WSR 97-22-069

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[Filed November 4, 1997, 9:03 a.m., effective December 9, 1997]

Date of Adoption: November 4, 1997.

Purpose: To adopt material lift rules according to clear rule-writing techniques, chapter 296-93A WAC, Material lifts. Chapter 296-93 WAC, Material lifts, state-initiated revisions to chapter 296-93 WAC, Material lifts, are made to comply with RCW 34.05.220(5). Consequently, clear rule-writing techniques were used to rewrite the entire chapter. Following the recommendation of the Office of Code Reviser, chapter 296-93 WAC was repealed in its entirety and replaced with chapter 296-93A WAC.

Chapter 296-93A WAC, Material lifts, state-initiated clear rule-writing amendments to chapter 296-93A WAC, Material lifts, were made to:

Move existing chapter 296-93 WAC requirements into new sections in chapter 296-93A WAC.

Rewrite the rules in a clear rule-writing style.

Remove outdated and redundant language to make the rules easier to read.

Use questions for section titles to better describe the information contained in each rule section and to better engage the reader.

Use a less formal voice in the rules and eliminated the passive voice when possible.

Reorganize some rule sections to make them easier to use.

The following sections of chapter 296-93A WAC, Material lifts, which comprise the entire chapter, were rewritten in a clear rule-writing style without any substantive changes to their content:

WAC 296-93A-010 What is the purpose of this chapter?

WAC 296-93A-020 How must a hoistway enclosure be built to ensure proper construction and fire safety?

WAC 296-93A-030 How must hoistway enclosure gates and doors be constructed?

WAC 296-93A-040 What requirements apply to lift hoistways that do not extend to the lowest levels of a building or structure?

WAC 296-93A-050 What requirements apply to lift hoist driving machines?

WAC 296-93A-070 What car enclosure requirements apply to lifts?

WAC 296-93A-080 How much running clearance is permitted between a car sill and a hoistway face?

WAC 296-93A-090 What requirements apply to car and counterweight guides?

WAC 296-93A-100 How much weight can be placed on a car frame and platform during loading and unloading?

WAC 296-93A-120 What requirements apply to car operating devices, terminal stopping devices and electrical protective devices?

WAC 296-93A-140 What requirements apply to car safeties?

WAC 296-93A-150 What requirements apply to lift brakes?

WAC 296-93A-160 What type of ropes, chains and rope connections must be used on a lift?

WAC 296-93A-170 What requirements apply to lift control stations?

WAC 296-93A-190 How must lift pits be constructed?

WAC 296-93A-200 Which lift landings must be illuminated?

WAC 296-93A-210 What signs must be posted on landings and lifts?

WAC 296-93A-220 What electrical wiring standards apply to the construction of lifts?

WAC 296-93A-230 What safety regulations apply to exposed equipment?

WAC 296-93A-240 What are the minimum maintenance requirements for lifts?

WAC 296-93A-250 Is an installation permit required?

WAC 296-93A-260 When are inspections of new installations, alterations or relocations required?

WAC 296-93A-270 How frequently will lifts be inspected and tested?

WAC 296-93A-280 When is a material lift operating permit required?

WAC 296-93A-290 Under what conditions is a five-year test administered?

WAC 296-93A-300 When must plans for installations, alterations and relocations be submitted?

WAC 296-93A-330 Is an annual operating permit required for a material lift?

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing chapter 296-93 WAC, Material lifts, WAC 296-93-010 Scope, 296-93-020 Hoistway enclosures, 296-93-030 Hoistway enclosures gates and doors, 296-93-040 Hoistways that do not extend to the lowest area of a building or structure, 296-93-050 Driving machines and equipment, 296-93-070 Car enclosures, 296-93-080 Running clearance, 296-93-090 Car and counterweight guides, 296-93-100 Car loading, 296-93-120 Car operating and terminal stopping devices and electrical protective devices, 296-93-140 Car safeties, 296-93-150 Brakes, 296-93-160 Ropes and chains--Rope connections, data, and records, 296-93-170 Controls, 296-93-190 When material lift pit is provided, 296-93-200 Illumination of landings, 296-93-210 Capacity postings and no-rider sign, 296-93-220 Electrical wiring, 296-93-230 Guarding of exposed equipment, 296-93-240 Maintenance, 296-93-250 Installation permits, 296-93-260 New installation--Alteration or relocation, 296-93-270 Yearly inspections, 296-93-280 Operating permit, 296-93-290 Five-year tests, 296-93-300 Submission of plans for new installations, and 296-93-330 Annual operating permit fee.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.87.030.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 97-14-110 on July 2, 1997.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 27, amended 0, repealed 27.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 27, amended 0, repealed 27.

Effective Date of Rule: December 9, 1997.

October 23, 1997

Gary Moore

Director

REPEALER

The following chapter of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 296-93-010 Scope.

