BRITISH STANDARD BS 2655-6:

1970
Incorporating
Amendment Nos. 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5

Specification for

Lifts, escalators,
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passenger conveyors
and paternosters —
Part 6: Building construction
requirements
 BS 2655-6:1970

Co-operating organizations
The Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee, under whose
supervision this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives
from the following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations:
Associated Offices’ Technical Committee* Gas Council
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Association of Consulting Engineers Institution of Civil Engineers

Association of Mining Electrical and Institution of Gas Engineers
Mechanical Engineers Institution of Heating and Ventilating
Board of Trade Engineers
British Chemical Plant Manufacturers’ Institution of Mechanical Engineers*
Association Institution of Mechanical Engineers
British Compressed Air Society (Automobile Division)
British Electrical and Allied Institution of Production Engineers
Manufacturers’ Association* Locomotive and Allied Manufacturers’
British Gear Manufacturers’ Association Association of Great Britain
British Internal Combustion Engine London Transport Board*
Manufacturers’ Association Machine Tool Trades Association
British Mechanical Engineering Ministry of Defence
Confederation* Ministry of Defence, Army Department
British Pump Manufacturers’ Association Ministry of Public Building and Works*
British Steel Industry Ministry of Technology*
Crown Agents for Oversea Governments Ministry of Technology — National
and Administrations Engineering Laboratory
Department of Employment and Ministry of Transport
Productivity (H.M. Factory Inspectorate)* National Coal Board
Electricity Council, the Central Electricity National Physical Laboratory (Ministry of
Generating Board and the Area Boards in Technology)
England and Wales Royal Institute of British Architects
Engineering Equipment Users’ Association*

The Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations

marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following, were
directly represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
British Standard:

British Railways Board Fire Offices’ Committee

Department of Health and Social Greater London Council
Security Institution of Electrical Engineers
Draughtsmen’s and Allied Technician’s Institution of Municipal Engineers
Association Ministry of Housing and Local Government
Electrical Trades Union National Association of Lift Makers
Engineers Surveyors’ Association Post Office
Federation of Wire Rope Manufacturers of Retail Trading Standards Association
Great Britain

This British Standard, having

been approved by the
Mechanical Engineering
Industry Standards
Committee, was published Amendments issued since publication
under the authority of the
Executive Board on Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
24 February 1970
1573 October 1974
© BSI 07-1999

1951 April 1976

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this 2627 June 1978
standard:
Committee reference MEE/49
Draft for comment 67/32691 3017 May 1979

4563 May 1984 Indicated by a sideline in the margin

ISBN 580 05626 0
 BS 2655-6:1970

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 General
1.1 Scope 1
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1.2 Statutory regulations 1

2 Passenger and goods lifts (powered)
2.1 Lift well construction 1
2.2 Lift well enclosure 1
2.3 Lift pits 3
2.4 Machine rooms 3
2.5 Multi-level machine rooms 5
2.6 Machine supports 5
2.7 Sprinklers 5
3 Service lifts (powered)
3.1 Lift well construction 5
3.2 Lift well enclosure 5
3.3 Lift pits 6
3.4 Machine rooms 6
3.5 Sprinklers 6
4 Hand-powered lifts
4.1 Lift well construction 6
4.2 Lift well enclosure 6
4.3 Lift pits 6
4.4 Machine rooms 6
4.5 Sprinklers 7
5 Paternosters
5.1 Paternoster well construction 7
5.2 Paternoster well enclosure 7
5.3 Paternoster pits 7
5.4 Machine rooms 7
5.5 Machine supports 8
6 Escalators and passenger conveyors
6.1 Access 8
6.2 Lifting points 8
6.3 Floor openings 8
6.4 Pit 8
6.5 Supports 8
6.6 External enclosure 8
6.7 Protection 8
6.8 Fire protection 9
6.9 Lighting 9

