Elevator Controls, by Andy Roe, Alarm Tech Solutions

107 Pages·2011·1.28 MB·English

by  Andy Roe

MD-DC-VA Automatic Fire Alarm Association, Inc.
Interfacing Fire Alarm, Sprinkler
and Elevator Systems
In Maryland, DC and Virginia
Presented by:
Andrew Roe, SET
Alarm Tech Solutions, LLC
Scope:
• The Purpose of Elevator Controls
• History of Elevator Controls & Sprinklers
• Elevator Recall and Power Shutdown
• Relevant Codes
• What our local AHJ’s are enforcing
• Discussion of issues
• Where we appear to be headed
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Purpose:
• 1973 ASME A17.1b (supplement to the 1971 Code)
• Purpose:
– Prevent people from using elevators during a fire scenario
– To Allow for Responding Firefighters to Account for all
Elevators
– Stage Equipment (Hose lines, air tanks, etc.)
– Evacuate Occupants with Mobility Restrictions
– Prevent Car from being called to the Fire Floor
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History - Controls:
1973 ASME A17.1b (supplement to the 1971 Code):
• Identified Designated Level
• Both Manual and Automatic Recall
• Key Switch (only by firefighters)
• Smoke Detectors in Lobbies
• Travel of 25’ above or below designated level
• 1981 introduced the “Alternate” Level
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History - Controls:
• 1984 introduced “only” lobby and machine detectors were to
initiate recall
• A17.1 referred users to NFPA 72E, Automatic Fire Detectors
• NFPA first mentions A17.1 requirements in 1987 edition of
NFPA 72A, Installation, Maintenance and use of Local
Protective Signaling Systems – “Elevator Recall for Firefighters’
Service”
• 1993 edition of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code addressed
cases where there was no required building fire alarm system
… “Elevator Recall and Supervisory Panel”
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History - Controls:
• 1996 edition of NFPA 72 introduced “other” fire detection as
being permissible if environment was not appropriate for a
smoke detector.
• A “third” control circuit was added to provide a warning of fire
in the hoistway or elevator machine room
• The 2000 A17.1 was “harmonized” with the Canadian B44
Elevator Safety Standard
• NFPA 72 [2002] and A17.1 [2004] now both address new
technology elevators … machine room-less elevators
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History - Controls:
• First introduced in ASME A17.1 – 1984
• Purpose:
• Remove Main-line Power prior to sprinkler activation
• Prevent Elevator from Moving/Operating dangerously
Note: the requirement does not include circuits for ventilation,
in-car lights and communication, pit receptacles and lights, etc.
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History - Controls:
• A17.1 applies to all new elevator installations
• A17.3 (where adopted) applies to existing elevators
• A17.3 re: Firefighters’ Service
3.11.3 Firefighters’ Service
Elevators shall conform to the requirements of ASME/ANSI
A17.1–1987 Rules 211.3 through 211.8 (see Appendix C)
unless at the time of installation or alteration it was required
to comply with a later edition of A17.1.
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History - Sprinklers:
• Sprinklers in elevator machine rooms and hoistways have
been recognized by the Safety Code for Elevators and
Escalators, ASME A17.1 since the 1955 Edition.
• The building codes at first did not require buildings to be
sprinkled but encouraged their use by allowing “tradeoffs”
(fire resistance ratings, distances to exits & area and height
limitations) which reduced the cost of construction.
• This “tradeoff” worked well and now the building codes
require most buildings to be fully sprinkled.
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