Section 3003 Elevator Emergency Operations

In buildings and structures where standby power is required or furnished to operate an elevator, the operation shall be in accordance with Sections 3002.4.1 and 3003.1.1 through 3003.1.4.

Standby power shall be manually transferable to all elevators in each bank.

Where only one elevator is installed, the elevator shall automatically transfer to standby power within 60 seconds after failure of normal power.

Where two or more elevators are controlled by a common operating system, all elevators shall automatically transfer to standby power within 60 seconds after failure of normal power where the standby power source is of sufficient capacity to operate all elevators at the same time. Where the standby power source is not of sufficient capacity to operate all elevators at the same time, all elevators shall transfer to standby power in sequence, return to the designated landing and disconnect from the standby power source. After all elevators have been returned to the designated level, at least three elevators shall remain operable from the standby power source.

Where standby power is connected to elevators, the machine room ventilation or air conditioning shall be connected to the standby power source.

Elevators shall be provided with Phase I emergency recall operation and Phase II emergency in-car operation in accordance with ASME A17.1 as modified by Appendix K.

Requirements for elevator in readiness shall be as defined in Sections 3003.3.1 through 3003.3.2.

Except as provided in Section 3003.3.2, in buildings five stories in height or more, underground buildings as described in Section 405.1, and high-rise buildings, all floors shall be served by at least one elevator that shall be kept available for immediate use by the Fire Department during all hours of the night and day, including holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. There shall be available at all times a person competent to operate the elevator. However, an attendant shall not be required for buildings with occupied floors of 150 feet (45 720 mm) or less above the lowest level of the Fire Department vehicle access that have elevators with automatic or continuous pressure operation with keyed switches meeting the requirements of ASME A17.1 as modified by Appendix K so as to permit sole use of the elevators by the Fire Department.

A number of elevators shall be kept available at every floor for the sole use of the Fire Department as required by Sections 3003.3.2.1 and 3003.3.2.2. This requirement shall apply to the following types of buildings:

1. High-rise buildings with occupancies classified in Groups A, B, E, I, F, H, M and S;
2. Buildings with Group B occupancies with a gross area of 200,000 square feet (18 581 m²); and
3. Buildings with a main use or dominant occupancy in Group R-1 or R-2.

Exception: In buildings that are five stories or more in height but are not one of the types of buildings described in Items 1 through 3 in Section 3003.3.2, at least one elevator car in such buildings shall be kept available for sole use by the Fire Department.

Where a floor is serviced by three or fewer elevator cars, every car shall be kept available for sole use by the Fire Department.

Where a floor is serviced by more than three elevator cars, at least three elevator cars with a total rated load capacity of not less than 6,000 pounds (2722 kg) shall be kept available for the sole use of the Fire Department. Such cars shall include not more than two cars that service all floors and at least one other car in another bank servicing that floor. If the total load capacity of all cars servicing the floor is less than 6,000 pounds (2722 kg), all such cars shall be kept available for sole use of the Fire Department.

Elevators that are kept for the sole use of the Fire Department and that have automatic or continuous pressure operation shall be controlled by keyed switches meeting the requirements of ASME 17.1.

In high-rise buildings classified in Occupancy Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M and S, in low-rise buildings classified in Occupancy Group B with a gross area of 200,000 square feet (18581 m²) or more and in buildings classified in Occupancy Group R-1 or R-2, all other automatically operated cars shall have manual operation capability.