Preface
This Code has been prepared to meet a strong desire for uniform elevator legislation throughout the various Provinces and Municipalities in the Dominion of Canada and to replace legislation, previously existing in Canada, which has proved inadequate in view of modern elevator practice.
Its primary purpose is to provide reasonable safety for those persons who come into contact with elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators. Its object is to establish minimum standards for the construction and maintenance of elevators for adoption by Provincial and Municipal authorities throughout the Dominion of Canada. It is also intended as a standard reference for the use of architects, consulting engineers, and elevator manufacturers and owners. It is prepared in such a manner that the appropriate authority can issue orders-in-council or pass a by-law making the latest issue of the Code the rules governing the installation and operation of new elevators under its jurisdiction.
It is realized that a great many elevators now in operation are sufficiently hazardous to justify immediate changes being made in them to reduce the possibility of accident; but no special rules or regulations covering these existing elevators have been included in this Code, for the reason that the necessity of making alterations to elevators now in operation, in the interests of safety, will vary considerably in the different legal jurisdictions. It is hoped that, when special rules are prepared, the various authorities requiring changes to existing elevator apparatus will use this Code in the preparation of such rules, and in this manner uniform rules for the reduction of elevator accident hazard will apply throughout the Dominion of Canada.
In the preparation of the Code the Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters and Escalators, published by the American Standards Association, and the Lift Code, published by the Standards of Australia, have been carefully studied, and grateful acknowledgement is given to these organizations for the use of this material. Existing regulations now in force in Canada have also been carefully studied and incorporated wherever possible. Special acknowledgment is given to Mr. W.G. Ferrier who has the assisted the Chairman of the Committee in the capacity of Code Editor.
The preparation of a Safety Code for Elevators was first discussed with elevator manufacturers, and others interested, in 1920 but no action was taken at that time. The subject was revived in 1932 and a Committee organized. A first draft was issued in February 1933 and a second draft in September 1936. Letter-ballot approval was received from the C.E.S.A. Committee on Elevator Safety Code in October 1937, from the Sectional Committee on Mechanical Work and from the Main Committee of the Association, with authority to publish, in February, 1938.
Scope
This Code applies to the construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters and their hoist ways but does not apply to bell, bucket, scoop, roller or similarly inclined or vertical freight conveyors, tiering or piling machines, mine elevators, wharf ramps, stage lifts or other kindred equipment, nor to elevators used only for handling building materials and mechanics during construction.
