1. City of Buffalo
Elevator Safety Ordinance
Chapter 167, entitled
Elevators of the City
of Buffalo Charter
and Code is a public
safety law which
applies to all new and
existing elevators.
2. It’s the only ordinance
of it’s kind in all of
Western New York.
3. It’s administered by The City of Buffalo
Department of Permit and Inspection Services
8. Creation of a nine member mayoral appointed
Elevator Safety Review Board which meets
each month. The board has the authority to
grant exceptions from the local law, hold
hearings and review complaints and
recommend changes to the local ordinance.
9. In 1994 the City of
Buffalo adopted
5 Retro -Active
requirements; to out
fit all existing
Elevators with
modern safety
features.
10. 1. Two - way communications
Installed in every Elevator
compartment, monitored on a
[freight & passenger 24 hour basis.
Elevators] Equipment shall
be tested
annually in
accordance with
Chapter 167-21
14. 5.(a) Top of car electric light
5.(b) Top of car GFCI
electrical receptacle
15. Prior to 1989 Buffalo had not required any
Elevator inspections or
tests……...
No inventory of how many Elevators existed.
No accidents statistics were kept.
Many Elevators had not been inspected or
tested in over 25 years!
16. How many unsafe Elevators
were found?
During the first 12 months, 125 Elevators were
voluntarily ‘removed from service’ rather than
the owner consent to their first safety
inspection.
17. During the next five years, another 245
Elevators were tagged ‘out of service’ by
inspectors as unsafe to ride or operate.
These elevators were not returned to service
until all repairs were made.
18. Between 1990-1996, 65% of the existing
elevators in Buffalo failed safety inspections
for one or more of the following reasons……
Faulty safety devices, frayed cables and an
over all lack of upkeep maintenance and
repairs.
19. There are 50-60 new or modernized elevator
installations per year in Buffalo
20. With well over $125,000 generated annually from
issuing elevator permits, licenses and certificates
of operation.
21. And yet, nearly 100% of the new and
modernized installations fail inspections
due to violations of the Codes New York
State and its referenced standards.
22. The typical violations discovered…………..
A) Hoisways built without smoke venting
B) Smoke detectors
located in the Elevator
lobbies did not activate
fire recall.
C) Smoke detectors were
missing from locations
required by code; examples
Hoistway, machine room
26. Registration of all
new and existing
Elevators;
Property owners are
required to supply
such information as
building use, Elevator
type, rated load,
speed, manufacture,
previous alterations
and purpose for
which Elevator is
used.
Registration includes
all commercial and
private residence
properties.
27. Inspection
of all new
and existing
Elevators;
All
inspections
are to be
completed
by a QEI
certified
Elevator
inspector
employed
by a
company
licensed by
the City of
Buffalo.
28. Licensing of
Inspectors and
Installers;
No person, firm
or company
shall inspect,
erect, construct,
alter, install,
service, repair,
replace or
maintain
Elevators in the
City of Buffalo
unless an
Inspector or
Installer license
has been
issued………
29. No one company shall hold both an
installer and/or inspector license at the
same time.
31. Compliance with the Codes of
New York State ….
It shall be the responsibility of
all involved to insure that the
installation and/or service and
repair of elevators is
preformed in compliance with
the provisions of the Codes of
New York State, and be
prepared to certify such
compliance. Whenever a
provision of Chapter 167 is
found to be inconsistent with
any provision of applicable
State Law, code or regulation.
The State Law shall
prevail…….
32. Issuance of
certificate(s) of
operation……..
Prior to any
conveyance being
used a certificate of
operation shall be
obtained by the
property owner
from the City of
Buffalo.
Certificate(s) of
operation are
renewable annually.
They shall be posted
conspicuously inside
the elevator
compartment.
33. Here’s how its all supposed to work!
Property owners choose a licensed third-party inspection company
to complete the required elevator inspection.
Third-party inspectors inspect the elevator and issue an inspection
report to the property owner and at the same time file a copy
[within 5 business days] with the City of Buffalo elevator code
enforcement office.
Owners are given a maximum of 30 days to make arrangements to
correct any and all outstanding code violations.
Of course same day action for serious hazards.
Licensed elevator maintenance companies correct the outstanding
violations.
Owners are than issued certificate(s) of operation for compliant
elevators.
34. There is a
decrease in
the number
of elevator
accidents in
Buffalo since
1989; reason
is a high
compliance
rate.
However
even with a
local
ordnance
accidents
still do
occur……….
36. 2 Cases:
passengers
injured while
boarding an
elevator,
“caught
between bi-
parting
hoistway
doors”
causing
multiple
injures,
including a
severe head
trauma,
resulting in
one death.
37. 1 Case: Elevator ascends “out of control”
and into the overhead machinery space.
Result passenger sustains multiple injuries
including 150 stitches to the scalp and a
cardiac arrest.
38. 1 Case: Elevator malfunctions while
mechanic was working on top of the car.
It is believed a faulty stop switch caused
the car to respond at full speed to its next
call. Resulting in the mechanic being
crushed to death between the car door and
the hoistway wall.
39. And these are the serious accidents
resulting in multiple injuries and 4
deaths.
A near miss accident….
1 case: Brand new handicapped lift
collapses and nearly decapitates a
woman leaning inside the hoistway.
Cause: Faulty installation of the safety
device by the installing contractor.
Action taken: The City of Buffalo
enters the previously unregulated
residential and commercial lift
industry.
Problem: Handicapped lifts were
being sold by drug store and medical
supply outlets with installation by un
qualified contractors.
40. The final phase of Code
Enforcement begins
with,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
a 30 day final notice,
mailed to the property
owner requiring a prompt
reply to code violations.
Followed up by a courtesy
phone call, advising the
owner of pending court
action.
At this point the owner can
select from three choices;
1) Repair the Elevator and
return it to service.
2) Remove the Elevator
from service or,,,,,,,,,,,,
41. 3) If violations are not corrected within the 30 day time frame the
owner will be issued a court summons and ordered to appear in
City of Buffalo housing court, and face a maximum of either 15
days in jail per count, a $1,500.00 fine per count or both.
42. Prompt action
must be taken
to correct code
violations,
Why?
To insure
public safety
To reduce
accidents
To minimize
legal liability
against the
City of Buffalo
and Code
Enforcement
Officers.
43. If you have any further
questions regarding
Elevators, Escalators
etc. Please Call……….
323
E-Mail: jschiavone@city-buffalo.com
