§ 14-16-76. Terminal limit switches and stopping devices for power elevators.

A.

Limit switch construction. Limit switches or stopping devices located or constructed in a manner which interferes with their proper operation shall be altered to function properly.

B.

Normal limit switches. Normal terminal limit switches or stopping devices (directional limits) shall be provided on all elevators and shall be arranged to automatically stop the car and to function independent of the operating devices and also independent of such final terminal limit switches or stopping devices as required by subsection C of this section, and further, should, when traveling at any speed attained during normal operation, bring the car to rest within the overtravels, but the buffers may be compressed.

Exceptions:

1.

All elevators with hand rope or rod operating devices and equipped with normal terminal limit stop balls fastened to the rope or rod which are arranged to center the operating device and, if winding drum machine equipped shall also be provided with a machine automatic normal terminal stopping device to automatically apply the brake and center the operating device.

2.

All elevators with wheel or lever operating devices and with winding drum machines shall be provided with a machine automatic normal terminal limit stopping device to automatically center the directional controls and apply the brake.

3.

Hydraulic elevators with a car speed in excess of 150 feet per minute shall be equipped with an automatically operated stop valve (or valves) which is operated by the movement of the car or the machine and which is independent of the normal control valve (or valves).

C.

Final limit switches. Final terminal limit switches or stopping devices shall be provided on all electric elevators in addition to the normal terminal limits or stopping devices and shall be arranged to automatically prevent all movement of the car by the operating devices and to stop the car independent of the normal terminal limit switches or stopping devices and further, should, when traveling at any speed attained during normal operation, bring the car to rest within the overtravels, but the buffers may be compressed.

Exceptions:

1.

Electro-hydraulic elevators;

2.

Electric platform or sidewalk elevators having winding drum machines with a normal terminal machine automatic stopping device and also with either normal limit switches in the hoistway or with normal limit stopping devices on the operating rope, chain or rod.

D.

Location of normal and final limits. Normal and final terminal limits or stopping devices on electric elevators may be located on the car or in the hoistway if operated by the movement of the car, or they may be located in the machine room if mounted on and operated by a stopping device automatically connected to the car with no dependence on friction as a driving means, pro vided that, on winding drum machine equipped elevators:

1.

If the normal terminal limit switches are in the hoistway or on the car, the final terminal stopping devices shall be in the machine room and operated by a machine automatic stopping device;

2.

If the final terminal limit switches are in the hoistway or on the car, the normal terminal stopping devices shall be in the machine room and operated by a machine automatic stopping device;

3.

If operated by polyphase alternating current and the car speed is in excess of 75 feet per minute, final stopping devices should be in the machine room and operated by a machine automatic stopping device and should open the elevator service circuit.

Exception: machines with direct current brakes and direct current main line switches operated by final terminal limit switches in the hoistways.

E.

Cams for limit switches. The cam or cams for operating limit switches shall be of sufficient length to hold the switches in the open position when the car is in contact with the overhead structure or is resting on the fully compressed buffers.

Exception: cams which operate nonautomatic reset limit switches.

F.

Magnetically operated contactors. Electric drum type elevators which are operated and/or controlled by magnetically operated contactors and which have a capacity speed in excess of 100 feet per minute, shall have independent motor control contactors operated by the normal and final terminal limit switches.

(Code 1967, § 49-126; Code 1985, § 46-146)