SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

SECTION 18
LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR
EQUIPMENT
18.1 SCOPE

(l) This Section applies to the installation of electrical equipment for passenger, good's or dual-purpose elevators
(lifts), including dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, freight platform lifts, and elevating devices for the
handicapped.

18.2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES

(1) The following references contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the
Ethiopian Building Code Standard on Electrical Installation of Buildings.

a) C 22.1: 2012 Canadian Electrical Code Part 1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Sixteenth Edition.

b) NFPA70/NEC: 2008 National Fire Protection Association, American National Electrical Code, 2008 Edition.

18.3 GENERAL

18.3.1
(1) In this Section, the following definitions apply:

Motor controller — the operative units of the control system comprising the starter device(s) and power conversion
equipment used to drive an electric motor or the pumping unit used to power hydraulic control equipment.

18.3.2 Voltage Limitation

(1) The nominal voltage used for lift operating control and signaling circuits, operating equipment, driving
machine motors, machine brakes, and motor generator sets shall not exceed the following:
a) 380.0V for operating control and signaling circuits and related equipment, including door operator
motors.
b) 750.0V for driving motors, machine brakes, and motor-generator sets.
Exemption: Higher voltages shall be permitted for driving motors of motor generator sets.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.3.3 Live Parts Enclosed

(1) All live parts of electric apparatus in hoist ways, at landings or in or on the cars of lights and dumbwaiters or in
the well-ways or the landing of escalators, or moving walks shall be enclosed to protect against accidental contact.

18.4 CONDUCTORS

18.4.1 Installation of Conductors

18.4.1.1 Hoist way door interlocking wiring

(1) The conductors to the hoist way door interlocks from the hoist way riser shall be flame-retardant and suitable
for temperature of not less than 200°C.

18.4.1.2 Traveling cables

(1) Traveling cables used as flexible connections between the lift car and the raceway shall be of the types of lift cables
or other approved type.

18.4.1.3 Other wiring

(1) All conductors in raceways, in or on the cars of lifts and dumbwaiters, in the well-ways of escalators and
moving walks, and in the machine room of lifts, escalators, and moving walks shall have flame-retardant
insulation.

18.4.1.4 Insulation rating

(1) All conductors shall have an insulation voltage rating equal to at least the maximum nominal circuit voltage
rating of any conductor within the enclosure, cable or raceway.

18.4.2 Minimum Size of Conductors

(1) The minimum size of conductors used for lifts, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walk wiring, other than
conductors that forms an integral part of control equipment, shall be as follow:

a) For lighting circuits, I.5mm2; and

b) For operating control and signaling circuits, 0.5mm2

18.4.3 Motor Circuit Conductors

(1) Conductors supplying lifts, dumbwaiters, escalator, or moving walk motors shall have an ampacity of:

(a) if supplying single motor, not less than 150% of the motor full-load current rating.
(b) if supplying two or more motors, not less than 125% of the nameplate current rating of the highest rated
motor in the group plus the sum of the nameplate current ratings of the remainder of the motors in the
group.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.5 WIRING

18.5.1 Wiring Methods

18.5.1.1 In hoist way, machine rooms, and escalator well ways

(1) Conductors located in hoist way, machine rooms and escalator well-ways, except traveling cables, shall be
installed in rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, or metal wire ways, except that flexible metal conduit or
armoured cable shall be permitted only if not subjected to mechanical damage.

Exemption: Mineral-insulated cable or aluminum-sheathed cable may be used if located so that there is no liability of damage to the sheath.

18.5.1.2 On cars

(1) Conductors on lift and dumbwaiter cars shall be run in rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, or wire
ways, except that:

a) short runs of flexible metal conduit or armoured cable may be used where they are securely fastened in
place and not exposed to oil or grease;
b) hard usage flexible cord shall be permitted to be used between fixed wiring on the car and switching or
sensing devices on the door or gate, and. between the fixed car top inspection light and an extension
light controlled by the same switch, provided it is securely fastened and so located as to not be subject to
mechanical injury;

c) mineral-insulated cable or aluminium-sheathed cable may be used if located so that there is no liability or
damage to the sheath.
18.5.2 Branch Circuits for Auxiliary Systems

18.5.2.1 Car lighting and accessories

(1) In passenger lifts, at least one branch circuit shall be provided solely for the lighting and accessories on each car.

18.5.2.2 Air conditioning

(1) Where air conditioning units are installed on the car, they shall be supplied by separate branch circuits.

18.5.2.3 Protection device location

(1) The overcurrent device protecting each branch circuit shall be located in the machine room.