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 BS 2655-6:1970

Foreword

This British Standard, prepared under the authority of the Mechanical

Engineering Industry Standards Committee, is a revision of and supersedes
the 1958 edition of BS 2655, which was entitled “Electric lifts”.
The new title reflects the extension of the scope of this British Standard.
Amendments to Parts 2 and 3 have been published, and implement the change in
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title. The revised Part 1 and additional new parts are being published separately
and, together with Parts 2 and 3, are as follows:
Part 1: General requirements for electric, hydraulic and hand-powered lifts. This
part is basically a revision of the 1958 edition of BS 2655-11), without the building
requirements and list of definitions, and extended to cover the engineering and
safety requirements for new hydraulic and hand-powered lifts as well as for new
electric lifts.
Part 2: Single speed Polyphase induction motors for driving lifts. This part covers
the type of electric motor specially designed for driving lifts. It should be used in
conjunction with BS 26132) and gives additional requirements, including the
class of lift rating and special limits of temperature rise.
Part 3: Arrangements of standard electric lifts. This part gives standard
dimensions for lift wells and machine rooms in relation to lift capacity and
platform sizes, for seven classes of lifts.
Part 4: General requirements for escalators and passenger conveyors. This part
specifies engineering and safety requirements for escalators and passenger
conveyors. The latter may be described as machines in which the passenger
carrying surface remains parallel to the direction of motion and is uninterrupted.
Part 5: General requirements for paternosters. This part specifies engineering and
safety requirements for paternosters, which may be described as machines where
series of cars are continuously running in closed loops and are characterized by
the car floors remaining substantially horizontal when the direction of motion is
reversed at the extremities of car travel.
Part 6: Building construction requirements. This part specifies structural and fire
resistance requirements for the equipment covered by Parts 1, 4 and 5.
Part 7: Testing and inspection. This part specifies tests, examination and
certification of new and modified equipment covered by Parts 1, 4 and 5.
Part 8: Modernization or reconstruction of lifts, escalators and paternosters. This
part specifies engineering and safety requirements.
Part 9: Definitions. This part gives definitions of terms used in the remainder of
the standard.
Part 10: General requirements for guarding. This part specifies requirements for
the guarding of moving parts and protection against hazards from electrical
equipment. It relates to equipment covered in Parts 1, 4 and 5.
CP 407:1972. British Standard Code of Practice for electric, hydraulic and
hand-powered lifts.
The code gives general information and guidance for planning, purchasing,
installation and maintenance of passenger, goods and service lifts.
In case of difficulty in classifying any equipment in accordance with the headings
of Parts 1, 4 and 5, reference should be made to the relevant definitions in Part 9.
This Part 6 of the standard applies to the building construction requirements for
the equipment covered by Parts 1, 4 and 5. Those clauses of the text which relate
to powered lifts are based on Appendix B of the 1958 edition of BS 2655-1, with
the following broad change. The requirements for top clearances and bottom
overtravel, formerly part of Appendix B, are now transferred to the main body of
Part 1 of the standard.

1)
BS 2655, “Electric lifts” — Part 1: “General Requirements”.
2)
BS 2613, “The electrical performance of rotating electrical machinery”.

ii © BSI 07-1999
 BS 2655-6:1970

The building requirements for the equipment covered by the standard have been
brought together under one cover because of their interest to the architect or
other person responsible for specifying the details of building construction. This
last mentioned function is not, of course, the prime responsibility of the
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equipment manufacturer.
In covering the building construction requirements for escalators it has been
borne in mind that, apart from their use by public transport undertakings, they
are finding increasing application in shops and department stores. In the latter
case they are frequently supplied by the manufacturers as complete units, with
such items as machinery and control compartments forming an integral part of
the escalator. This contrasts with the former case in which a machine room is
provided.
Throughout this standard the metric and imperial systems are used side by side,
but it is important that each contract shall use either the metric system
throughout or the imperial system throughout. A mixture of the two may lead to
complications, particularly in relation to ratings of lifts and lift speeds.
Section 2 of this Part of this standard is rendered obsolescent concurrently with
the publication of BS 5655 “Lifts and service lifts” — Part 1:1979 “Safety rules for
the construction and installation of electric lifts” and Part 2:1983 “Specification
for hydraulic lifts”, under the implementation conditions stated in those
standards.
The relevant requirements of section 2 of BS 2655-6:1970 remain current only
1) when applied to service lifts, hand-powered lifts, paternosters, escalators
and passenger conveyors as specified in sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 and when specific
clauses in section 2 are invoked in those sections;
2) when required for the future maintenance and inspection of existing electric
or hydraulic installations constructed in accordance with BS 2655.
Although BS 2655-4:1969 “General requirements for escalators and passenger
conveyors” has also been made obsolescent by the publication of BS 5656 “Safety
rules for the construction and installation of escalators and passenger conveyors”
the building requirements specified in section 6 are still relevant pending the
transfer of those requirements to a specification related to BS 5656.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
pages 1 to 9 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

