Code of Massachusetts Regulations
524 CMR - BOARD OF ELEVATOR REGULATIONS
Title 524 CMR 35.00 - Safety Code For Elevators And Escalators A17-2004 And The Massachusetts Modifications Of That Code
Part 2 - ELECTRIC ELEVATORS
Section 2.1 - CONSTRUCTION OF HOISTWAYS AND HOISTWAY ENCLOSURES

Universal Citation: 524 CMR 35.00 MA Code of Regs 2.1

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

2.1.1.2 Non-Fire-Resistive Construction

2.1.1.2.2 (a) Delete: "2000 mm (79 in.)" and Insert: "2100 mm (84 in.)".

2.11.4 Multiple Hoistways Delete: Entire paragraph and Insert: "Not more than four elevators shall be installed in the same hoistway."

2.1.3 Floor Over Hoistway.

2.1.3.4 Area to Be Covered by Floor. Delete and replace with:

2.1.3.4 Area to Be Covered by Floor. Where a floor over a hoistway is required by 2.1.3.1, the floor shall extend over the entire area of the hoistway and cover the entire machine room.

2.1.3.5 Area to Be Covered by Floor

2.1.3.5.1 Delete: Entire paragraph and Insert: "Where a floor over a hoistway is required by 2.1.3.1, the floor shall extend over the entire area of the hoistway and cover the entire machine room."

2.1.4 Control of Smoke and Hot Gases Delete entire section and add: "Ventilation requirements in Massachusetts shall be follows:"

(1) "All passenger, freight, private residence, and limited use/limited access elevators, as well as dumbwaiters, escalators and moving walks, require a means of ventilation to the outer air from enclosed elevator hoistways and machine rooms and shall also conform to the energy conservation requirements of the 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code.

(2) "Pressurizing the elevator hoistway and machine room is an acceptable alternate to ventilation."

(a) "A positive pressure must exist in the hoistway and machine room with the elevator(s) at a floor with the doors open."

(b) "Where air pressurization of the hoistway is utilized as a means of smoke and hot gas control, the air shall not be introduced into the hoistway in such a manner as to cause movement of selector tapes, governor ropes, compensating ropes and other components."

(3) "Area of hoistway vents: The area of the vents shall not be less than 31/2% of the area of the hoistway, nor less than three square feet, which ever is greater, for each elevator car."

(4) "Temperature: The temperature of the elevator machine room shall be maintained at not less than 50°F and not more than 90°F by natural air circulation or by an HVAC system. Make up air supply when needed into a fire rated enclosure must have a fusible link/shutter or other method to close it in case of fire, smoke detector actuation, or power failure. Penetrations of a fire rated assembly for the purpose of makeup-air/exhaust shall be protected in accordance with 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code'"

(5) "Ventilation for traction elevators, with machine(s) above the hoistway (at the top of the building) shall be as follows:"

(a) "When hoistway ventilation is below the machine room floor, apply 2.1.4(3)."

(b) "The bottom of the vent outside the building must be a minimum of three feet above the roof."

(c) "The bottom of the vent shall be not more than two feet below the top of the hoistway."

(d) "The vent shall not be located adjacent to the hoist ropes, governor rope, selector tape, or traveling cable."

(e) "When hoistway ventilation passes through the machine room via floor grilles or ducts and then to the outer air, those grilles and ducts shall conform to 2.1.4(3) above for size."

(f) "When the ventilation system in 2.1.4(5)(e) exits the machine room 2.1.4(5)(b) applies."

(g) "When the hoistway ventilation is located below the machine room floor, the machine room shall also be vented to a minimum or 1% of the area of the machine room or one square foot whichever is greater."

(6) "Ventilation for a traction elevator with a machine room at an intermediate floor level shall be as follows:"

(a) "When the hoistway(s) or machine room(s) does not have an exterior wall, ventilation shall be accomplished with ducts sized by 2.1.4(3) and fire-rated in accordance with the 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code ."

(b) "If the ducts are horizontal, a blower or exhaust fan shall be used to expel the gases or smoke, which is activated by a fire alarm initiating device."

