Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 7 - ELEVATORS, LIFTS, ESCALATORS, DUMBWAITERS, HOISTS ANDTRAMWAYS
Subchapter A - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
ADMINISTRATION
Section 7.14 - Tests

Universal Citation: 34 PA Code ยง 7.14

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024

(a) New passengers and freight elevators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector to see that the car safeties, speed governors, brakes, bumpers, limit switches, and the like, perform their proper functions. The car safeties shall be tested with the elevator car carrying the maximum allowable load. In making the final test the hoisting cables shall be detached from the car, while at a height sufficient to indicate the efficiency of the car safeties. A runaway test is acceptable in lieu of the free drop test when approved safety devices are installed. For reostatic control elevators, the safeties shall be tested by tripping the governor. Broken rope safety devices shall be tested as such.

(b) Existing installations shall be tested as follows:

(1) The car safety of existing installations shall be tested with rated load in the car by tripping the governor by hand at rated speed, within five years of effective date and at least every five years thereafter by a reputable elevator company. Results of the test shall be certified by the elevator company on forms furnished by the Department, indicating the load for which the elevator was tested and a record of such test shall be filed with the Department.

(2) A metal data plate furnished by the company performing the test shall be fastened to the car crosshead and show the date of the test and the company performing the test.

(3) The governor shall be tested and the trip speed measured by a tachometer and, if necessary, adjusted to conform to the requirements of this section. Governors shall be resealed after each test. Speed governors for car safeties shall be set to trip at over speeds as follows:
(i) At not less than 115% of rated car speed.

(ii) At not more than the tripping speed listed opposite the applicable rated speed in the following table:

Maximum Speeds at which Speed Governor Trips and Governor Overspeed Switch Operates

Rated Speed (in feet per minute)Maximum Governor Trip Speed (in feet per minute)Maximum Speed at which Governor Overspeed Switch Operates (down feet per minute)
0-125175175
150210190
175250225
200280252
225308277
250337303
300395355
350452407
400510459
450568512
500625563
600740703
700855812
800970921
90010851031
100012001140
110013201254
120014401368
130015601482
140016801596
150018001710

(4) Speed governors, where provided for counterweight safeties, shall be set to trip at an overspeed greater than, but not more than 10% above, that at which the car speed governor is set to trip.

(5) Broken rope safeties shall be drop tested.

(6) The provisions of this subsection do not apply to hand-powered freight elevators.

(c) New escalators shall be tested in the presence of a Department inspector. The test shall consist of a physical examination of the escalator parts together with a running test of the escalator without load, including a test of all the safety features prescribed in § 7.324 (relating to safety equipment).

(d) On the completion of any device provided for by this chapter, the owner, builder, contractor, manufacturer, or other responsible party or parties, shall file with the Department notice in writing that such installation has been constructed and installed in accordance with the plans as approved. Upon receipt of such notice the Department may arrange for inspection of the installation by a Department inspector.

(e) New elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, gravity elevators and hoists shall not be operated temporarily pending final completion without permission of the Department.

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.251 (relating to general).

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