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iv
blank
 BS 2655-6:1970

1 General 2.2 Lift well enclosure

2.2.1 Materials of construction. Lift well
1.1 Scope enclosures shall be provided and shall be continuous
This Part of this British Standard applies to the on all sides from the pit to the top of the lift well.
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building construction requirements for escalators, Such enclosures shall be imperforate except for
lifts, passenger conveyors and paternosters. The doors and necessary access panels.
requirements for lifts are subdivided into those for 2.2.2 Strength. Lift well enclosures shall be of
powered lifts and hand-powered lifts. sufficient strength to support the lift guides at
Additional building work requirements (such as appropriate intervals, and to support in true
fixings, cutting away for switches and “making alignment the landing doors with operating
good”) are not covered by the standard, and mechanisms and locking devices.
reference should be made to the drawings supplied The structure of the well shall also be capable of
by the manufacturer of the equipment. supporting the loads that may be imposed by the
machine, the guides during safety gear operation,
1.2 Statutory regulations the buffers, the tie down (anti-jump) device, etc.
Where reference is made in this standard to the Non-structural parts of the enclosure shall be
“Building Regulations”, this means compliance capable of withstanding a horizontal force
with: of 440 N (45 kgf) or 100 lbf applied at any point
1) the Building Regulations, 1965, applicable in without under-going elastic deformation of more
England and Wales except inner London; than 25 mm or 1 in.
2) the London Building Acts, 1930:1939, and 2.2.3 Fire resistance
Construction byelaws in force thereunder, or 2.2.3.1 The material of construction shall be
3) the Building Standards (Scotland) non-combustible and shall not be such that it might
Regulations, 1963; give off harmful gas or fumes in case of fire.
4) any revisions to the above currently in force. Where there is a statutory requirement for fire
resistance of lift well enclosures and doors, the
2 Passenger and goods lifts (powered) requirements of the current issue of the building
regulations shall apply.
2.1 Lift well construction 2.2.3.2 When the entrances having access to the lift
A lift well, in association with its machine room, well have doors which automatically close, the
shall be arranged for the car and its counterweight degree of fire resistance of the entrances shall be at
to travel in the same lift well in juxtaposition to one least half that required for the enclosure.
another. The use of lift wells shall be restricted to Thus for lift well enclosures, the fire resistance of
the lift installation, and no other services shall be which is required to be one hour or less, the required
accommodated therein. The well, however, may fire resistance of the entrance shall be half an hour.
contain certain heating equipment for the lift well, Where the required fire resistance of the lift well
excluding hot water and steam heating; any control enclosure is greater than one hour but not more
and adjustment devices shall be located outside the than two hours, the required fire resistance of the
well. entrance shall be one hour.
The lift well shall not form part of the ventilation 2.2.3.3 When the entrances having access to the lift
system of the building. Where two or more lifts are well have doors which are manually closed, the
fixed in a common lift well, a rigid partition having degree of fire resistance of the entrances shall not be
a minimum height of 2.5 m shall be fixed at the less than that required for the enclosure.
bottom between any two lifts. Thus for lift well enclosures, the fire resistance of
If the horizontal distance between the edge of a car which is required to be no greater than half an hour,
roof and a moving part (car or counterweight) of an the required fire resistance of the entrance shall be
adjacent lift is less than 300 mm, this partition half an hour. When the required fire resistance of
shall be extended for the full height of the well and the lift well enclosure is greater than half an hour
over the width to be guarded. This width shall be at but not more than one hour, the required fire
least equal to that of the moving part (or part of this) resistance of the entrance shall be one hour.
which is to be guarded, plus 0.1 m on each side.

© BSI 07-1999 1
 BS 2655-6:1970

2.2.3.4 Landing doors and frames shall have a fire Exception: where vertically bi-parting landing doors
resistance NOT exceeding one hour. Where meeting or two speed horizontally sliding doors are installed
the requirements of the first paragraph of 2.2.3.2 the above clearance may be increased to 230 mm
and 2.2.3.3 results in the need for a lift well or 9 in and 200 mm or 8 in respectively provided
entrance having a fire resistance exceeding one that the car door is opened and closed by power.
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hour, the fire resistance in excess of one hour shall NOTE The above exception does not permit any car door on a
be provided by protection which is additional to the lift car with more than one entrance to be opened by power unless
landing door. This protection, which is not supplied that car door is opposite a landing entrance or, alternatively,
unless the clearance between the car sill and the lift well
by the lift maker, may be in the form of a roller enclosure is not more than 150 mm or 6 in.
shutter with a fusible link. 2.2.7 Well illumination. Permanent electric
2.2.3.5 Automatically or self-closing doors are not lighting shall be provided in the well for
smoke-proof or smoke-tight, particularly in the case illumination during service or repairs, even when
of sliding doors. Accordingly, if it is required that all doors are closed. The lighting shall comprise one
entrances to lift wells shall be smoke-tight, lamp at nor more than 500 mm from the highest
auxiliary protective means shall be provided in and lowest points in the well, with intermediate
addition to the doors normally provided by the lift lamps at 7 m maximum spacing.
maker. 2.2.8 Entrances. There shall be no entrance in a lift
2.2.4 Vents. Provision shall be made at the top of well enclosure that permits access to the lift car by
the lift well enclosure for a vent with a minimum passing under the counterweight.
free area of 0.1 m2, or 1 % of the well area,
2.2.8.1 Emergency doors. When a lift passes
whichever is the greater, to allow for any
non-stop through a long section of well without any
accumulation of smoke therein to escape directly landing entrances being provided, emergency
into the open air. For lifts whose speed openings shall be arranged in front of each of the car
exceeds 2.50 m/s the vent(s) shall be not less
entrances at not more than 11 m apart. The lift
than 0.30 m2 in free area for each lift well.
maker will provide such details to suit the
A common lift well for 1, 2 or 3 lifts whose speeds conditions of a particular building and lift
exceed 2.50 m/s requires a minimum vent area installation.
of 0.30 m2. If the number of lifts is 4, 5 or 6 the The fire resistance of each entrance shall be not less
minimum vent area shall be 0.40 m2, 0.50 m2 than that of the enclosure. The door(s) shall not
or 0.60 m2 respectively.
open into the well, they shall be imperforate and
The vents should be louvered or otherwise protected satisfy the same requirements for mechanical
to prevent rain or birds entering the lift well. strength as the landing doors at the normal lift
The well shall not be used for the ventilation of entrances.
rooms not associated with the lift installation or for The door(s) to any emergency opening shall be fitted
the ventilation of the machine room. with a key operated lock, capable of being reclosed
2.2.5 Lift well inner surface. The inner surfaces and relocked without a key. (The lock shall not
of the lift well enclosure facing any car entrance include a device to retain the bolt in a retracted
shall, as far as is practicable, form a smooth position.) The key shall bear a label drawing
continuous flush surface without projections or attention to the danger of using this key and the
recesses. need to make sure the door is locked after closing.
Where any projections of tops of recesses cannot be The door shall be openable from within the well
made flush, they shall be bevelled on the underside without a key, even when locked.
to an angle of 75° from the horizontal by means of The door(s) shall be electrically interlocked with the
metal plates, concrete or other similar lift safety circuit.
non-combustible material. A permanent notice shall be displayed on the
Other inner surfaces of the lift well enclosure shall, outside of the door(s) stating LIFT WELL —
as far as is practicable, form a continuous flush DANGER. ACCESS FORBIDDEN TO
surface without projections or recesses. UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. CLOSE AND
2.2.6 Clearances. The clearance between the lift LOCK THIS DOOR.
well enclosure and the car sill, and between the lift Emergency doors shall have the following clear
well enclosure and any car entrance column, jamb or dimensions:
equipment projecting therefrom and extending the height, at least 1 800 mm
height of the lift car shall not exceed 150 mm or 6 in width, at least 350 mm
throughout the travel of the car in the lift well
except at landing entrances.