WAC 296-93-020 Hoistway enclosures.

WAC 296-93-030 Hoistway enclosure gates and doors.

WAC 296-93-040 Hoistways that do not extend to the lowest area of a building or structure.

WAC 296-93-050 Driving machines and equipment.

WAC 296-93-070 Car enclosures.

WAC 296-93-080 Running clearance.

WAC 296-93-090 Car and counterweight guides.

WAC 296-93-100 Car loading.

WAC 296-93-120 Car operating and terminal stopping devices and electrical protective devices.

WAC 296-93-140 Car safeties.

WAC 296-93-150 Brakes.

WAC 296-93-160 Ropes and chains--Rope connections, data, and records.

WAC 296-93-170 Controls.

WAC 296-93-190 When material lift pit is provided.

WAC 296-93-200 Illumination of landings.

WAC 296-93-210 Capacity posting and no-riders sign.

WAC 296-93-220 Electrical wiring.

WAC 296-93-230 Guarding of exposed equipment.

WAC 296-93-240 Maintenance.

WAC 296-93-250 Installation permit.

WAC 296-93-260 New installation--Alteration or relocation.

WAC 296-93-270 Yearly inspections.

WAC 296-93-280 Operating permit.

WAC 296-93-290 Five-year tests.

WAC 296-93-300 Submission of plans for new installations.

WAC 296-93-330 Annual operating permit fee.

MATERIAL LIFTS

NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-010 What is the purpose of this chapter? (1) This chapter defines a "material lift" as a fixed stationary conveyance that:

(a) Has a car or platform moving in guides;

(b) Serves two or more floors of a building or structure;

(c) Has a vertical rise of at least five feet and no more than sixty feet;

(d) Has a maximum speed of fifty feet per minute;

(e) Is not part of a conveying system but is an isolated self-contained lift;

(f) Travels only in an inclined or vertical direction;

(g) Is operated or supervised by an individual designated by the employer;

(h) Is installed in a commercial or industrial area not accessible to the general public; and

(i) Must comply with chapter 296-24 WAC (General safety and health standards).

(2) This chapter attempts to ensure that material lifts will not carry people and that people working near them will not be endangered by their operation or failure. It establishes requirements for the construction, installation, and operation of material lifts. It allows certain conveyances designed solely to transport material and equipment to be constructed to less stringent and costly standards than ASME/ANSI A17.1.

(3) This chapter does not apply to conveyances that lack a car (platform) and utilize rollers, belts, tracks, power conveyors, or similar carrying (loading) surfaces. (See ASME/ANSI B20.1.)

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-020 How must a hoistway enclosure be built to ensure proper construction and fire safety? Generally, hoistway enclosure construction is governed by local codes and ordinances. When not in conflict with a local code requirement, the enclosure must:

(1) Be built to a height of seven feet above each floor, landing and adjacent stairway tread.

(2) Extend (adjacent to the counterweights) the full height of the floor and eight inches beyond the counterweight raceway.

(3) Be constructed of either solid material or material with openings that do not exceed two inches in diameter.

The enclosure must be supported and braced so that it does not deflect more than one inch when subjected to a force of one hundred pounds applied perpendicularly at any point.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-030 How must hoistway enclosure gates and doors be constructed? Enclosure gates (doors) must be constructed according to the following standards:

(1) Guard the full width of each opening on every landing.

(2) Be built in one of the following styles:

(a) Vertically sliding.

(b) Bi-parting.

(c) Counter-balanced.

(d) Horizontally swinging.

(e) Horizontally sliding.

(3) Be constructed of either solid material or material with openings that do not exceed two inches in diameter.

(4) Be constructed with a distance of not more than two and one-half inches between a hoistway gate or hoistway door face and a landing sill edge.

(5) Be designed and guided to withstand (without being broken, permanently deformed, or displaced from their guides or tracks) a one hundred pound lateral pressure applied near their center.

(6) Employ a combination mechanical lock and electrical contact which prevents the operation of the lift when the doors or gates are open.

(7) Construct balanced type vertically sliding gates that extend no more than two inches from the landing threshold and no less than sixty-six inches above it.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-040 What requirements apply to lift hoistways that do not extend to the lowest levels of a building or structure? If the space directly below the hoistway is accessible, the following requirements must apply:

(1) All lift counterweights must have safeties.

(2) All cars and counterweights must have either spring or oil buffers.

(3) Spring buffers must not fully compress when struck by a car carrying its rated load or by the counterweights when they are moving at the following speeds:

(a) For safeties operated by a governor, the tripping speed of the governor is the maximum striking speed.

(b) For safeties not operated by a governor, one hundred twenty-five percent of the rated speed is the maximum striking speed.

