Fire Protection - hdbk109220040106

DOE-HDBK-1092-2004

requirements for existing elevators and escalators and shall be referenced when existing

installations are to be modified or to determine which modifications shall be made to existing

installations and equipment to maintain optimum safety. The following lists typical key electrical

requirements from ANSI/ASME A17.1 that the designer shall control over and above those from

the NEC.

1. Access to elevator equipment is to be controlled and limited to authorized persons.

2. Elevator equipment cannot share space with other building equipment except when the

elevator equipment is separated from other equipment, enclosed by a rigid wire fence, and

provided with a lock that is strictly for that enclosure.

3. Only electrical wiring, including raceways and cables, used directly in connection with the

elevator, including wiring for (a) signals, (b) communication with the car, (c) lighting, heating,

air conditioning, and ventilating the car, (d) fire-detecting systems, (e) pit sump pumps, and

(f) heating and lighting the hoist way may be installed in the hoist way.

4. A minimum lighting level of 108 lux for the equipment rooms and spaces and 541 lux on the

floor of the pit is required. The basis for the specified illumination level should be in

accordance with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) lighting handbook.

5. A stop switch (emergency stop) is required in each elevator pit at the access door to the pit.

If the pit exceeds 6 feet 7 inches, a second switch is required adjacent to the ladder. The

two switches will be connected in series.

6. Car lighting shall consist of a minimum of two lamps to be supplied by a dedicated circuit

with a lock-open disconnect in the equipment room.

7. A 115-V, 20-A receptacle shall be provided in all equipment spaces and in the pit.

8. A phase-reversal protection shall be provided to ensure that the elevator motor cannot start

if the phase rotation is in the wrong direction or if there is a failure of any phase.

9. Capacitors and other devices whose failure could cause unsafe elevator operation are

prohibited; only devices specified by the NEC or the manufacturer may be installed.

6.3.5

FIRE PROTECTION

The electrical designer shall coordinate with the manufacturer the design of the fire protection

systems that connect to the elevator control panel. The system will be designed to return the car

to a designated area (normally the first floor or lobby) in the event of smoke or fire in the

equipment area or near the elevators. In that event, the car returns to a designated area where

passengers can safely exit the facility. In addition to coordinating car control, the system

provides for the shutdown of the electrical elevator equipment prior to operation of the sprinklers

and the transmission of the alarm and provides a means for the firefighters to assume manual

control of the elevator from the designated area. The requirements for these systems are

detailed in ANSI/ASME A17.1.

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