets, motor controllers and disconnecting means are to be installed in a room or space set aside for that purpose. As they review the plans and the construction site, they may have conflicting interpretations or requirements. In fact, an entire elevator system for a project is most often designed and specified by the architect who has little understanding of the electrical distribution system. It is stated that traveling cables are to be suspended at the car and hoistway ends, or counterweight end where applicable, so as to reduce the strain on the individual copper conductors to a minimum. It is further stated that the disconnecting means are not to disconnect the branch circuits required in sections 620.22, 620.23 and 620.24. /Contents 37 0 R The International Fire Code, the International Property Maintenance Code and NFPA . A traditional elevator installation (which includes a machine room) requires access inside the elevator shaft. Where necessary, it is mandated that suitable guards be provided to protect the cables against damage. endobj Section 620.62, Selective Coordination, is central to multi-elevator installations and must be closely observed. We're honored to be recognized by our employees and The Dallas Morning News by making the daily newspapers Top 100 Places to Work list for the 3rd year in a row, falling in at 28th in the midsize companies category. Electricity is often one of the initial services to fail during a storm. . /XObject <> With the elevator car at the bottom landing, it is the length of cable as measured from the point of suspension in the hoistway to the bottom of the loop. They are as follows: 1. 9 0 obj The floor specified as the designated landing, which must be approved by the Fire Marshal, is usually the floor on grade level so passengers can quickly exit to the outside. The ASME A17.1-2016 is for new and altered installations. You must run a separate insulated grounding conductor with the feeder conductors from the electrical source to the elevator controller. Hint: Duct Tape to the Rescue, EC&M Tech Talk Video Medium-Voltage Conductors and Cable, Monthly Quiz: Grounding and Bonding Connections. These are covered for generic, non-elevator specific use in earlier articles, 376 and 378, in Chapter 3, Wiring Methods and Materials. Cross-sectional areas of wireways are found by multiplying the two interior dimensions.) This is something that can be easily accomplished if the elevator controller manufacturer uses components in combination with overcurrent protective devices that are tested and listed with high combination SCCRs. The pump sends hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the cylinder, buried deep below the elevator shaft. Installing electrical equipment where its SCCR is less than the available short-circuit current creates serious safety hazards. If the disconnecting means is an integral part of the motor controller, it is to be operable without requiring opening of the enclosure. Here are the items that they will look for: A clean and dry elevator pit and machine/control room provided (ASME A17.1 Rule 2.1.2) Some elevator controller manufacturers believe this is an issue for the electrical system designer and installer to address and remedy by adding impedance to the system for lowering the available fault current. Kings III is an ETL Listed Central Station, providing code compliant all-inclusive emergency help phone solutions for all areas of your property. The ASME A18.1-2017 is the Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts. Privacy Policy Besides the power-supply disconnect discussed, it is provided that elevators have a single means for disconnecting all ungrounded car lights, receptacles and ventilation power-supply conductors for that elevator car. Additionally, ampacities of the individual conductors and flame-retardant properties of the overall cable are important factors. Another important electrical system design consideration for supplying power to multiple elevators is NEC 620.62. You'll be responsible for specifying the items related to the fire alarm and some controls, as well as supplying lighting and power to the equipment room and elevator pit. NFPA 72 requires the control circuit between the Fire Alarm System and the shunt trip be monitored for integrity. The ASME A18.1-2017 is the Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts. It is of great importance for the design engineer to communicate with their local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to determine fire alarm requirements for the respective elevator installation. In fact, the latest elevator safety codes show how it can even be an essential component of emergency response for those with a disability. Note that sprinklers are shown in the pit and machine room of the hydraulic elevators as those are always required but the top of the hoistway for hydraulic elevators and the pit, top of hoistway, and machine room for traction elevators can also require sprinklers. If a hydraulic elevator loses power because a heat detector goes off or for any other reason it could trap occupants for an unpleasant amount of time. This situation necessitates some special . Elevator power disconnect (with utility feed marking) located in the machine room or other permitted location David Herres David Herres holds a New Hampshire Master Electrician's license and has worked as an electrician in the northern part of that state for many years. Where multiple driving machines are connected to a single elevator, there is to be one disconnecting means to disconnect the motor(s) and control-valve-operating magnets. % Part IX, Grounding, states that metal raceways, Type MC cable, Type MI cable or Type AC cable attached to elevator cars are to be bonded to metal parts of the car bonded to the equipment grounding conductor. The need for sprinklers is addressed for three different locations; at the bottom of the pit, at the top of the hoistway, and in the elevator machine room, machinery space, or control room. A traction elevator's equipment room is typically located at the top of the building, directly over or adjacent to the shaft. