New Elevator and Escalator Safety Code Coming into Effect:Stay informed with Solucore
A new safety code is coming into effect for elevatorequipment in Ontario. Solucore continues to keep up to date with all safetycodes including the current CAN/CSA B44-2010, but these codes are about tochange. The new code: 2019 safety code under the Elevating Devices CodeAdoption Document Amendment 295/221.
This new safety code (CAN/CSA B44-2019) is also referred toas the Bi-National Standard for Canada and The United Sates of America. Whilethe USA and Canada’s code integration has been ongoing for years, the 2016 and2019 codes have been referred to by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) asthe Bi-National Standard. There will be major changes taking place.
What are the major changes taking place that you willnotice?
1. Thephone system will now be required to have a video interface with two-waycommunication for the people with audibility challenges. The idea is to have ascreen that will use text so that the person can reply back with “yes” or “no”answers.
2. Theinfrared door edge will now be required to work on three dimensions. Thesedevices in the past have been very unreliable in 3D as most of these units aredisabled to only work in two dimensions.
3. Thereis a new requirement to allow the elevators to act as a rescue/evacuationelevator.
What does this mean for your building or business?
If you modernized a parking shuttle or main passenger cars andplanned to modernize the remaining elevators in your building in the future,you may want to act quickly and award the work by no later than July 31, 2022.
It is suggested to modernize all of the elevators in yourbuilding. That way each elevator retains the same code reference. That way, youhave the same elevator code, fire requirement, communication requirement andsimilar features as the existing elevators, eliminating a whole host ofliabilities and headaches for you and your business.
It’simportant to note that there are many internal features and capabilities thatthe elevators will be able to execute with these new changes. These newrequirements include using elevators for fire rescue, which increases controllercosts. For these changes anticipate an additional cost of approximately $20,000per elevator in addition to communication and detector edge capabilities costs.
If you modernized the elevators and retained the machine,drive, or did not add floors (for cost saving) this is the time to award thework. On and after August 1, 2022, if you want to add these features that were previouslyomitted for cost saving measures, the whole system will need to be completelyre-modernized, which is costly.
When will these change take place?
For existing and new elevators being upgraded, any awards givenon August 1, 2022 and later, will have to comply with these new requirements.The code reads as follows:
New installations or alterationsubmissions received on or after August 1, 2022 which were sold while the prioradopted edition of ASME A17.1-2010/CSA B44-10 was (is) in effect may bepermitted to conform to the old code if evidence of a signed contract isforwarded to TSSA for review and approval.
The maintenance requirements ofSection 8.6 of ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44:19 are in effect January 1, 2023
How Can Solucore Help?
As experts in the field we can help you upgrade yourelevator system and reduce your costs before the code changes. We can alsodetermine if adopting the new code is beneficial for your building.
1https://www.tssa.org/en/elevating-devices/resources/ED-295-22-ED-CAD-Amendment-Final-20220124.pdf