2 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 2655-6:1970

2.2.8.2 Inspection doors and inspection trap doors. In no case shall machine or pulley rooms be used for
These are permitted only where a specific servicing purposes other than lifts. They shall not contain
requirement exists or where the safety of personnel cables or devices other than for the lift.
using the lift would otherwise be jeopardized. These rooms may, however, contain:
Inspection doors and inspection trap doors shall
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a) machines for service lifts or escalators;

comply with all the requirements specified for
emergency doors. b) equipment for airconditioning or heating these
rooms, excluding hot water or steam heating;
An inspection trap door may be fitted with a means
of overriding the electrical interlock with the lift c) fire detectors or extinguishers, with a high
safety circuit using a constant pressure device only operating temperature suited to the electrical
accessible with the trap door open. equipment, stable over a period of time, and
suitably protected against accidental impact.
The doors shall have the following clear dimensions.
Any secondary machine room in which motor
Inspection door: height at least 1 400 mm,
generators and ancillary equipment are installed
and width at least 600 mm
shall comply with the requirements for machine
Inspection trap door: height at least 500 mm, rooms.
and width at least 350 mm
When the function of the building requires it
(e.g. dwellings, hotels, hospitals, schools,
2.3 Lift pits libraries, etc.) the wall, floors and ceilings of
2.3.1 A lift pit shall be provided at the bottom of machine rooms shall absorb substantially the
every lift well. Lift pits shall be of sound water-proof sounds associated with the operation of the lifts.
construction, after allowance has been made for Fixed ladders in machine rooms shall be installed in
appropriate fixings, and the floor shall be accordance with BS 4211.
approximately level and have a smooth finish.
2.4.2 Materials of construction. The machine
It is undesirable for accessible space to occur under rooms shall be constructed of elements whose fire
a lift pit. Where this is unavoidable, such as in an resistance is in accordance with the Building
existing building, the buffer supports shall be of Regulations, and precautions should be taken to
sufficient strength to withstand the buffer loads minimize spread of fire from the machine room into
imposed by the car and the counterweight as the lift well or from the machine room to adjacent
calculated in accordance with 2.2.4 of parts of the building.
BS 2655-1:1970. Additionally, there shall be
Machine rooms shall be soundly constructed to
installed, under the counterweight buffer,
withstand the forces to which they will normally be
a) a solid pier down to solid ground, or subjected.
b) the counterweight shall be fitted with a safety The floors shall have a non-slip surface and shall be
gear. imperforate except for the minimum number of
If there is an access door to the pit, other than the openings necessary for the passage of ropes, etc. The
landing door, it shall comply with the requirements dimension of such holes in the slab and machine
of 2.2.8.1 and 2.2.8.2. Such a door is recommended room floor shall be reduced to a minimum, with the
if the pit depth exceeds 2.5 m and if the layout of the aim of removing the danger of objects falling
premises so permits. through. To this end, for openings situated above
If there is no other access a permanent means shall the well (including those for electric cables), ferrules
be provided, easily accessible from the landing door, or other effective means shall be used, which project
to permit competent personnel to descend safely at least 50 mm above the slab or finished floor.
into the pit. This shall not project into the clear Machine room floors should preferably be at one
running space of the lift equipment. level. Where a change of level of more than 500 mm
2.3.2 The bore hole for direct acting hydraulic lifts occurs in the floor, stairs or steps and guard rails
shall be lined with a tube which prevents its collapse shall be provided.
and which prevents the ingress of water. The tube The floor walls and ceiling of the machine room shall
shall provide sufficient clearance around the jack to be treated, e.g. tiled or at least painted, to reduce
allow the cylinder to be inspected with instruments. the production of dust and grit to a minimum.
2.4.3 Internal clearance and maintenance
2.4 Machine rooms provisions. Machine room dimensions shall allow
2.4.1 General requirements. A machine room easy and safe access
shall be provided for, and restricted to, the housing a) for personnel to any part of the equipment, and
of the lift machine(s) and associated equipment. b) for removal of equipment.

