SUN - ASME A18.1, Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairways Chairlifts
Effective March 31, 2017
Standard Information
Standard Number:
ASME A18.1
Standard Name:
Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairways Chairlifts
Standard Edition and Issue Date:
6th Edition Dated September 12, 2014
Date of Previous Revisions to Standard:
5th Edition Dated October 31, 2011
Effective Date of New/Revised Requirements
Effective Date (see Schedule below): March 31, 2017
Impact, Overview, Fees and Action Required
Impact Statement: A review of all Listing Reports is necessary to determine which products comply with new/revised requirements and which products will require re-evaluation. NOTE: Effective immediately, this revised standard will be exclusively used for evaluation of new products unless the Applicant requests in writing that current requirements be used along with their understanding that their listings will be withdrawn on Effective Date noted above, unless the product is found to comply with new/revised requirements.
Overview of Changes: The changes with respect to the previous revision include additional requirements to vertical platform lifts, inclined platform lifts, driving means, and qualification of inspectors. Specific details of new/revised requirements are found in table below.
If the applicable requirements noted in the table are not described in your report(s), these requirements will need to be confirmed as met and added to your report(s) such as markings, instructions, test results, etc. (as required).
Schedule: So that shipping of products with Listing Marks will not be interrupted, an approximate schedule has been established to ensure Listing Reports are found compliant by Effective Date:
- July 29, 2016 = 8 Month Report Review – Intertek will review all Reports. Update if compliance is verified or issue Findings Letter/Quote for any re-evaluations needed
- September 30, 2016 = 6 Month Quote Cut-off – Quotes returned for necessary re-evaluations
- March 31, 2017 = Effective Date – ATM Suspended for all non-compliant Reports
Fees: An initial review of Listing Report (s) will be covered by a direct billing project and will be invoiced at not more than $1000 per report.
Client Action Required:
Information – To assist our Engineer with review of your Listing Reports, please submit technical information in response to the new/revised paragraphs noted in the attached or explain why these new/revised requirements do not apply to your product (s).
Current Listings Not Active? – Please immediately identify any current Listing Reports or products that are no longer active and should be removed from our records. We will do this at no charge as long as Intertek is notified in writing prior to the review of your reports.
Description of New/Revised Technical Requirements
| Clause | Verdict | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | The revision below is to clarify that routine, periodic, and acceptance inspections and tests are required on existing equipment. Additions to existing requirements are underlined below. |
| 1.1 | Info | Scope |
| 1.1.3 | Info | Application. This Standard applies to new installations only except Part 10, which applies to new and existing installations. |
| - | - | The revisions below are to remove the allowance of the uppermost doors to be located up
to 75 mm (3 in.) from the edge of the landing sill and duplicating the language for the
location of the other doors thus requiring flush mounted doors at all landings. This will
remove the hazard created by the ledge at the upper most floors, which may cause a
wheelchair to overturn on its descent and prevent the potential for anyone from standing
on the ledge. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown |
| 2 | Info | Vertical Platform Lifts |
| 2.1.1 | Info | Runway Enclosure Provided |
| 2.1.1.2 | The runway entrance shall be guarded at the upper landing by a door of unperforated
construction not wider than the platform plus 25 mm (1 in.). The door shall be self-closing
and at least 1 100 mm (42 in.) high. The runway side of the door and sill shall present a
smooth surface. | |
| 2.1.2 | Info | Partial Runway Enclosure Provided |
| The runway entrance shall be guarded at the uppermost landing by a door of unperforated construction not wider than the entrance to the platform plus 25 mm (1 in.).
The door shall be self-closing and at least 1 100 mm (42 in.) high. | ||
| 2.1.3 | Info | Runway Enclosure Not Provided |
| 2.1.3.1 | The runway entrance shall be guarded at the upper landing by a door of unperforated construction. The door shall be self-closing, at least 1 100 mm (42 in.) high, and
withstand, without permanent deformation, a force of 550 N (125 lbf) applied on a 100
mm (4 in.) by 100 mm (4 in.) area. | |
| 2.1.4 | Info | Courtroom Lifts |
| 2.1.4.1 | The runway entrance shall be guarded at the uppermost landing by a door of unperforated construction. The door shall be self-closing or power-operated, at a height not less than 900mm(36 in.), and withstand, without permanent deformation, a force of 550 N (125 lbf)
applied on any 100 mm (4 in.) by 100 mm (4 in.) area. | |
| - | - | The revisions below are to add the requirement for collection of oil leakage to ropedhydraulic and chain-hydraulic lifts, as they are no less susceptible to packing gland leakage than direct plunger hydraulic lifts. Language consistent with A17.1 is added, requiring the collection container to be covered, to prevent contamination of the fluid so it may be reclaimed, and to prohibit the container from overflowing, which can lead to a hazardous condition in the area underneath the lift. |
| 2.3.2 | Hydraulic Driving Machines. Direct-plunger hydraulic driving machines, where used, shall conform to the requirements of para. 8.1, except para. 8.1.2.