18.6 INSTALLATION OF CONDUCTORS

18.6.1 Number of Conductors in Raceway

(1) The sum of the cross-sectional area of the operating and control circuit conductors in raceways shall not exceed
40% the interior cross-sectional area of the raceway.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.6.2 Supports

(1) Supports for cables or raceways in a hoist way or in an escalator or moving walkways shall be securely fastened to
the guide rail or to hoist way well-way construction.

18.6.3 Different Systems in One Raceway or Traveling Cable

(1) Conductors for operating, control, power, signaling and lighting circuits of 600.0V or less shall be permitted to
be run in the same traveling cable or raceway system if all conductors are insulated for maximum voltage found in
the cables or raceway system and if all live parts of the equipment are insulated from earth for the maximum
voltage.

(2) Such traveling cable or raceway in (1) above shall be permitted to include shielded conductors and/or one or
more coaxial cable if such conductors are insulated for the maximum voltage found in cable or raceway system.
Conductors shall be permitted to be covered with suitable shielding for telephone, audio, video or higher
frequency communication circuits.

18.6.4 Wiring in Hoist way

(1) Main feeders for supplying power to lifts and dumbwaiters shall be installed outside the hoist way (hoist shaft).

Note: Only wiring, raceways, and cables that are or form part of lift or dumbwaiter installation, including wiring for
signals, for communication with the car, for lighting, heating, air conditioning and ventilating the car, for fire
detecting systems, for pit pumps, and for heating and lighting the hoist way, shall be permitted inside the hoist way.

18.6.5 Electric Equipment in Garages and Similar Occupancies

(1) Electric equipment and wiring used for lifts, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walks in garages shall comply
with the requirements of Section 12 (Class I locations). Wiring and equipment located on the underside of the car
platform shall be considered as being located in the hazardous area.

18.6.6 Sidewalk Lifts

(1) Sidewalk lifts with sidewalk doors located exterior to the building shall have all electrical wiring in metallic tubing
and all electrical outlets, switches, junction boxes and fittings shall be weather-proof.

18.7 TRAVELLING CABLES

18.7.1 Suspension

(1) Traveling cables shall be so suspended at the car and hoist way's ends as to reduce the strain on the individual
copper conductors to a minimum and shall be supported by one of the following means:

a) by its steel supporting members;

b) by looping the cable around supports for unsupported lengths less than 30.0m;
c) by suspending from the supports by means that automatically tightens around the cable when tension is
increased for unsupported lengths up to 60.0m.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.7.2 Hazardous (Classified) Location

(1) In hazardous (classified) locations, traveling cables shall be of a type approved for hazardous (classified)
locations and shall be secured to explosion-proof cabinets.

18.7.3 Protection Against Damage

(1) Traveling cable supports shall be so located as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of damage due to the
cable coming into contact with the hoist way construction or equipment in the hoist way; and where necessary,
suitable guards shall be provided to protect the cable against damage.

18.7.4 Installation

(1) Traveling cable shall be permitted to be run without the use of raceway or conduit for a distance not exceeding
1.8m from the first point of support on the lift car or hoist way wall provided the conductors are grouped together
and tapped or corded or in the original sheath.

(2) Traveling cables shall be permitted to be continued to lift control panels and to lift car and machine room
connections as fixed wiring provided they are suitably supported and protected from damage.

18.8 DISCONNECTING MEANS AND CONTROL

18.8.1 General

(1) Lifts, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walks shall have a single means for disconnecting all unearthed
main power supply conductors for each unit.

(2) Where multiple driving machines are connected to a single lift, escalator, moving walk or pumping unit, there
shall be one disconnecting means to disconnect the motor(s) and control devices.

(3) Where there is more than one driving machine in a machine room, disconnecting means shall be number-
marked to correspond to the number-mark of the driving machine which they control.

18.8.2 Type

(1) The disconnecting means shall be an enclosed, externally operable, fused motor circuit switch or circuit
breaker to be locked in the open position.

(2) No provision shall be made to close the disconnecting means in (1) above from any other part of the premises;
nor shall circuit breakers be opened automatically by a fire alarm system.

18.8.3 Location

(I) Disconnecting means shall be located where they are readily accessible to qualified persons;

18.8.4 Phase Protection

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.8.4.1 Electric lifts

(1) Lifts. Driven by polyphase alternating current shall be provided with a means to prevent starting of the lift
when:

a) the phase rotation is in the wrong direction, or

b) there is a failure in any phase.

18.8.4.2 Hydraulic lifts

(1) Hydraulic lifts powered by a polyphase alternating current motor shall be provided with the means to prevent
overheating of the drive system (pump and motor) due to phase-rotation reversals or failure.

18.9 OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

18.9.1 Control and Operating Circuits

(1) Control and operating circuits and signaling circuits shall be protected against overcurrent in accordance with
the requirements of the relevant Clauses of Section 9.

