ASME A17.3 2023 Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators

The ASME A17.3 2023 Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators provides comprehensive safety requirements for existing elevators and escalators, serving as a critical resource for enhancing public safety in structures with vertical transportation systems. This code is intended to guide state and local authorities, architects, engineers, insurance companies, manufacturers, and building owners and managers in adopting retroactive safety measures for existing elevator and escalator installations. Its primary goal is to ensure that these systems are maintained and operated in a manner that minimizes risks to public safety.

Key aspects:

• Comprehensive Coverage: Addresses safety requirements for various types of vertical transportation systems, including hydraulic elevators, dumbwaiters, hand elevators, sidewalk elevators, moving walks, and private residence elevators.
• Retroactive Application: Provides guidelines for implementing safety measures in existing installations, ensuring that older systems meet current safety standards.
• Detailed Safety Requirements: Includes specifications for machinery and equipment, hoistways, electrical protective devices, and other critical components to enhance the safety of elevator and escalator systems.

Highlights-The 2023 edition introduces several significant updates to improve safety standards:

• Section 2.3.1: Added requirements for fixed vertical ladders within reach of access doors to elevator pits, enhancing accessibility and safety during maintenance.
• Section 2.6.8: Introduced guidelines for bottom safety retainers, addressing safety concerns related to elevator movement and stability.
• Section 3.10.4: Incorporated provisions for retractable ladder electrical devices, improving safety during maintenance operations.
• Section 5.1.11: Specified escalator step/skirt performance index requirements for escalators installed under ASME A17.1a-2002 or CSA B44-00 Update 1 and later editions, enhancing escalator safety.
• Section 5.3.13: Added requirements for combplate vertical safety devices, addressing safety concerns at escalator landings.
• Section 9.6.14: Introduced guidelines for combplate vertical safety devices in escalators, further enhancing safety at escalator landings.

About ASME

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a nonprofit professional organization founded in 1880 in the United States. It is dedicated to promoting the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. ASME develops and publishes consensus-based codes and standards, many of which are globally recognized and widely used in mechanical engineering, energy systems, manufacturing, piping, pressure vessels, and more.

Other Works:

• ASME B30.3-2019
• ASME B30.10-Hooks, 2024