(4) Car and counterweight-buffer supports must be able to withstand any impact upon the buffer (without permanent deformation) while occurring at the following speeds:

(a) For safeties operated by a governor, the tripping speed of the governor at the rated capacity is the maximum impact speed.

(b) For safeties not operated by a governor, one hundred twenty-five percent of the rated speed is the maximum impact speed.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-050 What requirements apply to lift hoist driving machines? (1) Lift hoist driving machines must be one of the following types:

(a) Winding drum.

(b) Traction.

(c) Direct plunger.

(d) Hydraulic.

(e) Roped or chained hydraulic.

(f) Rack and pinion.

(g) Roller chain drive.

(h) Scissors.

(i) Screw.

(2) Overhead mounted driving machines must either be secured to the top of overhead beams or supported by the floor above. Driving machines cannot be suspended by hooks, cables, chains or similar devices.

(3) For traction machines, the diameter of drive sheaves cannot be less than thirty times the diameter of the hoisting cables. The diameters of all other sheaves cannot be less than twenty-one times this diameter.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-070 What car enclosure requirements apply to lifts? Lift cars must have their sides enclosed with solid panels or openwork that will reject a two-inch diameter ball. On the car sides where there is no door (gate), the enclosure must extend to a height of at least forty-eight inches from the floor. On the car side next to the counterweight runway, the enclosure must extend vertically to the car top or underside of the car crosshead and horizontally to at least six inches on each side of the runway.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-080 How much running clearance is permitted between a car sill and a hoistway face? Running clearance between a car sill and a hoistway face must not exceed two inches.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-090 What requirements apply to car and counterweight guides? Car and counterweight guide rails must be fastened so they will not deflect more than one-eighth inch. They must also be strong enough to withstand, without deformation, the application of a car safety when the car is carrying its rated load and traveling at its rated speed.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-100 How much weight can be placed on a car frame and platform during loading and unloading? Car frames and platforms must be designed and constructed to withstand the impact of the maximum weight encountered during loading and unloading.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-120 What requirements apply to car operating devices, terminal stopping devices and electrical protective devices? If electrically operated, such devices must be enclosed. On lifts driven by winding drum machines, there must be a slack rope device employing an enclosed electric switch (manually reset type) which halts power to the drum and brake when the hoisting rope becomes slack.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-140 What requirements apply to car safeties? (1) Car safeties must be used on all material lifts which are suspended by wire ropes or chains. They must be able to stop and sustain a car carrying one hundred twenty-five percent of its rated load.

(2) On lifts driven by rack and pinion machines:

(a) Car safeties will consist of a freely rotating safety pinion, an overspeed governor and a safety device which may be mounted on the car.

(b) The rotating pinion driving the overspeed governor will travel on a stationary rack which is vertically mounted in the hoistway.

(c) The governor will actuate the safety device when the downward speed of the car reaches the tripping speed and will bring the car to a gradual stop.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-150 What requirements apply to lift brakes? On electric lifts, brakes must engage by springs and must release electronically. All brakes must have the ability to stop a car and hold it at rest while the car is carrying one hundred twenty-five percent of its rated load. At least one brake must be mounted on the worm shaft of the driving machine. On indirectly-driven lifts, brakes must engage when the driving mechanism fails.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-160 What type of ropes, chains and rope connections must be used on a lift? (1) The following general requirements apply:

(a) Iron (low carbon steel) or steel wire ropes with fiber cores must be used to suspend cars and counterweights.

(b) The minimum safety factor for suspension ropes must be six times the manufacturer's rated breaking strength per rope.

(c) The car, the counterweight end of the car and the counterweight wire ropes (or the stationary hitch ends where multiple roping is used) must be fastened so that the looped ends of the turned back portion in the rope sockets are clearly visible. Fastenings must either be:

(i) Individual tapered, babbitted rope sockets; or

(ii) Other types of department approved rope fastenings.

(d) Rope sockets must develop at least eighty percent of the breaking strength of the strongest rope used in the sockets.

(e) U-bolt rope clips (clamps) cannot be used for load fastenings.

(f) A metal or plastic data tag must be securely attached to one of the wire rope fastenings each time the ropes are replaced or reshackled. The data tag must include:

(i) The diameter of the ropes in inches; and

(ii) The manufacturer's rated breaking strength.

(g) All replacements of wire rope or chain must be in accordance with the lift manufacturer's specifications.

(2) The following requirements apply to specific types of material lifts:

(a) Traction type lifts, must use at least three hoisting ropes.

(b) Lifts suspended by hoisting chains: The owner, operator and installer must comply with the chain manufacturer's specifications for maintenance, inspection, and application.

(c) Lifts using roller chain type lifting chains, must use chains with a six-to-one safety factor based on the ASME/ANSI minimum (not average) chain strength.