© BSI 07-1999 3
 BS 2655-6:1970

One or more steel beams or other suitable Permanent electric lighting shall be provided in
supports shall be provided at high level in the machine rooms to give at least 200 lx at floor level
machine room suitably positioned to and particularly around machinery and controllers.
accommodate the lifting apparatus and to permit Light switch(es) shall be adjacent to the personnel
the hoisting, installation and possible access point(s). The lighting shall be independent of
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replacement of heavy equipment. The safe the power supply to the machine room unless
working loads shall be clearly marked on these connected before the live side of the main switch. At
supports. least one switched socket-outlet shall be provided in
Machine rooms shall be provided with a floor each machine room.
capable of sustaining the heaviest unit of the lift 2.4.4 Access. Access from the public way to the
machinery. interior of the rooms containing the machines, their
Machine rooms shall, as far as possible, protect associated equipment and pulleys shall be
the machinery from dust, harmful fumes, convenient and safe throughout, and without there
humidity or other adverse environmental being need to pass through private accommodation.
pollution. Stale air from other parts of the The access route shall be well illuminated.
building shall not be exhausted into the machine The routes to the machine rooms and access points
room. shall have a minimum headroom of 1.8 m. Sills and
They shall be soundly constructed, weatherproof edges not exceeding 0.4 m high at, or in front of, the
and dry, with provision for permanent entrance are discounted.
ventilation to the open air not less than 0.10 m2 Access for personnel to machine or pulley rooms
of free area per lift. shall, for preference, be effected entirely by way of
Machine room dimensions shall allow the stairways.
following clearances. If it is difficult to install stairs, ladders may be used
c) At least 900 mm in front of the controllers and that satisfy the following conditions.
for the full width of them, but not less a) They shall not be liable to slip or to turn over.
than 500 mm wide. b) They shall, when in position, form an angle
d) At least 500 mm behind the controllers (where between 70° and 76° with the horizontal, unless
access to the back is only for purposes not they are fixed and their height is less than 1.5 m.
requiring the controller to be energized) and for c) They shall be used exclusively for this purpose
the same width as required at the front. Where and be kept always available in the vicinity; the
controllers have permanent enclosures not necessary provisions shall be made for that
requiring access to the back, no clear space is purpose.
required at the back. Where controllers require
d) Adjacent to the top end of the ladder, there
access to the back for purposes requiring the
shall be one or more hand holds within easy
controller to be energized, at least 900 mm
reach.
clearance at the back shall be provided and for
the same width as required at the front. Doors giving access to machine rooms and pulley
rooms shall not open inwards. The doors shall be
e) At least 500 mm × 600 mm clear horizontal
secure against unauthorized access and shall be
area for servicing and inspecting moving parts,
fitted with key operated locks that can be opened
where this is necessary.
without a key from inside. The doors shall have the
f) At least 500 mm wide passageways to all the following clear dimensions:
foregoing, which may reduce to 400 mm wide in
e) width, at least 600 mm (unless increased for
areas devoid of moving parts.
equipment access);
g) At least 300 mm above the highest point of the
f) height, at least 1 800 mm into main machine
machine (including rotating parts) and above
room or controller room;
pulleys (excluding diverters mounted
immediately under the lift machine). g) height, at least 1 100 mm into secondary
machine room (pulley room).
h) At least 2 150 mm clear height from the floor of
the main movement/working area. In practice A permanent notice reading DANGER. LIFT
this will be increased to accommodate lifting MACHINERY. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS
equipment. PROHIBITED. DOOR TO BE KEPT LOCKED
shall be displayed on the outside of the machine
i) At least 1 500 mm clear height in such as
room door. The characters shall be not less
pulley rooms unless controllers are installed
than 13 mm high.
inside, in which case the minimum height shall
be 2 150 mm.