18.9.2 Motors

18.9.2.1 Non-continuous duty

(1) Duty on lift and dumbwaiter driving-machine motors and driving motors of motor-generators
used with generator field control shall be classed as non-continuous. Such motors shall be protected against
overcurrent in accordance with applicable Clauses of Section 11.

18.9.2.2 Continuous duty

(1) Duty on escalators and moving-walk driving motors shall be classed as continuous. Such motors shall be
protected against overcurrent in accordance with applicable Clauses of Section 11.

18.10 MACHINE ROOM

18.10.1 Guarding Equipment

(1) Lifts, dumbwaiters, escalators, and moving walk driving machines, motor-generator sets, motor controllers,
and disconnecting means shall be installed in a room or enclosure set aside for that purpose.

(2) The room or the enclosure in (1) above shall be secured against unauthorized access.

18.10.2 Clearance around Control Panels and Disconnecting Means

(1) Sufficient clear working space shall be provided around control panels and disconnecting means to provide
safe and convenient access to all live parts of the equipment necessary for maintenance and adjustment.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.11 EARTHING

18.11.1 Metal Raceway Attached to Cars

(l) Metal raceways attached to lift cars shall be bonded to earthed metal parts of the car with which they come into
contact.

18.11.2 Electric Lifts

(1) For electric lifts, the frames of all motors, lift machines, controllers, and the metal enclosures of all electric
devices in or on the car or in the hoist way shall be earthed in accordance with Section 7.

18.11.3 Non-Electric Lifts

(1) For lifts other than electric and having any electric conductors attached to the car, the metal frame of the car,
where normally accessible to persons, shall be earthed in accordance with Section 7.

18.11.4 Method of Bonding

18.11.4.1 Equipment

(I) Equipment mounted on members of an earthed structural metal frame of a building shall be deemed to be
bonded to earth.

18.11.4.2 Metal car frame supported by cables

(1) Metal car frames supported by metal hoisting cables attached to or running over metal sheaves or drums of lift
machines and affording metal-to-metal contact therewith shall be deemed to be bonded to earth when the machine
is bonded to earth in accordance with Section 7.

18.12 OVER SPEED

18.12.1 Over speed Protection

(1) Under overhauling load conditions, a means shall be provided on the load side of each lift power disconnecting
means to prevent the lift from attaining a speed equal to the governor tripping speed or a speed in excess of,125%
of the lift rated speed, whichever is smaller.

(2) Overhauling load conditions shall include all loads upto rated lift loads for goods lifts and all loads upto 125%
for the rated lift loads for passenger lifts.

18.12.2 Motor-Generator Over speed Device

(1) Motor generators driven by direct current motors and used to supply direct current for the operation of lift
machine motors shall be provided with speed-limiting devices that will prevent the lift from attaining, at any time,
a speed of more than 125% of its rated speed.

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SECTION 18: LIFTS, ESCALATORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

18.13 EMERGENCY POWER

18.13.1 Supply

(1) A lift shall be permitted to operate from an emergency power supply in the event of normal supply failure,
provided the lift operates on such emergency power in accordance with the emergency power system requirements
of a recognized international safety code for lifts.

18.13.2 Disconnection

(1) The disconnecting means shall disconnect the emergency power service from the normal power service.

18.13.3 Hydraulic Lifts Disconnecting Means

(1) In the case of hydraulic lifts where emergency power-is supplied from a second source for lowering the car
only, the disconnecting means shall be provided with an auxiliary contact that is positively opened mechanically,
the opening not being solely dependent on springs, and connected in the control circuit to prevent movement of
the car when the disconnecting means is open.

18.14 MACHINE ROOMS AND HOIST WAY PITS LIGHTING AND AUXILIARY SYSTEMS

18.14.1 Machine Room

18.14.1.1 Lighting

(1) Permanent provision of adequate artificial light shall be made in machine rooms of power lifts.

18.14.1.2 Illumination level

(1) Illumination shall be not less than l00.0 lux at floor level.

18.14.1.3 Lighting switch

(1) The machine room lighting switch shall be within easy reach of the entrance to the machine room.

18.14.1.4 Socket outlet

(1) At least one duplex (twin) socket outlet connected to 16.0A 'branch circuit supplying no other socket outlets shall be
installed in the machine room.

18.14.2 Hoist Pits

18.14.2.1 Luminaire

(l) One or more permanent luminaire equipped with a guard of metal, safety glass or suitable plastic material shall be
provided in all .pits,

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18.14.2.2 Illumination level

(1) The luminaires shall provide an illuminations level of at least 100.0 lux at the pit floor,

18.14.2.3 Lighting switch

(1) A light switch shall be provided and shall be located so as to be accessible from the pit access door.

18.14.2.4 Socket outlet

(1) At least one twin socket outlet connected to a 16A branch circuit supplying no other socket outlet shall be
installed in each pit.

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