(d) Drum type lifts, must use either at least two hoisting ropes or a secondary, as well as, a primary load path to the hoist must be employed. Also, the cable secured to the drum must be at least one and one-half turns around the drum when the carrier is at its extreme limit of travel.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-170 What requirements apply to lift control stations? Lift control stations must be located out of reach of the lift car. They must have controls which are permanently and clearly labeled by function. The controls must have a stop switch which will halt electrical power to the driving machine and brake. This stop switch must:

(1) Be manually operated; and

(2) Have red operating handles or buttons; and

(3) Be conspicuously and permanently marked "STOP"; and

(4) Clearly indicate the stop and run position.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-190 How must lift pits be constructed? Lift pits must:

(1) Have noncombustible floors.

(2) Be designed to prevent the entry of ground water into the pit.

(3) Have floors that are approximately level.

(4) Have drains that are not directly connected to sewers.

(5) Provide safe and convenient access to the pit.

(6) Provide an approved ladder for pits deeper than three feet.

(7) Have nonperforated metal guards installed on the open sides of the counterweights where spring, solid or oil type buffers are attached. These guards must:

(a) Extend from a point not more than twelve inches above the pit floor to a point not less than seven feet or more than eight feet above the floor.

(b) Be fastened to a properly reinforced and braced metal frame which will be at least equal in strength and stiffness to No. 14 U.S. gauge sheet steel.

(c) Be omitted on the pit side where compensating chains or ropes are attached to the counterweight.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-200 Which lift landings must be illuminated? All landings must be illuminated.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-210 What signs must be posted on landings and lifts? Each lift must have the following two signs:

(1) A "capacity" sign permanently fastened in the lift car and on each landing. This sign must indicate the rated load of the lift in pounds and be made of metal with two-inch high black letters on a yellow background.

(2) A "no riders" sign conspicuously and permanently fastened on the landing side of all hoistway gates (doors) and in the enclosure of each car. This sign must be made of metal with two-inch high black letters on a red background.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-220 What electrical wiring standards apply to the construction of lifts? All electrical wiring, installations, and equipment in hoistways and machine rooms must conform to the 1984 edition of the National Electrical Code.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-230 What safety regulations apply to exposed equipment? Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act standards (WAC 296-24-150) require that guards, to protect against accidental code, must cover all exposed gears, sprockets, sheaves, drums, ropes and chains.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-240 What are the minimum maintenance requirements for lifts? All owners of lifts described in this chapter, or their designated agent, are responsible for the maintenance of their lifts and parts. Minimum maintenance requirements are:

(1) All lifts described in this chapter, and their parts, must be maintained in a safe condition.

(2) All devices and safeguards required by this chapter must be maintained in good working order.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-250 Is an installation permit required? Lift installers:

(1) Before erecting, installing, relocating, or altering any material lift must obtain a department permit. (See WAC 296-86-090, Material lift installation, alteration and relocation fees, for the cost of the permit.)

(2) Before erecting, installing, relocating or altering any material lift must complete, in duplicate, a permit application form and receive department approval.

(3) Conspicuously post the permit at the installation site.

Lift installers do not need a permit to perform normal maintenance, repairs and part replacements when the replacement parts are equivalent to the original parts in material, strength, and design.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-260 When are inspections of new installations, alterations or relocations required? Inspections are required for each lift installation, alteration or relocation. Inspections must be conducted after the job is completed but before the lift is placed into service. The purpose of the inspection is to determine if the completed job satisfies the requirements of this chapter. The inspection must include testing the lifts safety devices at one hundred twenty-five percent of load capacity.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-270 How frequently will lifts be inspected and tested? The department's inspectors must inspect and test all material lifts at least once a year. To conduct their inspections and tests, department inspectors have the right, during reasonable hours, to enter into and upon any building or premises. Department inspectors will conduct their inspections and tests according to the requirements of this chapter.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-280 When is a material lift operating permit required? An operating permit, conspicuously posted near the lift, is required for each material lift operated in Washington state. Lift installers are not required to purchase operating permits while a lift is being erected.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-290 Under what conditions is a five-year test administered? A five-year test of the lift car and counterweight safety devices must be conducted under the following conditions:

(1) The test will be conducted by qualified people. A qualified person is either the representative of a firm that manufacturers, installs or services material lifts or a person approved by the department.

(2) The car and counterweight safety devices must be tested while the car is carrying a capacity load.

(3) A report of the test results must be submitted to the department for approval.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-300 When must plans for installations, alterations and relocations be submitted? All plans must be submitted, in duplicate, to the department for approval before the installation, alteration, or relocation begins. The department's fee for checking plans is shown in WAC 296-86-050.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 296-93A-330 Is an annual operating permit required for a material lift? An annual operating permit is required for each material lift in operation. The annual fee is shown in WAC 296-86-060. No operating permit will be issued until this fee has been paid.