A New Elevator Safety Code

While new elevator technologies are available and in use globally, building professionals may be unable to deploy them due to limitations imposed by the current Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.1/CSA B44 (see Code Chat, below).

But, when the Performance-Based Safety Code (PBC) is adopted across all jurisdictions in the United States and Canada, it will allow building professionals to keep pace with elevator technology while maintaining or exceeding the safety requirements under ASME A17.1/CSA B44. Instead of having to meet prescriptive safety requirements like those in the existing code, the PBC requires that all elevator designs meet global essential safety requirements (GESRs), which provide safety objectives, but also provide flexibility in how those objectives are met. This new code will address:

Safety. There will be numerous review processes to verify the safety of a new technology. Elevators will continue to maintain a stellar safety record while allowing state-of-the-art technology to be applied to the designs. New safety measures, such as sophisticated braking systems, laser sensors, and advanced speed governors, which may not be addressed by the original prescriptive code, will increase elevator safety. There will be numerous review processes to verify the safety of a new technology. Elevators will continue to maintain a stellar safety record while allowing state-of-the-art technology to be applied to the designs. New safety measures, such as sophisticated braking systems, laser sensors, and advanced speed governors, which may not be addressed by the original prescriptive code, will increase elevator safety.

Speed/capacity. Speed, capacity, and efficiency are limited by current codes because designers must utilize specified building materials, control devices, and driving machines. The PBC will allow elevators manufactured with strong, lightweight synthetic or composite materials; high-tech, computerized control devices; and evolutionary drive designs. These advances will allow for lighter and faster elevators that are capable of safely moving more passengers in less time. Speed, capacity, and efficiency are limited by current codes because designers must utilize specified building materials, control devices, and driving machines. The PBC will allow elevators manufactured with strong, lightweight synthetic or composite materials; high-tech, computerized control devices; and evolutionary drive designs. These advances will allow for lighter and faster elevators that are capable of safely moving more passengers in less time.

Comfort. The use of advanced building materials, controls, and drives will enable faster, more comfortable transportation. Aerodynamic designs, lightweight building materials, and advanced speed controls allow for extremely smooth starting and stopping, and whisper-quiet operation. Many new designs also incorporate aesthetically pleasing lighting systems and high-tech monitors to view news or important messages. Elevator designs will be more customizable to fit the building and its population. The use of advanced building materials, controls, and drives will enable faster, more comfortable transportation. Aerodynamic designs, lightweight building materials, and advanced speed controls allow for extremely smooth starting and stopping, and whisper-quiet operation. Many new designs also incorporate aesthetically pleasing lighting systems and high-tech monitors to view news or important messages. Elevator designs will be more customizable to fit the building and its population.

Accessibility. New designs will allow for increased accessibility. One advance is the development of destination-orientated elevators. These systems require passengers to enter the destination floor on a device in the lobby. The passenger is then directed to the elevator that will provide the most direct and fastest transportation. New designs will allow for increased accessibility. One advance is the development of destination-orientated elevators. These systems require passengers to enter the destination floor on a device in the lobby. The passenger is then directed to the elevator that will provide the most direct and fastest transportation.

Energy efficiency. A high-tech elevator system can positively affect the bottom line since new systems are substantially more energy efficient, require less space, and should be more reliable. New technologies, including advanced motors and drives, lighter materials, and sophisticated control software, can reduce elevator energy use by up to 40 percent and eliminate waste byproducts. A high-tech elevator system can positively affect the bottom line since new systems are substantially more energy efficient, require less space, and should be more reliable. New technologies, including advanced motors and drives, lighter materials, and sophisticated control software, can reduce elevator energy use by up to 40 percent and eliminate waste byproducts.

Space savings. The demand for space-saving elevator shaft and machine room designs has led to machine room-less elevator systems with control hardware housed in a small, easy-access cabinet or built into the shaft. To save space and provide increased capacity, elevators are beginning to use multiple cars in single shafts. The most common utilizes a "double-decker" elevator car with entrance doors on two floors of a building at one time. New technology also allows for two independently operating elevator cars to move within the same shaft. The demand for space-saving elevator shaft and machine room designs has led to machine room-less elevator systems with control hardware housed in a small, easy-access cabinet or built into the shaft. To save space and provide increased capacity, elevators are beginning to use multiple cars in single shafts. The most common utilizes a "double-decker" elevator car with entrance doors on two floors of a building at one time. New technology also allows for two independently operating elevator cars to move within the same shaft.

Reliability. New or modernized elevator systems are more reliable, requiring less out-of-service time and establishing lower maintenance costs. Some new systems offer offsite monitoring, which allows a problem to be identified and corrected before the customer realizes it. Building management will be able to spend less time and money repairing elevators, and guests will feel less frustrated by out-of-service elevators. New or modernized elevator systems are more reliable, requiring less out-of-service time and establishing lower maintenance costs. Some new systems offer offsite monitoring, which allows a problem to be identified and corrected before the customer realizes it. Building management will be able to spend less time and money repairing elevators, and guests will feel less frustrated by out-of-service elevators.