And are door scanners REQUIRED to replace safety edges?

-- joe (joe@yahoo.com), February 06, 2004

Answers

depends upon what you change, and what state you are in.

ASME code does not as far as I know require electronic detectors, only a device to stop or stop and reverse the door as it closes.

-- Dan (justsomeguylookin2@hotmail.com), February 06, 2004.

Door reopening device.

Sometimes the simplest of tasks are a pain...

Most jurisdictions I've dealt with require a "Non Contact" door reopening device (read:not a safety edge)for ADA compliance. A light curtain is one way (pana 40/80, argus/telco,gatekeeper, etc..).

BUT, remember that if you use a light curtain, or "any device which is susceptable to products of combustion" (which light curtains, proximity edges, etc. are) it must be disabled during fireman's service operation. Whether it's disabled on Phase 1, 2 or both is up to the local code authority with jurisdiction.

Also, depending on your jurisdiction, you might only be allowed by the jurisdictional authorities to only use certain,"Approved Devices". And depending on the Jurisdictional authority, they may interpret the replacement of the safety edge with a scanner/curtain as an alteration as per ASME A17 (It is listed in the 96 as an alteration, but whether they incorporate it or enforce it is another story).

And if you disable the reopening device, then the door (depending again of jurisdictional requirements for Phase 1 and Phase 2 which may have different requirements) may be required to operate at nudging speed and force on Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 fire service.

Look up your local building codes (City Building and Safety), your state elevator and ADA codes, and the federal, state, and local ADA codes. When you talk to people, get their names and numbers and when you called them, and what they told you. Getting gigged by an inspector when his boss said it's OK is not a pleasant thing.

Between the myriad of overlapping requirements and jurisdictions, you might find something that pleases them all.

S.

-- Steve (magnevator@verizon.net), February 06, 2004.