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Section 620.43, Location of and Protection for Cables, provides that traveling cable supports are to be located so as to reduce the possibility of damage due to the cables coming in contact with the hoistway construction or equipment in the hoistway to a minimum. This room is to be secured against unauthorized access (kept locked). United States - USA. The elevator equipment room that serves a hydraulic elevator is almost always located on the lowest floor adjacent to the elevator shaft. 4 0 obj All rights reserved. Granle is a licensed professional engineer with Sebesta Blomberg & Associates, Rochester, Minn. https://www.facebook.com/ElectricalConstructionMaintenanceMagazine, https://www.linkedin.com/company/electrical-construction-maintenance/, EC&M Tech Talk Video Code Requirements for Disconnecting Means, The Most Popular Code Quizzes of the Week from 2021, The 10 Most Popular Photo Galleries of 2021, Whats Wrong Here? This section also adds emergency lighting to the list of elevator backup power requirements. Firefighters can then use portable telephone handsets in combination with the jacks and cabling. Chapter 26 Plastic. We want to make it easy for you- here is a national elevator code checklist that covers elevator requirements, looking at ADA, ASME, IBC, and NEC. This device must be either a fused disconnect or a circuit breaker because ANSI/ASME A17.1 requires you to install an additional overcurrent protection device (OCPD) in the elevator equipment room. Our directories are updated monthly and include website links to help you quickly find your elevator code authority for your state. FmQ0TIc RTcmkwbm0D Q,%^) Here are the items that they will look for: Reprinted from A17.1-2019, by permission of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. <> stream For just $7.99 per month, you can gain access to more than 5,000 articles from all Elevator World Publications, this includes EW Global, EW Europe, EW India, EW Middle East, EW Turkey, and EW UK. For some manufacturers, such as Eaton, testing has been completed to determine the selective coordination ability of current-limiting BussmannTM series fuses with upstream Eaton circuit breakers. Power for the elevator controller must first enter a lockable safety disconnect device, located adjacent to the door of the equipment room. ASME is often one of the first codes referenced by inspectors when it comes to elevators. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Safety Codes for Elevators - A17.1, A17.3, A17.4, A17.5, A17.6, A18.1 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - 13, 70, 72, 101, 252 International Building Code (IBC) Guide for Inspection of Elevators - A17.2 Standards for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors - ASME QEI-1 Other building loads, such as power and lighting, may function as the energy absorbing means, provided these loads are automatically connected to the emergency or standby power system operating the elevators and large enough to absorb the regenerative power. NEC 620.62 requires the elevator disconnecting means (fused switch or circuit breaker) to selectively coordinate with all supply-side overcurrent devices. You need at least one 120VAC GFCI-protected receptacle at each location. He participates in IEEE (Senior Member) with Industrial and Commercial Power Systems, NEMA (member of the Codes & Standards Committee), NFPA (committee member for NEC CMP-13 and NFPA 79), UL (508/60947 and 508A) and IAEI activities. Notice the definition mentions the full range of operating times. Heres what you need to verify. Elevators are found in almost all new buildings that are greater than one story. First, the traveling cable must be composed of very fine-stranded conductors so it can flex with a minimum of internal stresses, ensuring long service life and reliability. Section 620.37 re-emphasizes that only wiring used in connection with the elevator is permitted within the hoistway, machine room, control room/machinery space or control space. <> You need to Subscribe to continuing reading. It is further specified the machine-room lighting switch be located at the point of entry. The branch circuit supplying these units is to be similarly dedicated, with the associated overcurrent device located in the machine room or similar location. The Uniform Building Code requires two-way communications between the central command center and the elevators, each elevator lobby, emergency power rooms, and by entries into enclosed stairways (Section 403.5.3). Another important electrical system design listed with high combination SCCRs. The elevator shall be accessed from either an . endstream CHAPTER 27 - ELECTRICAL . 12 0 obj Some jurisdictions will have special provisions that modify power shut down provision or they will not permit sprinklers at all out of concerns for first responders utilizing the elevator during a fire. This blog will focus on one aspect of this fire protection; whether or not fire sprinklers are required. 