California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 6 - Elevator Safety Orders
Group II - Elevator Installations for Which the Installation Contract Was Signed Before October 25, 1998
Article 8 - Machinery and Equipment for Power Cable-Driven Passenger and Freight Elevators
Section 3042 - Hoisting Ropes and Their Connections

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 3042

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Suspension Means. All cable-driven elevator cars and counterweights shall be suspended by steel or iron wire ropes attached to the car frame or passing around sheaves attached to the car frame. Ropes shall be without covering, except that marlin-covered rope may be used where liability to excessive corrosion or other hazard exists.

(1) Only wire rope having the commercial classification "Elevator Wire Rope," or wire rope constructed specifically for elevator use, shall be used for the suspension of elevator cars and for the suspension of counterweights, including replacement of ropes on existing elevators.

(b) Wire Rope Data on Crosshead Data Plate.

(1) The crosshead data plate required in Section 3037(c)(2)(B) shall bear the following wire rope data.

(A) The number of ropes.

(B) The diameter in inches.

(2) Whenever new ropes are installed that do not agree in size, number, or material with the existing data, the division shall be notified in writing before such a change is made.

(1) A metal, fiber, or plastic tag shall be securely attached to one of the wire rope fastenings. This data tag shall bear the following wire rope data:

(A) The diameter in inches.

(B) The manufacturer's rated breaking strength.

(D) The month and year the ropes were installed.

(E) Whether nonpreformed or preformed.

(F) Construction classification.

(G) Name of the person or firm who installed the ropes.

(H) Name of the manufacturer of the rope.

(2) A new tag shall be installed at each renewal.

(3) The height of the letters shall be not less than 1/16 inch.

(d) Wire Rope Data on Reshackling Tag.

(1) Whenever wire ropes are reshackled, a metal, fiber, or plastic tag shall be securely attached to one of the wire rope fastenings. This tag is in addition to the tag required in Section 3042(c). The reshackling tag shall bear the following data:

(A) The month and year the ropes were reshackled.

(B) The name of the person or firm who reshackled the ropes.

(e) Factor of Safety.

(1) The factor of safety of the suspension wire ropes shall be not less than that determined by the formula and graphs of Design Section 3107(a). Table 3042E1 lists the minimum factors of safety for various intermediate rope speeds.

TABLE NO. 3042E1

Minimum Factors of Safety for Suspension Wire Ropes

Rope Speed in Feet Per	Minimum Factor of Safety		Rope Speed in Feet Per	Minimum Factor of Safety
Minute	Passenger	Freight	Minute	Passenger	Freight
50	7.60	6.65	700	11.00	9.80
75	7.75	6.85	750	11.15	9.90
100	7.95	7.00	800	11.25	10.00
125	8.10	7.15	850	11.35	10.10
150	8.25	7.30	900	11.45	10.15
175	8.40	7.45	950	11.50	10.20
200	8.60	7.65	1000	11.55	10.30
225	8.75	7.75	1050	11.65	10.35
250	8.90	7.90	1100	11.70	10.40
300	9.20	8.20	1150	11.75	10.45
350	9.50	8.45	1200	11.80	10.50
400	9.75	8.70	1250	11.80	10.50
450	10.00	8.90	1300	11.85	10.55
500	10.25	9.15	1350	11.85	10.55
550	10.45	9.30	1400	11.90	10.55
600	10.70	9.50	1450	11.90	10.55
650	10.85	9.65	1500	11.90	10.55

(2) The factor of safety of replacement ropes for existing elevators shall be not less than the factor of safety of the original ropes based on their original breaking strength.

(f) Minimum Number and Diameter of Hoisting Ropes.

(1) The minimum number of hoisting ropes used shall be three for traction elevators, and two for drum-type elevators.

EXCEPTION: Existing traction elevators with two hoisting ropes.

(2) Where a car counterweight or a drum counterweight is used, the number of counterweight ropes used shall be not less than two.

(3) The minimum diameter of hoisting and counterweight ropes shall be 3/8 -in. (9.5 mm). Outer wires of the ropes shall be not less than 0.024 in. (0.61 mm) in diameter.

The term "diameter," where used in this section, shall refer to the nominal diameter as given by the rope manufacturer.

(Title 24, Part 7, Section 7-0342.)

(g) Suspension Rope Equalizers.

(1) Suspension rope equalizers, where provided, shall be of the individual-compression spring type.

EXCEPTION: Equalizers of other types may be used with traction elevators provided the equalizers and their fastenings are accepted by the division; and provided that equalizers of the single-bar type or springs in tension shall not be used to attach suspension ropes to cars or counterweights or to dead-end hitch plates. See Design Section 3107(d).

(2) Equalizers shall be used on the car and counterweight ends of all ropes of overhead drum-type elevators where the ropes travel in opposite directions on the drum face.

(h) Securing of Wire Suspension Ropes to Winding Drums.

(1) Car and counterweight suspension ropes of winding drum machines shall have the drum ends of the ropes secured on the inside of the drum by clamps or by tapered babbitted sockets.

(2) Wire suspension ropes of drum-type machines shall have not less than one turn of each rope on the drum when the car or counterweight is resting on the fully compressed buffers.

(i) Replacement and Reshackling of Suspension and Compensation Ropes.

(1) When wear, corrosion, broken wires, or other factors indicate that ropes or cables have their breaking strength materially reduced below the manufacturer's rating, they shall be renewed.

