CODE GUIDE

Addition of Subchapter K to the Building Code

2
0
1
0

know
the
code.

74 CALYER ST. BROOKLYN, NY 11222 (718) 349-4700 NOUVEAUELEVATOR.COM

The New York City Safety Code governing elevators and escalators
has changed. The new requirements of the law are on the reverse.
Customers of Nouveau Elevator know their vertical transportation
systems will be up to date thanks to our InVue reporting system.
InVues detailed records help our expert service technicians pinpoint
problems, do preventive maintenance, and ensure code compliance.
Dont risk ECB and PVT violations. Trust your elevators to Nouveau.
To review your code status, call Nouveau today at (718) 349-4700.

NEW TESTING REQUIREMENTS

On January 1, 2009, the City of New York revised its testing requirements; the previous
Local Law #10/81 and 2 Year Safety Tests have been replaced with the new Category
1 Annual Inspection. The new Category 5 Test has now superseded the old 5 Year Full
Load Test.
These new requirements apply to all:
Passenger Elevators
Freight Elevators
Sidewalk Elevators
Escalators/Moving Walks
Private Residential Elevators
Dumbwaiters
Material Lifts
Wheelchair Lifts
Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors
Elevators Used for Construction
New Third Party Witnessing
In addition, the new provision requires the use of a third party witnessing agency for all
tests/inspections.
28-304.7 Required Contract. The owner of all new and existing passenger elevators shall
have a contract with an approved agency to perform elevator repair work and maintenance as defined by ASME 17.1. The name, address and telephone number of such agency
shall be maintained at each premises, on the mainline disconnect switch and in a location
readily accessible to employees of the department and to maintenance and custodial staff
at the premises.

TESTING REQUIRED FOR PREVIOUSLY

NON-JURISDICTIONAL SYSTEMS
Please also note that many of the elevators that were previously listed in the City BIS
system as Non-Jurisdictional are now required to have these inspections performed.
Some of the new requirements are outlined below:
1. A data tag will be required to be attached to the elevator controller as part of the
Category 1 Annual test, establishing the date the elevator equipment was installed or
upgraded.
2. Category 1 Annual and 5 year tests must be witnessed by an approved, independent,
elevator inspection agency (not affiliated with Nouveau).
3. The filing period for the Category 1 Annual elevator test has been expanded to
January 1 - December 31 for each device.
4. Category 1 Annual test reports must be submitted within 45 days of the performance
of the test.
5. Failure to perform these tests will result in penalties.
Nouveau Elevator has the experience and licensing necessary to perform all such Inspections and Tests and our dedicated Testing Department is ready to assist you in completing them quickly and economically.

know the code.

call for an immediate
code inspection:

74 CALYER ST. BROOKLYN, NY 11222 (718) 349-4700 NOUVEAUELEVATOR.COM

ADDITION OF SUBCHAPTER K TO THE BUILDING CODE.

(718) 349-4700

SECTION 3.11

Effective December 14, 2009

Emergency Operation and Signaling Devices

Chapter K3 Modifications to ASME A17.3-2002, Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalator. This includes retroactive provisions which existing elevators
and escalators must comply with.

3.11.1 Car Emergency Signaling Devices: Provide a signaling device in all elevators
audible inside the car and outside of the hoistway. In buildings where personnel
are not continuously available to respond to an emergency signal a communication device must be provided. (Compliance within one (1) year)

HIGHLIGHTS
SECTION 2.5
Protection of Spaces Below Hoistways
Cars and counterweights shall be provided with spring or oil buffers.
(Compliance within one (1) year)

SECTION 2.6
Hoistway Entrances
2.6.3 Hoistway Door Vision Panels: All vision panels must be protected by protective grills. (Immediate Compliance Required) Requirements may be waived if
building certifies elevator is operated manually or twenty-four (24) hour doorman
service is provided. A security guard shall not be considered doorman service.
2.6.7 Bottom Guides Existing elevators in occupancy groups R-1, R-2, and E shall
have two gibs on each hoistway door as well as a safety retainer. (Z-bracket
/Fire gib) (Compliance within one (1) year)

SECTION 2.7
Hoistway Door Locking Devices, Parking Devices, and Access
2.7.6 Locks on elevators and elevator hoistway doors: In high rise buildings, no
switch, lock, or device of any kind shall be installed on any floor on or above the
street floor that shall prevent opening of such door by anyone not having a key.
Unless utilizing city-wide standard key 2642 or on elevators used exclusively for
freight. (Immediate Compliance Required)

