Section 330. Chapter 30 Elevators and conveying systems

A. Change Section 3002.4 of the IBC to read:

3002.4 Elevator car to accommodate ambulance stretcher. Where elevators are provided in buildings four or more stories above, or four or more stories below, grade plane, at least one elevator shall be provided for fire department emergency access to all floors. The elevator car shall be of such a size and arrangement to accommodate an ambulance stretcher 24 inches by 84 inches (610 mm by 2134 mm) with not less than five-inch (127 mm) radius corners, in the horizontal, open position and shall be identified by the international symbol for emergency medical services (star of life). The symbol shall not be less than three inches (76 mm) high and shall be placed inside on both sides of the hoistway door frame on the designated and alternate landing floors required to be established by ASME A17.1.

Exception: Elevators in multistory dwelling units or guest rooms.

B. Change Section 3003.3 of the IBC to read:

3003.3 Fire service elevator keys. All elevators shall be equipped to operate with either a standardized or non-standardized fire service elevator key in accordance with the IFC.

C. Change Section 3006.4 of the IBC to read:

3006.4 Machine and control rooms, control spaces, and machinery spaces. Elevator machine rooms, rooms and spaces housing elevator controllers, and machinery spaces shall be enclosed with fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire-resistance rating shall not be less than the required rating of the hoistway enclosure. Openings in the fire barriers shall be protected with assemblies having a fire protection rating not less than that required for the hoistway enclosure doors.

Exception: In buildings four stories or less above grade plane when elevator machine rooms, rooms and spaces housing elevator controllers, and machinery spaces do not abut and have no openings to the hoistway enclosure they serve, the elevator machine rooms, rooms and spaces housing elevator controllers, and machinery spaces are not required to be fire-resistance rated.

D. Add Section 3006.7 to the IBC to read:

3006.7 Machine-room-less designs. Where machine-room-less designs are utilized they shall comply with the provisions of ASME A17.1 and incorporate the following:

1. Where the elevator car-top will be used as a work platform, it shall be equipped with permanently installed guards on all open sides. Guards shall be permitted to be of collapsible design, but otherwise must conform to all applicable requirements of this code for guards.

2. Where the equipment manufacturer's procedures for machinery removal and replacement depend on overhead structural support or lifting points, such supports or lifting points shall be permanently installed at the time of initial equipment installation.

3. Where the structure that the elevator will be located in is required to be fully sprinklered by this code, the hoistway that the elevator machine is located in shall be equipped with a fire suppression system as a machine room in accordance with NFPA 13. Smoke detectors for the automatic initiation of Phase I Emergency Recall Operation, and heat detectors or other approved devices that automatically disconnect the main line power supply to the elevators, shall be installed within the hoistway.

E. Change Section 3008.1 of the IBC to read:

3008.1 General. Where elevators in buildings greater than 420 feet (128 016 mm) in building height are to be used for occupant self-evacuation during fires, all passenger elevators for general public use shall comply with this section.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 03, eff. November 16, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 14, eff. May 1, 2008; Volume 27, Issue 02, eff. March 1, 2011; Change in Effective Date, 27:5 VA.R. 534 November 8, 2010; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. July 14, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 36-98 of the Code of Virginia.