Ensure Your Elevator Systems Are Up To Code and Meet All Required Guidelines
Elevator guidelines can be a source of confusion; code requirements vary from state to state and building to building. Boston businesses, as well as those in other cities across New England, rely heavily on elevators to operate smoothly and provide convenience to their employees and guests. Elevators also pose serious risks if they aren’t serviced properly. An estimated 10,200 people are injured in elevator accidents every year, which has prompted the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations and Boston building regulators to implement stricter standards in recent years.
All contractors must be aware of the regulations before installing an elevator in any building in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island. Here are some issues that you need to be aware of.
Elevator Regulations Contractors Must Understand
Sections 62-71G of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 143 allow the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations to oversee and enforce rules governing the installation, maintenance and operation of all elevators in the state of Massachusetts. Other New England locales follow similar elevator guidelines. Here is an overview of some of the most important policies contractors must be aware of before installing an elevator.
Elevators Must Be Installed by a Registered Elevator Contractor
Only registered elevator contractors are allowed to install commercial building elevators, or even residential elevators. According to the most recent data available from the Department of Public Safety, Stanley Elevator is one of only 98 elevator contractors licensed, compared to over 12,000 general contractors, in Massachusetts alone. General contractors must subcontract the work to licensed elevator contractors in order to pass inspection.
Each Elevator Must Have a Separate Machine Room and Control Room
All elevators in Massachusetts must have a separate control room. This requirement applies to both elevators in private residences and those available to the general public.
There are several protocols that must be met for a control room to meet compliance standards:
- It cannot serve any other purpose
- It must meet state fire codes
- It must pass a separate test every time the elevator is up for inspection
These regulations are outlined under 524 CMR 13.00 and can be modified only by the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations.
Elevator Alterations Must Be Approved by the Elevator Regulator and the Dept. of Public Safety
According to 524 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 10.00, all alterations to any elevator must be approved by the Board of Elevator Regulations. Such alterations include:
- Replacement of ropes, hoistway doors or car enclosures
- Addition of rope equalizers, rope fastening devices, roller guide shoes or hoistway locking devices
- Modifications to guide rails
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Safety, Elevator Division must also issue a permit before any work can commence.
Every Elevator Must Pass Regular Tests
The Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations regularly inspects all elevators in the state to ensure they meet compliance standards. Systems in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine also undergo regular inspections by their respective boards. Elevators in buildings open to the general public and multi-family residences must pass inspection every year. Elevators in single family residences must pass a test every five years.
Worried About an Upcoming Elevator Inspection?
Stanley Elevator can help ease your concerns and ensure all elevator guidelines are met, safety codes are adhered to, and required modernizations and repairs are completed in a timely manner while minimizing downtime and operational impact. Call 1-800-258-1016 today to learn why New England property owners and building managers have relied on Stanley Elevator for over 70 years.