3.11.3 Firefighters Service Operation in Existing Elevators: Firefighters services

operation shall be installed in all existing elevators in high rise buildings or buildings classified in occupancy group M except existing R-2, and all buildings classified in groups A, B, C, or R-1. (except residential hotels)
(Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 4.2
Hydraulic Mechanical Equipment
4.3.3 Hydraulic Elevators: (A) Hydraulic elevators with a buried piston that do
not have a double cylinder or a cylinder with a safety bulkhead shall have the
cylinder replaced or protected against corrosion or damage to eliminate uncontrolled oil loss. (B) Be provided with a device meeting the requirements of3.5 or
a device arranged to operate in the down direction at an overspeed not exceeding
one hundred twenty five (125) percent of rated speed. The device shall mechanically act to limit the maximum car speed to the buffer striking speed, or stop the
elevator car with rated load with a deceleration not to exceed 9.8m/s2 (32.2 ft/s2),
and shall not automatically reset. Actuation of the device shall cause power to
be removed from the pump motor and control valves until manually reset;
or (C) Have other means acceptable to the department to protect against unintended movement of the car as a result of uncontrolled fluid loss.
(Compliance within five (5) years)

SECTION 5.3
Escalator Operating and Safety Devices

Car Enclosures

5.3.1 Starting Devices: All escalators must have a starting device that is a combination key switch and start button. (Immediate Compliance Required)

3.4.2 Car Doors and Gates: Passenger and loft elevators shall have a car door or
gate with an electrical contact at each entrance.
(Compliance within three (3) years)

5.3.2 Emergency Stop Buttons: All escalators shall have emergency stop buttons
placed at top and bottom landings on the right side facing the escalator.
(Immediate Compliance Required)

3.4.5 Car Illumination: Interior of elevators shall have two (2) lamps to provide illumination. (minimum five (5) foot candles) (Compliance within one (1) year)

5.3.7 Skirt Obstruction Device: Provide escalator skirt safety device.

(Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 3.9

5.3.12 Comb-Step Impact Devices: Provide comb-impact devices that activate

from horizontal or vertical force. (Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 3.4

Terminal Stopping Devices

3.9.2 Final Terminal Stopping Devices: Upper and lower terminal limits must be
provided to prevent movement of the elevator once it has passed a terminal
landing. (Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 3.10
Operating Devices and Control Equipment

SECTION 8.2
Sidewalk Elevator Machinery and Equipment
8.2.14 Operating Devices and Control Equipment of Sidewalk Elevator: Operation
of sidewalk elevator must conform to these specifications including operation by
constant pressure button or key operated switches.
(Immediate Compliance Required)

3.10.4 Electrical Protective Devices: The following electrical devices shall be provided: Slack-rope switch; compensating rope sheave switch; broken rope, tape,
or chain switches used in connection with machine room normal terminal stopping switches; car-safety mechanism switch; final terminal stopping devices;
emergency terminal speed limiting device; motor generator overspeed protection; motor field sensing means; buffer switches for oil buffers used with Type C
car safeties; hoistway door interlocks or hoistway door electric contacts; car
door or gate electric contacts; normal terminal stopping devices; car side
emergency exits electric contact; electric contacts for hinged car platform sills;
emergency stop switch; stop switch in pit; and buffer switches for gas spring
return oil buffers. (Compliance within one (1) year)

9.6.3 Emergency Stop Buttons: All moving walks shall have emergency stop buttons placed at top and bottom landings on the right side facing the moving walk.
(Immediate Compliance Required)

3.10.8 Brake Control: Brakes must have two devices to remove power independently from the brake. (Immediate Compliance Required)

9.6.12 Comb-Pallet Impact Devices: Provide comb-pallet devices that activate

from horizontal or vertical force. (Immediate Compliance Required)

3.10.11 Signal Systems on Car Switch Elevators: Manual elevators must have
annuciators in the cab. (Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 9.0
Moving Walks Skirt Panels: Clearance between the step thread and adjacent skirt
panel may not exceed .188 inches (4.8mm). (Immediate Compliance Required)

SECTION 9.6
Moving Walks Operating and Safety Devices
9.6.2 Starting Devices: All moving walks must have a starting device that is a
combination key switch and start button. (Immediate Compliance Required)