§ 14-16-83. Hoistway door or gate electric contacts and mechanical locks.

A.

Recognized systems. This chapter recognizes two systems of hoistway door or gate electric contacts:

1.

The door unit system, in which the contact is arranged to prevent the operation of the car by the operating devices unless the hoistway door or gate at which the car is standing is closed in position to be locked;

2.

The hoistway unit system, in which the contacts are arranged to prevent the operation of the car by the operating devices unless all the hoistway doors or gates are closed in position to be locked.

Exception: the opening of the contact shall not prevent the operation of the car by the operating device when the emergency release is in temporary use, nor when the car is being moved within the leveling zone by a car-leveling device.

Note: no electrically released gravity or spring applied rope gripper or lock to prevent the movement of the operating rope or rod shall be recognized as a component device in any hoistway door or gate electric contact system, except where the elevator may be operated only for the car and when the operating devices are inaccessible from the landing side of the hoistway doors or gates when the same are in the closed position.

B.

Door unit system. The door unit system may be used only when there is a regular operator on the car and where the car can be operated only from inside the car.

C.

Sliding hoistway doors. Sliding hoistway doors or gates provided with contacts and mechanical locks shall be considered in the closed position when within two inches of full closure (and the car may be started), provided the mechanical locks are equipped with double hook or multiple hook latches which are arranged to prevent opening the doors or gates more than two inches after the car has left the landing zone.

Note: mechanical locks which are not provided with the double hook or multiple hook latches are acceptable only if they are of a type that have the hoistway door or gate locked in the closed position before the contact circuit is closed.

D.

Swinging or combination hoistway doors. Swinging or combination slide and swing hoistway doors or gates provided with contacts and mechanical locks shall be considered in the closed position when within one inch of full closure (and the car may be started), provided the mechanical locks are equipped with double or multiple hook latches which are arranged to prevent opening the hoistway doors or gates more than one inch after the car has left the landing zone.

E.

Design of hoistway electric contacts. Hoistway door or gate electric contacts shall be designed so that they are positively opened by the locking bar, or by a level, or by some other device attached to and operated by the door or gate. The functioning of a hoistway door or gate electric contact to prevent the movement of the car by the operating devices shall not be dependent solely on the action of a spring or springs, nor solely on gravity, nor shall it be dependent on the closing of an electric circuit. If springs are used, they shall be in compression. The interruption of the electric circuit shall prevent the movement of the car by the operating devices.

F.

Inaccessible contacts and locks. Contacts and mechanical locks shall be so located as to be normally inaccessible from the landing side of the closed hoistway doors or gates.

G.

Mechanical locks for hoistway doors. Mechanical locks shall prevent the opening of the hoistway doors or gates from the landing side unless the car is within the landing zone, except as permitted by subsections C and D of this section and except by emergency keys, if provided, as permitted by section 14-16-89.

(Code 1967, § 49-133; Code 1985, § 46-153)