Section 1124A — ELEVATORS AND PLATFORM (WHEELCHAIR) LIFTS

Elevators provided in covered multifamily buildings shall be accessible. Elevators required to be accessible shall comply with this chapter, ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators), Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, under “Elevator Safety Orders,” and any other applicable safety regulations of other administrative authorities having jurisdiction.

Exception: Private elevators serving only one dwelling unit.

Passenger elevators shall be located on a major accessible route and provisions shall be made to ensure that they remain accessible and usable at all times that the building is occupied.

1124A.3.1 General. Elevators serving covered multifamily buildings shall be sized to accommodate a wheelchair in accordance with this section.

Exception: When the enforcing agency determines that compliance with any requirement of this section would create an unrea- sonable hardship, an exception to the requirement shall be granted when equivalent facilitation is provided, and where it can be demonstrated that a person using a wheelchair can enter and operate the elevator.

1124A.3.2 Car inside. The elevator car shall be designed to comply with one of the following:

1. Door centered on the wall. When the door is centered on the car wall, it shall provide a clear width of 42 inches (1067 mm) minimum, and the clear distance between car side walls shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum.

2. Door not centered on the wall. When the door is not centered on the car wall, it shall provide a clear width of 36 inches (914 mm) minimum, and the clear distance between car side walls shall be 68 inches (1727 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 51 inches (1295 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum.

3. Door at any location. An elevator door with 36 inches (914 mm) minimum clear width may be installed at any location if one of the following is met:

3.1. The car inside, with the door closed, shall provide a turning clear space at least 60 inches (1524 mm) in diameter to allow for the turning of a wheelchair.

3.2. The clear distance between car side walls shall be 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the return panel shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum. The clear distance between the back wall and the inside face of the door shall be 80 inches (2032 mm) minimum.

Note: See Table 1124A.3.2 and Figure 11A-7A.

1124A.3.3 Car controls.

1124A.3.3.1 Car control location. Elevator floor buttons shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in Section 1138A.3. Except for photoelectric tube bypass switches, emergency controls, including the emergency stop and alarm, shall be grouped in or adjacent to the bottom of the panel and shall be no lower than 35 inches (889 mm) from the floor. For multiple controls, only one set must comply with these height requirements. Floor buttons shall be provided with visual indicators to show when each call is registered. The visual indicators shall be extinguished when each call is answered.

1124A.3.3.2 Car control buttons. Passenger elevator car controls shall have a minimum dimension of [3] / 4 inch (19.1 mm) and shall be raised [1] / 8 inch (3.2 mm) plus or minus [1] / 32 inch (0.8 mm) above the surrounding surface.

Control buttons shall be illuminated, shall have square shoulders and shall be activated by a mechanical motion that is detectable.

11A-18 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

All control buttons shall be designated by a [5] / 8 -inch-minimum (15.9 mm) raised characters and standard raised symbols that comply with Sections 1143A.6 and 1143A.7 immediately to the left of the control button. Contracted Grade 2 Braille that conforms to Section 1143A.7 shall be located immediately below the numeral, character or symbol. A minimum clear space of [3] / 8 inch (9.5 mm) or other suitable means of separation shall be provided between rows of control buttons. (See Figure 11A-7B.)

The raised characters and symbols shall be white on a black background. Controls and emergency equipment identified by raised symbols shall include, but not be limited to, “door open,” “door close,” “alarm bell,” “emergency stop” and “telephone.” The call button for the main entry floor shall be designated by a raised star at the left of the floor designation.

1124A.3.4 Emergency telephone. When an emergency telephone system is installed, the emergency telephone handset shall be positioned no higher than 48 inches (1219 mm) above the floor, and the handset cord shall be a minimum of 29 inches (737 mm) in length. If the telephone system is located in a closed compartment, the compartment door hardware shall conform to the provisions of Section 1138A.4.4. Emergency intercommunication shall not require voice communication.

Call operation buttons and keypads shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in Section 1138A.3, measured to the centerline of the highest operable part. Buttons shall have square shoulders, shall be a minimum of [ 3] / 4 inch (19.1 mm) in size, and shall be raised [1] / 8 inch (3.2 mm) plus or minus [1] / 32 inch (0.8 mm) above the surrounding surface. The button designating the “Up” direction shall be on top. A clear floor or ground space complying with Section 1138A.1.4 shall be provided at call controls.

Visual indication shall be provided to show each call registered and extinguished when answered. Objects adjacent to, and below, hall call buttons shall not project more than 4 inches (101.6 mm) from the wall. Hall call buttons shall be internally illuminated with a white light over the entire surface of the button.

The minimum illumination at the car controls threshold and the landing when the car and landing doors are open shall not be less than 5 foot-candles (54 lx).