4 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 2655-6:1970

When personnel access is via a trap door, a When calculating the size of beams and their
permanent notice shall be displayed in the machine supports, the total load on the beams shall be taken
room, adjacent to the trap door, stating DANGER as the weight of all fixed apparatus supported by the
OF FALLING. RECLOSE THE TRAP DOOR. The beams, plus TWICE the weight of those parts of the
character size shall be as stated for machine room lift which have vertical motion (including the
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doors. contract load).

Permanent means shall be provided to reduce the The deflection of the beams with load as specified
risk of personnel or materials falling through an above shall not exceed 1/1 500 of the distance across
open trap provided for personnel access. the lift well. The datum for deflection is taken as a
Trapdoors for personnel access shall: straight line between the beam supports on the lift
well. For the purpose of calculation these beams
h) provide a clear passage of at
shall be treated as simply supported.
least 800 mm × 800 mm;
i) when closed, be flush with finished floor and 2.7 Sprinklers
capable of supporting safely the mass of two
persons or 200 kg at any point; If sprinklers are installed in lift wells or machine
rooms they shall be of a type which does not
j) be counterbalanced and open upwards unless deteriorate in service and shall be adequately
associated with retractable ladders; guarded against accidental damage.
k) be fitted with key operated locks that can be
opened without a key from inside the room. 3 Service lifts (powered)
Trapdoors for equipment access shall:
l) when closed, be flush with finished floor; 3.1 Lift well construction
m) be lockable only from inside the machine A lift well, in association with its machine room,
room; shall be arranged for the car and its counterweight
to travel in the same lift well in juxtaposition to one
n) be soundly constructed, since they may be
another.
required temporarily to support heavy
machinery. The use of lift wells shall be restricted to the lift
installation and no other services shall be
2.4.5 Ventilation. All machine rooms and pulley
accommodated therein.
rooms shall be provided with adequate ventilation.
The lift well shall not form part of the ventilation
The ambient temperature in the machine rooms
system of the building.
shall be maintained within the following limits:
Sufficient clearances at the top and bottom shall be
a) + 5 °C and 40 °C for traction drive machines;
provided so that if the car or counterweight strikes
b) + 15 °C and 35 °C for hydraulic lift pump the buffers, the counterweight or car respectively
rooms. shall not strike any portion of the top of the lift well
structure.
2.5 Multi-level machine rooms
The penthouses or other space in which overhead 3.2 Lift well enclosure
pulleys, overspeed governors and other machinery 3.2.1 Materials of construction. The
are housed shall have a clear height of at requirements of 2.2.1 apply.
least 1.20 m or 4 ft, shall allow safe and convenient
3.2.2 Strength. The requirements of 2.2.2 apply.
access, shall have a substantial platform or floor,
and be provided with permanent and adequate 3.2.3 Fire resistance. The requirements of 2.2.3
artificial illumination. Both platforms and access apply, except that where local or national building
shall be provided with guard rails. regulations permit, the requirements of the first
paragraph of 2.2.3.1 do not apply.
2.6 Machine supports 3.2.4 Entrances. There shall be no entrance in a lift
All machines, pulleys, overspeed governors and well enclosure that permits access to the lift car by
similar units shall be supported and held to prevent passing under the counterweight.
any unit from becoming loose or displaced. 3.2.5 Lift well inner surface. The requirements
Supporting beams shall be of steel or reinforced of 2.2.5 apply.
concrete. 3.2.6 Clearances. The requirements of 2.2.6 apply.

© BSI 07-1999 5
 BS 2655-6:1970

3.3 Lift pits 4.2 Lift well enclosure

The requirements of 2.3.1 apply, unless the bottom 4.2.1 Materials of construction. The
serving height is above floor level, in which case the requirements of 2.2.1 apply.
requirements of 4.3 apply. 4.2.2 Strength. The requirements of 2.2.2 apply.
Licensed Copy: Marie-laure Chevallier ADPi (France) 06/08/2007 10:15