(2) When hoisting or counterweight ropes are renewed, the entire set shall be renewed. A set of rope in this case shall mean all of the hoisting ropes, or all of the car counterweight ropes, or all of the drum counterweight ropes.

(3) Suspension wire ropes or compensating ropes shall not be lengthened or repaired by splicing.

(4) When suspension ropes are renewed, the method of babbitting shall conform to the requirements of Sections 3042(j)(5), 3042(j)(6), and 3042(j)(7).

(5) The hoisting ropes of power elevators having drum-type driving machines with one-to-one (1:1) roping shall be reshackled at the car ends when an inspection shows any evidence of fatigue or abrasion, and in no case at intervals longer than indicated in the following schedule.

	Frequency in years
O.H. Drum, Heavy Duty (Over 50 trips per day)..........................	..........................1
O.H. Drum, Medium Duty (25-50 trips per day)..........................	..........................2
O.H. Drum, Light Duty (Less than 25 trips per day)..........................	..........................4
Basement Drum, Heavy Duty (Over 50 trips per day)..........................	..........................2
Basement Drum, Medium Duty (25-50 trips per day)..........................	..........................4
Basement Drum, Light Duty (Less than 25 trips per day)..........................	..........................6

EXCEPTION: In lieu of reshackling, the division will accept an auxiliary rope-fastening device which meets the requirements of Section 3042(k).

(A) At the time of this reshackling, a careful inspection shall be made of other shackles, particularly at the drum counterweight ends with the weights landed and the rope slack. These ends shall be reshackled if they show any evidence of fatigue or abrasion.

(B) See Section 3042(d) for the data required on the reshackling tag.

(j) Hoisting Rope Fastenings.

(1) The car and counterweight ends of car and counterweight wire ropes, or the stationary hitch-ends where multiple roping is used, shall be fastened in such a manner that all portions of the rope, except the portion inside the rope sockets, shall be readily visible.

Fastening shall be:

(A) By individual tapered babbitted rope sockets. See Design Section 3107(b)(1).

(B) By other types of rope fastenings accepted by the division provided that U-bolt-type rope clips (clamps) shall not be used for such fastenings. See Design Section 3107(b)(2).

(2) The car ends, or the car or counterweight dead ends where multiple roping is used, of all suspension wire ropes of traction-type elevators shall be provided with shackle rods of a design which will permit individual adjustment of the rope lengths. Similar shackle rods shall be provided on the car or counterweight ends of compensating ropes.

(3) Hoisting rope fastenings shall conform to the following:

(A) The portion of the rope fastening which holds the wire rope (rope socket) and the shackle rod may be in one piece (unit construction) or they may be separate.

(B) The rope socket shall be either cast or forged steel provided that where the rope socket and the shackle rod are in one piece (unit construction), the entire fastening shall be of forged steel. See Design Section 3107(b).

(D) Where the shackle rod is separate from the rope socket, the fastening between the two parts shall be positive and such as to prevent their separation under all conditions of operation of the elevator. Where the connection of the two parts is threaded, the length of the thread engagement of the rod in the socket shall be not less than 11/2 times the root diameter of the thread on the rod, and a cotter pin or equivalent means shall, in addition, be provided to restrict the turning of the rod in the socket and prevent unscrewing of the connection in normal operation.

(E) Rope fastenings incorporating antifriction devices which will permit free spinning of the rope shall not be used.

(F) Where hoisting or car counterweight ropes pass through plates at the hitchblock or car crosshead, said plates shall be chamfered, and free from sharp projections.

(4) Tapered babbitted-type rope sockets shall be of design as shown in Figure 3107 and shall conform to the requirements of Design Section 3107(b).

(5) Only babbitt metal shall be used to secure ropes in tapered babbitted sockets. Babbitt metal shall contain at least 9 percent of antimony and shall be clean and free from dross.

(6) Where the tapered babbitted-type of socket is used, the method and procedure to be followed in making up the fastening shall conform to that outlined in Design Section 3107(c).

(7) When the babbitt has cooled and the tape at the small end removed, a visual inspection shall be made which shall show that:

(A) The babbitt is visible at the small end of the socket.

(B) The tops of the looped strands of the rope are just visible above the surface of the babbitt. Where rope wih steel core is used, the steel core shall also be visible above the surface of the babbitt.

(C) No loss of rope lay has occurred where the wire rope enters the basket. Babbitted sockets which do not conform to the above requirement shall be rejected and the rope resocketed.

(k) Auxiliary Rope Fastening Device. Auxiliary rope-fastening devices, designed to support elevator cars or counterweights if any regular rope fastening fails, may be provided subject to the following requirements:

(1) They shall be accepted by the division on the basis of adequate tensile and fatigue test made by an approved testing laboratory.

(2) The device and its fastenings, in its several parts and assembly, shall have a strength at least equal to that of the manufacturer's breaking strength of the rope to which it is to be attached.

(3) The device shall be so designed and installed that:

(A) It will not become operative unless there is a failure of normal rope fastening.

(B) It will function in a rope movement of not over 11/2 inches.

(4) Means shall be provided to cause the electric power to be removed from the hoisting machine motor and brake when any auxiliary fastening device operates. Such means shall be of the manually reset type.

(5) The method used to attach the device to the rope shall be such as to prevent injury to or appreciable deformation of the rope.

(6) The installation of the device shall not reduce the required overhead clearances.

(7) Each device shall be permanently marked with the name of the manufacturer and with the size of the wire rope for which they are designed to be used.

1. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 6-11-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 24).
2. Editorial correction of subsection (k)(3)(C) (Register 95, No. 32).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

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