16 0 obj Loss of voltage to the control circuit for the disconnecting means shall cause a supervisory signal to be indicated at the control unit and required remote annunciation. These include the installation being in accordance with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code or the applicable building code as well as the space being dedicated to elevator equipment only, protection by smoke detectors or other automatic fire detection, separation from the rest of the building by construction with fire ratings specified by the applicable building code, and no materials unrelated to elevator equipment being stored in the space. High-rise buildings pose additional concerns. 2022 Construction Codes Table of Contents. Because of this, several manufacturers offer an all-in-one shunt trip elevator disconnect switch that includes all the prewired accessories needed to comply with the various Code sections. In Part One of this series (ELEVATOR WORLD, April 2012), we began an examination of National Electrical Code (NEC) 2011 mandates for elevators and related equipment installations. endobj These are the principle NEC 2011 Article 620 mandates. To avoid this situation, designers can specify elevator controls with a safety feature commonly called a rescuvator. 5 0 obj 2702.2.20.1 Equipment Requiring Emergency Power System. For more information on how Kings III can keep you code-compliant, visit www.kingsiii.com. x |.-XEbUV>cXK~ J. To safeguard the passengers and electrical equipment, ASME A17.12.8.2.3.2 requires the power source to the elevator control panel to shut down prior to the discharge of water from a sprinkler head. Always verify all conditions and requirements with the state and the AHJ where the installation is taking place. Chapter 27 Electrical. Print . It is of great importance that power to the various elevator functions can be quickly and reliably removed from the loads in case of emergency or for maintenance and troubleshooting. Home Articles Elevator World June 2012 Issue NEC Article 620: Elevators, Part 2. <> stream It applies to all electrical wiring and equipment . In this case, it may be best if the elevator controller manufacturer does not include the elevator disconnecting means (often offered as a circuit breaker) but instead have the installer provide a separate fused disconnect to comply with NEC 620.51(A) and also achieve a high SCCR for the elevator controller when fuses are provided as specified by the elevator controller and marked on the elevator controller nameplate. By subscribing, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Chapter 28 Mechanical Systems. In the event of a breakdown, that phone must automatically call a location staffed 24 hours a day. endobj It is important for the design engineer to coordinate with the architect to determine the elevator manufacturer basis of design to determine if and when additional power and lighting is required. The hazards are external to the equipment enclosure since equipment SCCR testing and evaluation criteria for product standards are most often performed with the enclosure doors closed and latched, and the fault occurring external to the enclosure. Here, well attempt to do just that with a types of emergency phones glossary where well provide important facts and links to outside resources for ALL types of emergency phones, along with special considerations. Otherwise, specify that the elevator supplier provide a battery back-up unit to power the lights in the event of an outage. Such fast elevators could be built, but the New York City building code limited elevator speeds to just 700 fpm. 636 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3E99A7B842E11E4FB63B954D41726BE2><6699822AC16E0F4781D4BCC76F310E14>]/Index[615 32]/Info 614 0 R/Length 105/Prev 243084/Root 616 0 R/Size 647/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream First, it is now clear that elevator controllers must be marked by the manufacturer with their SCCR. The basic rule for conductor fill of a metal wireway, as given in Article 376, is that the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all contained conductors at a cross section of a wireway is not to exceed 20% of the interior cross-sectional area of the wireway. However, this can vary depending on building conditions and exterior grade. With the new elevator controller requirements, more attention will be focused on the elevator system. These are the individual branch circuits required for car lighting, receptacles, auxiliary lighting and ventilation on each elevator car; individual branch circuits for machine-room and similar location lighting and receptacle; and branch circuits for hoistway pit lighting and receptacle(s). Kings III makes it easy as a single point-of-contact for all your emergency response needs. All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Privacy Policy. The requirements of 210.8 for GFCI protection apply to elevators, but are modified in Chapter 6, specifically in Section 620.6. All elevators shall be equipped to operate with a standardized fire service elevator key in accordance with the International Fire Code. NEC Article 620 Part VI, Disconnecting Means and Control, is rather exacting. endobj %%EOF Learn your best options for addressing this with your emergency phones. Luminaires must be lensed or equipped with wire guards to protect the lamps. Additionally, duty on elevator and dumbwaiter motors is rated as intermittent, whereas duty on escalator and moving-walk motors is considered continuous. There are many fire and life safety code provisions that mitigate this risk and permit elevators to be used without increasing the risk to occupants. Regardless of the number of elevators, only one smoke detector is required at each floor lobby, but it must be located within 21 ft of every elevator door. Video surveillance is a common life safety tool for property managers. <> stream Choose topics from a full list of courses covering electrical topics that cover what you need to know from the NEC and other electrical codes and standards.