Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-8-3-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 480-8-3-.03 - Qualifications To Be Licensed As An Elevator Inspector

(1) No inspector's license shall be granted to any person unless he or she demonstrates to the satisfaction of the administrator or other officer designated by the board that he or she meets the current Department of Labor Standards for the Qualifications of Elevator Inspectors.

(2) No license shall be granted to any entity that has not demonstrated the requisite qualifications and abilities. Notwithstanding any other provision, cities or municipalities wishing to engage in the safety inspections of existing elevators or related conveyances, the permitting and inspection of new or modernized elevators or related conveyances, may perform inspection programs on behalf of the Board, provided they meet the following requirements:

(a) The inspector shall meet the experience requirements noted in the qualifications for an inspector as set forth by the Department of Labor

(b) The inspector must submit an application to the Alabama Department of Labor to be a licensed elevator inspector;

(c) Subsequent to inspection, the city or municipal inspector shall supply the property owner or lessee and the Administrator with a written inspection report describing any and all violations;

(d) When a unit is proven to be in safe operating condition, a Certificate of Operation shall be issued through the Alabama Department of Labor and may be issued jointly with the Municipality; and

(e) The applicant or licensee must meet all other statutory requirements and rules and regulations enforced by the Board.

(3) Qualifications: An inspector shall meet the definition of "Elevator Personnel" in ASME A17.1/CSA B44, Section 1.3 and have documented training and at least 1 year of experience performing inspections and performing or witnessing tests specified in ASME A17.1/CSA B44, CSA B311, ASME A18.1 or CSA B355, and ANSI/ASSE A10.4 or CSA Z185. Verifiable evidence of training and experience shall be documented with the application for license to the department. . Knowledge may be evidenced by approved written and/or oral examinations, as administered by the department or other organizations acceptable to the department.

General Knowledge:

An inspector shall also verify that he or she meets the following qualifications:

(a) knowledge of personal safety practices to perform the following:

1. acceptance inspections of new construction

2. routine and periodic inspections of existing equipment

3. inspections of equipment in hazardous environments, where applicable

(b) familiarity with industry terminology, including the following:

1. terms defined and used in ASME A17.1/CSA B44, ASME

A18.1.A17.3 and NFPA Standards.

2. terms used in ASME A17.2

3. terms defined and used in the National Electrical Code

4. Administrative rules and regulations published by the department

(c) ability to read architectural and installation drawings including hoistway and machine room layouts.

(d) working knowledge of electrical, electronic, and circuit construction principles, including but not limited to:

(1) voltage, currents, and resistance

(2) series and parallel circuits

(3) grounding

(4) ability to read circuit diagrams

(e) knowledge of the purpose and function of safety devices in the following locations:

(1) machine rooms and machinery spaces

(2) hoistways

(3) on the cars

(4) pits

(5) escalators, moving walks, and other related equipment

(f) working knowledge of mechanical principles as applied to structures, machines, mechanisms, and the effects of traction on ropes and sheaves.

(g) working knowledge of hydraulic principles as applied to the operation of valves, pumps, plungers, piping, and buffers.

(h) working knowledge of the various types of equipment; their code requirements, uses, and limitations.

(1) classification of usage

(a) passenger elevators

(b) freight elevators (classes A, B, CI, C2, and C3)

(c) private residence elevators

(d) sidewalk elevators

(e) special purpose personnel elevators

(f) inclined elevators

g) material lifts and dumbwaiters with automatic transfer devices

(h) dumbwaiters

(I) elevators used for construction

(j) personnel hoists and employee elevators

(2) Classification of driving means

(a) traction

(b) winding drum

(c) hydraulic (direct-plunger hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, maintained-pressure hydraulic, and roped hydraulic)

(d) screw machine

(e) rack and pinion

(f) hand

(g) belt and chain drives

(3) escalators and moving walks

(4) inclined and vertical wheelchair lifts and stairway chairlifts (ASME A17.1b-1998 and earlier.

(i) working knowledge of the functions and operations of elevator systems, including machines, motors, governors, and other machine room equipment; controllers, position devices, door operator systems, hoistway systems, safety system testing and functions, pit equipment escalators, moving walks, electrical devices, and hydraulics

(j) working knowledge of inspection and testing procedures as described in ASME A17.2 and awareness of published interpretations of those procedures

(k) working knowledge of applicable building, fire, electrical, and accessibility codes

(l) demonstrated ability to perform the duties specified in Section 2.2

(m) working knowledge of the requirements of ASME A17.3 and awareness of published interpretations of ASME A17.3

(n) must have in his or her personal possession the current codes in effect at the time of each inspection.

(4) Duties: The duties of an inspector include but are not limited to the following:

(a) making acceptance inspections and witnessing tests to determine whether all parts of the installation conform to the requirements of the applicable code or regulations and whether the required safety devices function as required therein

(b) making routine or periodic inspections and witnessing tests of existing installations to determine that the equipment is in apparent safe operating condition, has not been altered except in conformity to the applicable code or regulations, and performs in accordance with test requirements

(c) reporting the results of the inspection and testing in accordance with the appropriate administrative procedures established by the department.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-8-3-.03

New Rule: Filed June 22, 2004; effective July 27, 2004. Amended: Filed August 17, 2006; effective September 21, 2006. Amended: Filed January 9, 2013; effective February 13, 2013. Amended: Filed November 25, 2013; effective December 30, 2013.

Authors: Ralph Pate, Andrew Hamilton Smith

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-13-6, -9 (2003).