(c) "If the provisions of 2.1.4(6)(b) are used normal power as well as emergency or standby power must be automatically available."

(7) "Ventilation for a traction elevator with a machine at the lowest landing shall be as follows:"

(a) "2.1.4(3) applies at the top of the hoistway."

(b) "2.1.4(5)(b) and (5)(c) apply."

(c) "The machine room can be vented to the hoistway or directly to the outer air."

(8) "Ventilation for a hydraulic elevator with the machine room adjacent to the hoistway at the lowest landing shall be as follows:"

(a) "2.1.4(3) applies at the top of the hoistway."

(b) "2.1.4(5)(b) and (5)(c) apply."

(c) "The machine room can be vented to the hoistway via a grille on each side of the penetrated wall at a minimum machine room height of six feet above the floor and a minimum size of 1% of the area of the machine room or one square foot whichever is greater."

(9) "Ventilation for a hydraulic elevator with a remote machine room shall not be more than ten feet away from the hoistway."

(a) "Hoistway ventilation 2.1.4(3) applies."

(b) "2.1.4(5)(b) and (c) apply to the hoistway."

(c) "Machine room ventilation can be via an inclined duct fire rated in accordance with 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code, between the machine room and the hoistway, equal to a minimum of 1% of the area of the machine room, or one square foot whichever is greater."

(d) "Machine room ventilation can be directly vented to the outer air or by a duct fire rated in accordance with 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code, in the amount of 1% of the area of the machine room, or one square foot whichever is greater."

(10) "Ventilation for a private residence elevator shall be as follows:"

(a) "No ventilation is required when there is no fire separation between floors in a single family home."

(b) "When floors are fire separated the hoistway and machine room shall be ventilated at a minimum of 1% of the area of the hoistway or machine room, or one square foot, whichever is greater."

(c) "The hoistway shall be vented if the elevator serves the garage."

(11) "Ventilation for limited use/limited access elevators shall be as follows: Enclosed hoistways and machine rooms shall be ventilated to a minimum of 1% of the area of the hoistway or machine room, or one square foot, whichever is greater."

(12) "Ventilation for dumbwaiters shall be as follows: Units that pass through fire rated floors shall be ventilated to a minimum of 1% or the area of the area of the hoistway or one square foot whichever is greater."

(13) "Ventilation for escalators and moving walks shall be as follows: Escalator and moving walk machine rooms shall be ventilated. Venting need not be to the outside air."

(14) "Energy conservation regulations apply as follows: All open ventilation must be sealed in conformance with 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code'"

(15) "If machine room venting of smoke and gases is accomplished by the use of a horizontal duct with the same fire rating as the hoistway and in accordance with 780 CMR: The Massachusetts State Building Code. The duct shall contain an exhaust fan powered from a normal and emergency power source activated by a thermostat and the smoke detector in the machine room."

2.1.5 Windows and Skylights. Delete and replace with:

2.1.5 Windows and Skylights. Windows in hoistway walls or elevator cars are prohibited. If the elevator hoistway is completely outside the general outline of the building, the rear wall of the car and the related hoistway wall can be of laminated safety glass with a maximum window frame depth of two inches. Curtain walls or window walls cannot enclose the hoistway. Windows and skylights and their frames and sashes in machine rooms shall conform to the requirements of 780 CMR: State Board of Building Regulations and Standards and 527 CMR: Board of Fire Prevention Regulations.

2.1.6 Projections, Recesses, and Setbacks in Hoistway Enclosures

2.1.6.2. Amend as follows:

2.1.6.2(a) Delete: "100 mm (4 in.)" and replace with: "50 mm (2 in.)". 2.1.6.2(c) Delete: "100 mm (4 in.)" and replace with: "50 mm (2 in.)".

2.1.6.2(b) Delete: "100 mm (4 in.)" and Insert: "50 mm (2 in.)".

2.1.6.2(d) Delete: "100 mm (4 in.)" and Insert: "50 mm (2 in.)".

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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