to Elevator Rules in Iowa
almost 3 years the Iowa Elevator Safety Board (Board) has been studying the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A17.3 code that requires
older elevators be upgraded to a higher level of safety. During 2012, the
Board held 5 public meetings and sought public input on the A17.3 code.
New controllers necessary to implement the fire
service requirements of A17.3 would have been a costly upgrade for many
elevator owners. As a result of public comments, the Board decided to drop
the fire service provisions of A17.3 from further consideration.
Better information concerning the other A17.3
requirements is needed. Therefore, the Board has requested that every older
elevator be surveyed during the regular elevator inspections in 2013 to
determine what work would be required by A17.3. As a result of the surveys,
owners will be given information about their own elevators, and state-wide totals will
be available for statistical purposes.
Which provisions of A17.3 are still being considered
by the Board?
What if my elevator is new?
What if my elevator has been modernized?
How long would I have to comply with the new
What happens if I don't comply in 5 years?
Are there any advantages to complying with A17.3?
What work would be required on my elevator?
How much would I have to spend?
Will the proposed changes affect my escalator?
What is the A17.3 code?
Why would Iowa adopt a code written by ASME?
How do I find out what happened at the public
Question: Which provisions of A17.3 are still being
considered by the Board?
● Car door restrictors will be required for the safety of a passenger trapped in
the elevator car.
● Operating devices on the top of the car, safe access to the elevator pit,
permanent lighting in machinery areas, and an emergency stop switch in the
elevator pit will be required for the safety of elevator inspectors and
● Key-operated stop switches must be installed in the car to prevent crime and
● Hoistway door unlocking devices for use only by elevator inspectors, elevator
mechanics, and emergency personnel must be installed.
● Platform guards or aprons must be installed to prevent passengers from falling
into the hoistway.
● Emergency lighting must be installed in the car.
● An alarm bell or other emergency signaling device must be installed in the
● The top of the elevator car must have an emergency exit.
● The rated load or capacity of the elevator must be posted in the elevator car.
● The walls of passenger elevator cars must be enclosed with solid material
rather than grating.
● Pit drains may not connect to sewer lines.
● For a freight elevator with doors that open up and down instead of sideways,
safer door edges may be needed.
● For a very old freight elevator operated by a tiller rope rather than push
buttons, a new controller will be required.
● An elevator that is suspended by only 1 wire rope or 1 chain must be replaced
or reconfigured with a minimum of 2 wire ropes or 2 chains. As a general rule, these
elevators do not have a motor and the rider lifts the elevator. If installed in
a location with the potential for combustible dust, explosion-proof wiring may
Question: What if my elevator is new?
Answer: As a general rule, an elevator less than 20 years old will not be
affected by the adoption of A17.3. Most of the requirements will only apply if
your elevator was installed before 1975 and has not been modernized.
Question: What if my elevator has
Answer: Typical elevator modernizations include many of the items
required by A17.3.
Question: How long would I have to
comply with the
Answer: The Board has discussed phasing the requirements in over a 5-year
period. The 5-year period would not begin until final adoption of an
administrative rule. Final adoption is unlikely to occur before the spring of
Question: What happens if I don't
comply in 5
Answer: Continuing to use your elevator would be illegal. At the first
inspection after the deadline, a safety order requiring the upgrades would be
issued. The state has the authority to shutdown non-compliant elevators.
Question: Are there any
advantages to complying
● Enhanced safety for elevator inspectors and elevator mechanics
● Reduced risk of property damage from vandalism
● Easier operation by people with disabilities
● Emergency communication for people in the elevator
● Reduced risk of people falling down the hoistway
● Safer extraction of people trapped in the car
● Reduced risk of overloading the elevator car
● Reduced risk of a crime against a passenger in the car
● Reduced risk of injury due to crushing
● Reduced risk of catastrophic failure of manually-operated elevators
● Prevent the accumulation of sewer gas in an elevator pit and hoistway
Question: What work would be
required on my
Answer: What needs to be done depends on factors specific to each
elevator such as the original model, installation details, upgrades, and
maintenance. During the 2013 inspections of older elevators, an A17.3 survey
will be completed for each older elevator. The owner will be given a copy of the
completed A17.3 survey. The survey information will be used by the Elevator
Safety Board to estimate the impact of adopting A17.3.
Question: How much would I have to spend?
Answer: After your 2013 elevator inspection, you can show your completed
A17.3 survey to elevator construction and maintenance companies for estimates.
Obtaining estimates from 2 or more elevator companies is the best way to
determine your cost.
Question: Will the proposed changes affect
Answer: A17.3 also improves the safety of older escalators. However, it
is not anticipated that the owners of escalators will be required to make a
significant financial investment as a result of A17.3.
Question: What is the A17.3 code?
Answer: A17.3 is a safety code written by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers specifically for existing elevators.
Question: Why would Iowa adopt a code written by
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers?
Answer: Elevators, escalators, boilers and pressure vessels in Iowa are
all governed by ASME codes adopted by reference. The Board is specifically
authorized by Iowa Code Chapter 89A to adopt A17.3. The A17.3 code was first
published in 1986 and about half the states are enforcing it.
How do I find out what happened at the public
Answer: Click Here (pdf)