4.2.3 Fire resistance. The requirements of 3.2.3

3.4 Machine rooms
apply.
It is usual to accommodate the machine with its 4.2.4 Entrance. There shall be no entrance in a lift
ancillary equipment within the lift well. well enclosure that permits access to the lift car by
Where a machine room is separate from the lift well, passing under the counterweight.
a safe and convenient means of access at all times 4.2.5 Lift well inner surface. The requirements
shall be provided. The machine room shall be of 2.2.5 apply.
soundly constructed, weather-proof, dry and
provided with adequate ventilation, and shall 4.2.6 Clearances. The requirements of 2.2.6 apply.
provide access to all parts of the equipment.
4.3 Lift pits
Adequate machine room space shall be provided for
the controller(s) to be arranged, with the following Lifts may be constructed without a pit. In such a
clearances. A clear space of 0.90 m or 3 ft is required case a protective guard, forming part of the
in front of all controllers, since they must of enclosure and whose height shall be level with the
necessity be energized for maintenance purposes. cage floor, shall be provided. Where a lift pit is
Where access to the back or sides of a controller is provided at the bottom of the lift well, the pit shall
only for such purposes as do not require the be of sound water-proof construction, after
controller to be energized, then a minimum clear allowance has been made for appropriate fixings,
space of 0.50 m or 1 ft 9 in shall be provided. Where and the floor shall be approximately level and have
a controller is permanently enclosed with no a smooth finish.
possible access at the sides or back, then no clear It is undesirable that any accessible space be
space is required at the sides or back. permitted under a lift pit. Where such a space
Permanent provision for adequate artificial light exists, the pit floor shall be of sufficient strength to
shall be made in machine rooms and penthouses, with-stand forces imposed by free falling
and the light switch shall be fixed adjacent to the counterweights and loaded cars.
entrance. At least one 3-pin socket outlet suitable
for use with portable lamps or tools shall be 4.4 Machine rooms
provided in the machine room. It is usual to accommodate the machine with its
A permanent notice reading “DANGER. LIFT ancillary equipment within the lift well. All
MACHINERY. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS machine rooms should have at least 1.20 m or 4 ft
PROHIBITED. DOOR TO BE KEPT LOCKED” clear height, but this may be reduced when
shall be displayed on the outside of the machine machinery is enclosed within the lift well. Where a
room door. The characters shall not be less machine room is separate from the lift well a safe
than 13 mm or " in high. and convenient means of access at all times shall be
provided. The machine room shall be soundly
3.5 Sprinklers constructed, weather-proof, dry and provided with
adequate ventilation, and shall provide access to all
The requirements of 2.7 apply.
parts of the equipment.
4 Hand-powered lifts Permanent provision for adequate artificial light
shall be made in separate machine rooms and
4.1 Lift well construction penthouses and the light switch shall be fixed
adjacent to the entrance. At least one 3-pin socket
A lift well, in association with its machine room, outlet for use with portable lamps or tools shall be
shall be arranged for the car and its counterweight provided in the machine room.
to travel in juxtaposition to one another.
Where a control rope passes through floors, suitable
The use of lift wells shall be restricted to the lift fairings shall be provided.
installation and no other services shall be
accommodated therein.
The lift well shall not form part of the ventilation
system of the building.

6 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 2655-6:1970

A permanent notice reading “DANGER. LIFT A permanent safe means of access to the pit shall be
MACHINERY. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS provided for the use of personnel authorized to
PROHIBITED. DOORS TO BE KEPT LOCKED” service the paternoster installation. Where a fixed
shall be displayed on the outside of the machine ladder is provided it shall be located within easy
room door. The characters shall not be less reach of the lockable access door and shall not
Licensed Copy: Marie-laure Chevallier ADPi (France) 06/08/2007 10:15

than 13 mm or " in high. project into the clear well dimensions.

It is undesirable that any accessible space be
4.5 Sprinklers permitted under the pit. Where this is unavoidable,
The requirements of 2.7 apply. the pit floor shall be of sufficient strength to
withstand the loads imposed by suspension chain
5 Paternosters failure.

5.1 Paternoster well construction 5.4 Machine rooms

The use of paternoster wells shall be restricted to 5.4.1 General requirements. The requirements
the paternoster installation and no other services of 2.4.1 apply.
shall be accommodated therein. 5.4.2 Materials of construction. The
The paternoster well shall not form part of the requirements of 2.4.2 apply.
ventilation system of the building. 5.4.3 Internal clearances and maintenance
When a paternoster passes through a number of provisions. Machine rooms shall be arranged to
floors of a building without any landing entrances allow reasonable access to, and the removal of, any
being provided at these floors, emergency openings part of the equipment. A steel joist shall be provided
shall be arranged in front of each of the entrances at over the machine at a height above the machine
every third floor. platform sufficient to accommodate the machine
and lifting apparatus and to allow adequate
5.2 Paternoster well enclosure clearance for the removal of any part of the machine
necessary for maintenance purposes. Machine
5.2.1 Materials of construction. Paternoster well rooms shall be provided with a floor capable of
enclosures shall be provided and shall be continuous sustaining the heaviest unit of the paternoster
on all sides from the pit to the top of the paternoster machinery.
well. Such enclosures shall be imperforate except for
entrances and necessary access panels. The machine room shall have a height as indicated
on the paternoster maker’s drawings so as to allow
The material of construction shall be adequate clearance for the top change-over of the
non-combustible and shall not be such that it might paternoster cars. It shall be soundly constructed,
give off harmful gas or fumes in case of fire. weather-proof and dry, with a provision for
5.2.2 Strength. Paternoster well enclosures shall permanent ventilation direct to the open air of not
be of sufficient strength to support the paternoster less than 0.10 m2 or 1 ft2 of free area per
guides at suitable intervals. Non-structural parts of paternoster.
the enclosure shall be capable of withstanding a Adequate machine room space shall be provided so
horizontal force of 440 N (45 kgf ) or 100 lbf applied that the controller can be arranged with the
at any point without undergoing elastic deformation necessary 0.90 m or 3 ft clear space in front for
of more than 25 mm or 1 in. maintenance purposes. The controller shall be
5.2.3 Paternoster well inner surface. The inner permanently enclosed at sides and back.
faces of the paternoster enclosure facing the car Permanent provision for adequate artificial light
entrances shall form a smooth continuous flush shall be made in machine rooms and the light switch
surface without projections or recesses. shall be fixed adjacent to the entrance. At least
one 3-pin socket outlet suitable for use with portable
5.3 Paternoster pits lamps or tools shall be provided in the machine
A paternoster pit shall be provided at the bottom of room.
every paternoster well. Pits shall be of sound
water-proof construction and the floor shall be
approximately level and have a smooth finish.

