Elevators serving covered multifamily buildings shall be sized to accommodate a wheelchair in accordance with this section.
Exception: When the enforcing agency determines that compliance with any requirement of this section would create an unreasonable hardship, an exception to the requirement shall be granted when equivalent facilitation is provided, and where it can be demonstrated that a person using a wheelchair can enter and operate the elevator.
The elevator car shall be designed to comply with one of the following:
- Door centered on the wall. When the door is centered on the car wall, it shall provide a clear width of 42 inches (1067 mm) minimum, and the clear distance between car side walls shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum.
- Door not centered on the wall. When the door is not centered on the car wall, it shall provide a clear width of 36 inches (914 mm) minimum, and the clear distance between car side walls shall be 68 inches (1727 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum.
Door at any location. An elevator door with 36 inches (914 mm) minimum clear width may be installed at any location if one of the following is met:
- 3.1. The car inside, with the door closed, shall provide a turning clear space at least 60 inches (1524 mm) in diameter to allow for the turning of a wheelchair.
- 3.2. The clear distance between car side walls shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum.
Note: See Table 1124A.3.2 and Figure 11A-7A.
ELEVATOR CAR DIMENSIONS
| MINIMUM DIMENSIONS | ||||
| DOOR LOCATION | DOOR CLEAR WIDTH | INSIDE CAR, SIDE TO SIDE | INSIDE CAR, BACK WALL TO FRONT RETURN | INSIDE CAR, BACK WALL TO INSIDE FACE OF DOOR |
| Centered | 42 inches (1067 mm) | 80 inches (2032 mm) | 51 inches (1295 mm) | 54 inches (1372 mm) |
| Side (off-centered) | 36 inches (914 mm)1 | 68 inches (1727 mm) | 51 inches (1295 mm) | 54 inches (1372 mm) |
| Any | 36 inches (914 mm)1 | 54 inches (1372 mm) | 80 inches (2032 mm) | 80 inches (2032 mm) |
| Any | 36 inches (914 mm)2 | 60 inches (1524 mm)2 | 60 inches (1524 mm)2 | 60 inches (1524 mm)2 |
- A tolerance of minus 5/8 inch (15.9 mm) is permitted.
- Other car configurations that provide a turning space complying with Section 1138A.1.3 with the door closed shall be permitted.
Elevator floor buttons shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in Section 1138A.3. Except for photoelectric tube bypass switches, emergency controls, including the emergency stop and alarm, shall be grouped in or adjacent to the bottom of the panel and shall be no lower than 35 inches (889 mm) from the floor. For multiple controls, only one set must comply with these height requirements. Floor buttons shall be provided with visual indicators to show when each call is registered. The visual indicators shall be extinguished when each call is answered.
Passenger elevator car controls shall have a minimum dimension of 3/4 inch (19.1 mm) and shall be raised 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) plus or minus 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) above the surrounding surface.
Control buttons shall be illuminated, shall have square shoulders and shall be activated by a mechanical motion that is detectable.
All control buttons shall be designated by a 5/8-inch-minimum (15.9 mm) raised characters and standard raised symbols that comply with Sections 1143A.6 and 1143A.7 immediately to the left of the control button. Contracted Grade 2 Braille that conforms to Section 1143A.7 shall be located immediately below the numeral, character or symbol. A minimum clear space of 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) or other suitable means of separation shall be provided between rows of control buttons. (See Figure 11A-7B.)
The raised characters and symbols shall be white on a black background. Controls and emergency equipment identified by raised symbols shall include, but not be limited to, “door open,” “door close,” “alarm bell,” “emergency stop” and “telephone.” The call button for the main entry floor shall be designated by a raised star at the left of the floor designation.
When an emergency telephone system is installed, the emergency telephone handset shall be positioned no higher than 48 inches (1219 mm) above the floor, and the handset cord shall be a minimum of 29 inches (737 mm) in length. If the telephone system is located in a closed compartment, the compartment door hardware shall conform to the provisions of Section 1138A.4.4. Emergency intercommunication shall not require voice communication.