All buildings having residents' facilities (such as bedrooms,
dining rooms, or recreation areas) or resident services (such as diagnostic
or therapy) located on other than the main entrance floor must have
at least one electric or electrohydraulic elevator and must comply
with standards adopted under the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) Code, §A17.1.
(1) Number of elevators.
(A) At least one hospital-type elevator must be installed
where one to 60 resident beds are located on any floor other than
the main entrance floor.
(B) At least two (one of which must be hospital-type)
elevators must be installed where 61 to 200 resident beds are located
on floors other than the main entrance floor, or where the major
inpatient services are located on a floor other than those containing
resident beds. Elevator service may be reduced for those floors which
provide only partial inpatient services.
(C) At least three (one of which must be hospital-type)
elevators must be installed where 201 to 350 resident beds are located
on floors other than the main entrance floor or where the major inpatient
services are located on a floor other than those containing resident
beds. Elevator service may be reduced for those floors which provide
only partial inpatient services.
(D) For facilities with more than 350 resident beds,
the number of elevators must be determined from a study of the facility
plan and the estimated vertical transportation requirements.
(2) Cars and platforms. Cars of hospital-type elevators
must have inside dimensions that will accommodate a resident bed and
attendants and must be at least five feet wide by seven feet six inches
deep. The car door must have a clear opening of not less than three
feet eight inches.
(3) Leveling. Elevators must be equipped with an automatic
leveling device of the two-way automatic maintaining type with an
accuracy of 1/2 inch.
(4) Operation. Elevators, except freight elevators,
must be equipped with a two-way special service switch to permit cars
to bypass all landing button calls and be dispatched directly to any
floor.
(5) Accessibility provisions. Elevator controls, alarm
buttons, and telephones, must be accessible to and usable by individuals
with disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990.
(6) Protection from fire. Elevator call buttons, controls,
and door safety stops must be of a type that will not be activated
by heat or smoke. Door openings must meet the requirements of the
Life Safety Code for protection of vertical openings.
(7) Field inspection and tests. Inspections and tests
must be made and the owner must be furnished written certification
that the installation meets the requirements set forth in this section
and all applicable safety regulations and codes.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §554.343 adopted to be effective July 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 4408; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871 |