A visual and audible signal shall be provided at each hoistway entrance indicating to the prospective passenger the car answering the call and its direction of travel as follows: 1. The visual signal for each direction shall be a minimum of 2 [ 1] / 2 inches (63.5 mm) high by 2 [ 1] / 2 inches (63.5 mm) wide, and visible from the proximity of the hall call button. 2. The audible signal shall sound once for the “up” direction and twice for the “down” direction or of a configuration which distin- guishes between up and down elevator travel. Audible signals shall have a frequency of 1500 Hz maximum. Verbal annunciators shall have a frequency of 300 Hz minimum and 3000 Hz maximum. The audible signal and verbal annunciator shall be 10 dB minimum above ambient, but shall not exceed 80 dB, measured at the hall call button. 3. The center line of the fixture shall be located a minimum of 6 feet (1829 mm) in height above the finish floor. 4. The use of in-car lanterns, located in or on the car doorjambs, visible from the proximity of the hall call buttons and conforming to the above requirements of this section, shall be acceptable.

Note: The use of arrow shapes are preferred for visible signals.

1124A.7.1 Hall call. The minimum acceptable time from notification that a car is answering a call (lantern and audible signal) until the doors of the car start to close shall be calculated by the following equations, but shall be no less than 5 seconds:

T = D / (1.5 ft/s) or T = D / (445 mm/s)

Where T is the total time in seconds and D is the distance from a point in the lobby or landing area 60 inches (1524 mm) directly in front of the farthest call button controlling that car to the centerline of its hoistway door (see Figure 11A-7D). For cars with in-car lanterns, T begins when the lantern is visible from the vicinity of hall call buttons and an audible signal is sounded.

1124A.7.2 Door delay for car calls. The minimum acceptable time for the door to remain fully open after receiving a call shall not be less than 5 seconds.

The floor level at all elevator hoistway entrances shall be designated by raised characters provided on both jambs. Characters shall be 2 inches (50.8 mm) in height located 48 inches (1219 mm) minimum above the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the lowest Braille cells, and 60 inches (1524 mm) maximum above the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the highest line of raised characters.

On the main entry level, a raised five-pointed star shall be placed to the left of the raised character. The outside diameter of the star shall be 2 inches (50.8 mm) and all points shall be of equal length. The raised characters and the star shall be white on a black back- ground. Contracted Grade 2 Braille, conforming to Section 1143A.7, shall be placed below the corresponding raised characters and the star. The Braille translation for the star shall state “MAIN”. The raised characters shall comply with Section 1143A.6. (See Figure 11A-7C.)

Doors closed by automatic means shall be provided with a door-reopening device that will function to stop and reopen a car door and adjacent hoistway door in case the car door is obstructed while closing.

This reopening device shall also be capable of sensing an object or person in the path of a closing door without requiring contact for activation at a nominal 5 inches and 29 inches (127 mm and 737 mm) above the floor.

Door-reopening devices shall remain effective for a period of not less than 20 seconds. After such an interval, the doors may close in accordance with the requirements of ASME A17.1.

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HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

The elevator shall be automatic and be provided with a self-leveling feature that will automatically bring the car to the floor landings within a tolerance of plus or minus [1] / 2 inch (12.7 mm) under rated loading to zero loading conditions. This self-leveling shall, within its zone, be entirely automatic and independent of the operating device and shall correct the overtravel or undertravel. The car shall also be maintained approximately level with the landing, irrespective of load.

The clearance between the car platform sill and the edge of the hoistway landing shall be no greater than 1 [1] / 4 inches (31.75 mm).

1124A.11.1 General. Platform (wheelchair) lifts may be provided between levels, in lieu of passenger elevators, when the vertical distance between landings, as well as the structural design and safeguards are as allowed by ASME A18.1 (Safety Standard for Plat- form Lifts and Stairway Chair Lifts), California Code of Regulations, Title 8 (Elevator Safety Orders), and any applicable safety regulations of other administrative authorities having jurisdiction.

If lifts are provided, they shall be designed and constructed to facilitate unassisted entry, operation and exit from the lift, and shall comply with restrictions and enhancements of this section in conjunction with Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

1124A.11.2 Size and clear floor space. Platform (wheelchair) lifts shall be of sufficient size to accommodate a wheelchair in accor- dance with Section 1138A.1.4.

1124A.11.3 Lift access. There shall be a level and clear floor area or landing at each floor or level served by platform (wheelchair) lifts. Clear floor areas or landings shall meet the applicable “accessible route” requirements.

1124A.11.4 Standby power. To ensure continued operation in case of primary power loss, platform (wheelchair) lifts shall be provided with standby power or with self-rechargeable battery power that provides sufficient power to operate all platform lift func- tions for a minimum of five upward and downward trips.

1124A.11.5 Openness. Platform (wheelchair) lifts on an accessible means of egress shall not be installed in a fully enclosed hoistway.

1124A.11.6 Doors and gates. Lifts shall have low energy power-operated doors or gates, which shall remain open for 20 seconds minimum. End doors shall have 32 inches (813 mm) minimum clear opening width. Side doors clear opening width shall be 42 inches (1067 mm) minimum.

Exception: Lifts having doors or gates on opposite sides shall be permitted to have self-closing manual doors or gates.

1124A.11.7 Restriction sign. A sign complying with Section 1143A shall be securely fastened in a conspicuous place at each landing and on the platform. The sign shall state “No Freight” in letters not less than 5/8 inch (16 mm) high and include the “International Symbol of Accessibility.”