CSA Preface

Historical Overview

This is the tenth edition of CSA B44, Safety code for elevators and escalators. It supersedes the previous editions published in 2000, 1994, 1990, 1985, 1975, 1971, 1966, 1960, and 1938.

This Standard was originally prepared to meet a desire for uniform legislation throughout the various provinces and to replace the legislation previously existing in Canada, which had proved inadequate in view of the then prevailing elevator practices.

Its primary purposes are to provide reasonable safety for those persons who come in contact with elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walks, and material lifts by establishing minimum standards for design, installation, and maintenance, and for adoption by regulatory authorities throughout Canada. It is also intended as a standard reference for use by architects, consulting engineers, elevator manufacturers, and owners.

Section 1.1

Scope 1.1.1 Equipment covered by this code

This Code covers the design, construction, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, and repair of the following equipment, its associated parts, and its hoistways, where located in or adjacent to a building or structure (except as modified by 1.2):

(a) hoisting and lowering mechanisms, equipped with a car or platform, which move between two or more landings. This equipment includes, but is not limited to elevators (see 1.3).

(b) power-driven stairways and walkways for carrying persons between landings. This equipment includes, but is not limited to escalators and moving walks (see 1.3).

(c) hoisting and lowering mechanisms equipped with a car that serves two or more landings and is restricted to the carrying of material by its limited size or limited access to the car. This equipment includes, but is not limited to dumbwaiters and material lifts (see 1.3).

1.1.2 Equipment not covered by this Code

Equipment not covered by this Code includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) personnel hoists within the scope of ANSI A10.4 and CSA-Z185

(b) material hoists within the scope of ANSI A10.5 and CSA-Z256

(c) platform lifts and stairway chairlifts within the scope of ASME A18.1, CSA B355, and CSA B613

(d) manlifts within the scope of ASME A90.1 and CSA B311

(e) mobile scaffolds, towers, and platforms within the scope of ANSI A92 and CSA-B354

(f) powered platform and equipment for exterior and interior building maintenance within the scope of ASME A120.1 and CSA-Z271

(g) conveyors and related equipment within the scope of ASME B20.1

(h) cranes, derricks, hoists, hooks, jacks, and slings within the scope of ASME B30, CSA Z150, CSA B167, CSA Z202, and CSA Z248

(i) industrial trucks within the scope of ASME B56 and CSA B335

(j) portable equipment, except for portable escalators, which are covered by 6.1

(k) tiering or piling machines used to move material to and from storage located and operating entirely within one story

(l) equipment for feeding or positioning material at machine tools, printing presses, etc.

(m) skip or furnace hoists

(n) wharf ramps

(o) amusement devices

(p) stage and orchestra lifts

(q) lift bridges

(r) railroad car lifts and dumpers

(s) mechanized parking garage equipment

(t) line jacks, false cars, shafters, moving platforms, and similar equipment used for installing an elevator

(u) platform elevators installed in a ship or offshore drilling rig and used for the purpose of loading and unloading cargo, equipment, and personnel

(v) dock levelers (freight platform lifts) having a travel of 500 mm (12 in.) or less

(w) in Canadian jurisdictions, devices having a travel of 2 000 mm (79 in.) or less and used only for the transfer of materials or equipment

1.1.3 Application of parts

This Code applies to new installations only, except Part 1, and 5.10, 8.1, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10, and 8.11, which apply to both new and existing installations.

1.1.4 Effective date

The requirements of this edition and subsequent addenda to the Code are effective as of the date noted on the copyright page of this document. The authority having jurisdiction will establish the effective date for their local regulations.