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Questions Submitted to the Bureau of Elevator Safety for
the January 2005 Elevator Association of Florida meeting –
including the
Bureau’s answers
Question 1:
If a control manufacturer installs his designed control
system in an elevator and 15 years later tells the Bureau that the control
has been changed without a permit, in spite of the outward appearance,
what is the result?
Answer: The Controller - A device or group of devices, which
serves to control in a predeterminate manner that to which it is
connected.
The ASME A17.1 code speaks to devices and not programs in
Section 1200.
If the replacement program performs in the exact
predeterminate manner as the original devices program, no alteration
permit is needed.
It would be the original manufactures responsibility to
provide proof that the replacement program does not perform identically.
If this were proven, an alteration permit would be required and would then
require a Certified Elevator Inspector to inspect and make sure that the
unit is code compliant.
Question 2:
a) We were told by Broward County that we did not have to
have a pressure test on a two stop hydraulic wheelchair lift but I have
been told before by other representatives of the State that we do have to
do that test and have it witnessed by a QEI . Which is correct?
Answer: The periodic tests required by Section 10.3 of ASME A18.1
(1999) should be witnessed as required by Section 10.1.2.3.
b) If the pressure test is required, how does
the State differentiate between hydraulic wheelchair lifts and those that
are screw driven, as all wheelchair lifts are lumped into Category 18 -
Inclined and Vertical Wheelchair Lift?
Answer: Section 10.2 and 10.3 of ASME A18 addresses the test
requirements for hydraulic and screw drive wheelchair lifts.
Question 3: My 3rd party elevator inspectors says I still need to
have my elevators "witnessed" every year even though they are two stop
hydraulic units and under a full maintenance contract. Please clarify this
once and for all. The 399.061 code states that (routine) inspections are
not required (2 stop units) as long as they remain under a full service
contract. The A17 code does not use the term "Witnessing" although the
term is commonly used to refer to the "Rule 1002.2 1-year Inspection and
Test requirements". Additionally, the Bureau’s Industry Information
Bulletin (No. 2001-08 October 22, 2001) states in paragraph five that "all
conveyances maintained under a continuous service contract must be
inspected once every two years by a Certified Elevator Inspector", - then
Bulletin (N0. 2000-06 November 7, 2000) adds the sentence excluding two
stop elevators covered by a service contract from any inspections. Please
clarify.
Answer: Periodic tests are required to be performed by the
registered elevator company as a part of its full maintenance contract (FAC
61C-5.013(1)(b).
A written record of the results is required to be
maintained in the elevator equipment room (FAC 61C-5.013(1)(d).
Question 4: I have several elevators that are no longer in use. I
would like to save some money and not purchase the Certificate of
Operation or have the units inspected until such time that the elevators
are needed (may be several years). What is the proper way to remove these
units from service? It makes no sense to put them into Temporary Dormant
status as this still requires an annual inspection and a C/O. What is the
purpose of Temporary Dormant? The description (Chapter 399.01(13)) states
the dormant status can be renewed on an annual basis for up to five years.
Why would an owner want this status if it still requires a C/O and annual
inspections plus adds the requirement that the dormant status "seal" can
only be removed with permission of the elevator inspector? If it is not
intended for owners’ use, then why the sentence about renewing the status?
Answer: The proper way to remove elevators from service is
outlined in ASME A17.1, Section 3 (page 9) "Installation placed out of
service".
Due to the fact that the majority of elevators are taken
out of service (sealed) at the owners request and not because of a safety
issue, the Bureau currently places a seal on the main line disconnect
which allows the elevator to be sealed and unsealed. The Bureau visits the
site on an annual basis to determine that the seal is still intact. No
certificate fee is assessed after "seal" status is logged into our
database.
Question 5: Regarding testing and witnessing the fire alarm and shunt
trip (heat detector) devices as they interact with the elevators, I would
like to hire an elevator inspector to witness the testing of all devices
at the beginning of the year. This is more convenient as I must coordinate
this testing with our fire alarm company. Later, when the actual
inspection/witnessing becomes due for the elevators (they are scheduled
throughout year) the elevator inspector will have to rely on a test that
was performed months prior. It will most likely not be the same elevator
inspector witnessing the fire alarm devices as witnessing the elevator
tests. Is it permissible to use two different elevator inspectors where
one inspector must accept the witnessing (of fire alarm testing) of the
other inspector? If inspector "A" witnesses the fire alarm test and signs
off that the test passed – can inspector "B" refuse to pass the elevator
inspection without personally witnessing all tests (i.e. the fire alarm
portion)?
Answer: As long as periodic tests do not exceed 365 days and a
written record of these tests are maintained in the elevator equipment
room (FAC 61C-5.013(1)(d) multiple certified elevator inspectors may be
used.
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