Thursday, July 29, 2010

Compliance News: New and Existing Elevators

By Robert Trotter, CBO, CFM


According to the 2000 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® elevators in all occupancies must comply with Section 9.4 which addresses general requirements, code compliance, fire fighters’ service, number of cars, elevator machine rooms, elevator testing, and openings. The Joint Commission’s 2010 Hospital Accreditation Standards for Life Safety have specific Elements of Performance for new and existing healthcare occupancies and ambulatory healthcare occupancies. LS.02.01.50 EP 4 and LS.03.01.50 EP 1 require new elevators to be equipped with the following:

• Fire fighters’ service key recall
• Smoke detector automatic recall
• Fire fighters’ service emergency in-car key operation
• Machine room smoke detectors
• Elevator lobby smoke detectors

Existing elevators that have a travel distance of 25 feet or more above or below the level that best serves the needs of fire fighters shall also meet these requirements.

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