© BSI 07-1999 7
 BS 2655-6:1970

5.4.4 Access. A safe and convenient route with a 6.2 Lifting points
minimum clear height of 1.80 m or 6 ft shall be
Suitable lifting points shall be provided to enable
provided for access to the machine room. Where
the assembled equipment or its sections to be lifted
stairs are provided they shall be permanently
and manoeuvred into the installed position.
installed and shall be provided with handrails in the
Licensed Copy: Marie-laure Chevallier ADPi (France) 06/08/2007 10:15

machine room. Trapdoors shall be hinged, balanced

and of good construction and fit, so as to minimize
6.3 Floor openings
the transmission of noise. Openings in the floor shall be provided and trimmed
Machine rooms shall be secured against to accommodate the landing portions of the
unauthorized access. equipment. The opening in the upper floor shall
provide a minimum clear height of 2.30 m
A permanent notice reading “DANGER.
or 7 ft 6 in above the nose line of the escalator steps
PATERNOSTER MACHINERY. UNAUTHORIZED
or passenger conveyor belt on the incline.
ACCESS PROHIBITED. DOOR TO BE KEPT
LOCKED” shall be displayed on the outside of the
6.4 Pit
machine room door. The characters shall not be less
than 13 mm or " in high. Where the lower landing of the equipment requires
excavation, a pit of sound water-proof construction
5.5 Machine supports shall be provided.
The bedplate of the machine shall be supported and
6.5 Supports
held, to prevent displacement, by a suitable concrete
plinth to the dimensions indicated on the Steel or reinforced concrete beams with bearer
paternoster maker’s drawings. The plinth shall be plates shall be provided within the building
supported on steel or reinforced concrete beams. framework to carry the loads imposed by the
When calculating the size of beams and supports, equipment.
the total load on the beams shall be taken as the When calculating the size of beams and their
weight of all apparatus supported by the beams, supports, the total load on the beams shall be taken
plus TWICE the weight of those parts of the as the weight of all apparatus supported by the
paternoster which have vertical motion (including beams plus TWICE the maximum passenger load
the contract load). carried by the beams when the equipment is at rest.
The deflection of the beams with load as specified The factor of safety for beams based on ultimate
above shall not exceed 1/1 500 of the distance across strength of the material and the load as specified
the paternoster well. The datum for deflection is above shall not be less than 5. The deflection of the
taken as a straight line between the beam supports beams with load as specified above shall not
on the paternoster well. For the purpose of exceed 1/1 500 of the span.
calculation these beams shall be treated as simply
supported. 6.6 External enclosure
The sides and undersides of the main trusses and
6 Escalators and passenger conveyors machinery spaces shall be enclosed with
non-combustible materials. Means shall be provided
6.1 Access for adequate ventilation of the driving machinery
Sufficient access in the building and a clear passage and control spaces.
for the assembled equipment or its sections to the
seating position and supports shall be arranged. 6.7 Protection
Any floors over which the assembled equipment or Where the equipment passes through an open floor,
its sections have to pass shall be of sufficient the exposed sides and the floor opening shall be
strength or suitably strutted to support the loads. protected with a solid balustrade to a height at least
equivalent to the height of the moving handrail at
the landings.

8 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 2655-6:1970

6.8 Fire protection 3) roller shutters which are automatically

released to cover the balustraded floor opening
Floor openings for the equipment shall, if required
and the equipment at its top landing;
by local or national regulations, be protected against
the passage of flame, smoke or gases in the event of 4) a system of sprinklers arranged to protect the
floor opening.
Licensed Copy: Marie-laure Chevallier ADPi (France) 06/08/2007 10:15

fire. Protective means with the requisite grade of

fire resistance are usually selected from the
following: 6.9 Lighting
1) a separate building enclosure constructed Lighting shall be arranged so that all exposed tread
exclusively for accommodating the equipment; surfaces are illuminated to an intensity of not less
2) a kiosk or enclosure constructed over the floor than 100 lux or 10 foot candles.
opening and so completely enclosing the top
landing of the equipment;

© BSI 07-1999 9
 BS 2655-6:
1970
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