Roped-hydraulic and chain-hydraulic machines shall also conform to the requirements of para. 8.1 except for paras. 8.1.1, 8.1.3, and 8.1.4.3, | |
| 8 | Info | Driving Means |
| 8.1.4.7 | Collection of Oil Leakage. Means shall be provided to collect for removal any oil leakage from the cylinder packing gland. The amount collected before removal shall not exceed 20 L (5 gal). The container shall be covered and shall not be permitted to overflow. | |
| - | - | Research data from the State University of New York – Buffalo IDeA Center and the UK indicate that a minimum rated load of 250 kg (550 lb) will accommodate an estimated 90th percentile of users of powered wheelchairs in the U.S. (see attached memos). The
corresponding section regarding inclined platform lifts is also included, as the increase in
minimum rated load is viewed as achievable for this equipment and installation settings.
Increasing the minimum rated load will increase safety, in that the lifts will be able to
handle typical current day users and mobility bases and reduce the chances of overloading. Additionally, increasing the minimum rated load to 250 kg will harmonize A18.1 with EN81-41 and EN81-40, respectively. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown |
| 2.7 | Info | Capacity, Speed, and Travel |
| 2.7.1 | Limitation of Load, Speed, and Travel. The rated load shall be not less than | |
| 3 | Info | Inclined Platform Lifts |
| 3.7 | Info | Capacity, Load, Speed, and Angle of Inclination |
| 3.7.1 | Limitations of Capacity, Load, and Speed. The capacity shall be one person. The rated load shall be not less than | |
| - | - | The revisions below are to clarify that other types of standby power may be used on lifts, but if the standby power source is to be used in lieu of manual operation complying with 2.10.10, it must meet certain criteria. Reworded the criteria to equally weight building and battery power sources and insure both systems are capable of cycling the lift under full load for five cycles. Added a requirement for automatic transfer similar to the requirement in A17.1 and the IBC building code for elevators. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown |
| 2.12 | Standby Power Lifts shall be permitted to have standby power to raise or lower the lift. Where the standby power is to be used in lieu of manual operation complying with Requirement 2.10.10, it | |
| 2.12.1 | Standby Power Source. | |
| 2.12.1.1 2.12.2 | Operation | |
| 2.12.3 | Transfer. The transfer between the normal and the standby power system shall be automatic. | |
| - | - | To provide consistency with Section 2. To clarify that other types of standby power may be used on lifts, but if the standby power source is to be used in lieu of manual operation complying with 3.10.10, it must meet certain criteria. Reworded the criteria to equally weight building and battery power sources and insure both systems are capable of cycling the lift under full load for five cycles. Added a requirement for automatic transfer similar to the requirement in A17.1 and the IBC building code for elevators. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown |
| 3.12 | Standby Power Lifts shall be permitted to have standby power to raise or lower the lift. Where the standby power is to be used in lieu of manual operation complying with Requirement 3.10.10, it | |
| 3.12.1 | Standby Power Source. | |
| 3.12.1.1 3.12.2 | Operation Battery Power. | |
| 3.12.3 | Transfer. The transfer between the normal and the standby power system shall be automatic. | |
| - | - | Manual operation to move a lift to a terminal landing is typically a slow process performed with a manual hand crank. Requiring all lifts installed to 3.6.8.2 to be capable of being manually folded would reduce the obstruction in the circulation path in less time during an emergency situation. Clarification is added to indicate that the arms as well as the platform itself must be capable of being folded, and must remain in the folded position, in order to eliminate the obstruction in the circulation path. Added a new reference to Requirement 3.12, to be consistent with 2.10.10 by allowing standby power in lieu of manual operation and to clarify where to find the standby (emergency) power requirements. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below. |
| 3.6 | Info | Platforms |
| 3.6.8.2.5 | Means shall be provided to manually fold the platform and passenger restraining arms. The platform and passenger restraining arms shall remain in the folded position after being manually folded. | |
| 3.10 | Info | Operating Devices and Control Equipment |
| 3.10.10 | Manual Operations. Means shall be provided to permit authorized personnel from a position outside the platform to raise or lower the platform manually along the path of travel, unless standby (emergency) power complying with Requirement 3.12 is provided. The means to raise or lower the platform shall be capable of moving the platform to a landing. | |
| - | - | Revised language reflects ASME’s recent decision to discontinue accreditation of certifying organizations and allows organizations to seek accreditation elsewhere while continuing certification of inspectors and inspection supervisors to the QEI-1 Standard. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown |
| 10 | Info | Routine, Periodic, and Acceptance Inspections and Tests |
| 10.1.4 | Qualification of Inspectors. All inspectors shall meet the qualification requirements of ASME QEI-1. Inspectors and inspection supervisors shall be certified in accordance with the requirements of ASME QEI-1 by an accredited, independent organization concerned with personnel certification. |
CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: This Table and column "Verdict" can be used in determining how your current or future production is or will be in compliance with new/revised requirements.