TSSA EDM-E key terms

Ontario regulatory category covering equipment that moves people or freight vertically or along a fixed path, including elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walkways, and lifts, each subject to provincial licensing and inspection.

Provincial authorization that permits an elevating device to be used, issued or renewed only after required inspections and fees are satisfied; operating an unlicensed device is an offence under the regulation.

Scheduled examination of an elevating device by a licensed inspector at a frequency set by regulation or risk category, verifying continued code compliance and recording deficiencies that must be corrected.

Formal written direction from a regulator or inspector requiring an owner to correct a specified contravention or hazard within a stated time, often with the device taken out of service until compliance is achieved.

Process by which the provincial authority incorporates a specific edition of the ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators into law, making its requirements enforceable for new and altered installations.

Any change to an elevating device's equipment, operation, or performance beyond routine maintenance or like-for-like replacement, typically requiring design submission, permit, and inspection before return to service.

Documented program required for certain elevating devices that defines examination frequencies, procedures, recordkeeping, and personnel responsibilities so maintenance is planned and verifiable rather than reactive.

Regulatory duty to notify the authority promptly after an accident, injury, entrapment, or unexpected movement involving an elevating device, preserving evidence and keeping equipment out of service pending investigation.

Elevator driven by steel or coated ropes passing over a motor-driven sheave, using counterweight and friction to move the car; the dominant design for mid- and high-rise passenger service.

Elevator raised by a plunger pushed by pressurized oil from a power unit; suited to low-rise, low-speed duty and distinguished by its pumping unit, valve, and cylinder rather than ropes and counterweight.

Balancing mass connected to the car by ropes over the traction sheave, sized near car weight plus about half rated load, reducing motor torque demand and improving ride quality.

Grooved driving wheel on the machine that grips the hoist ropes; its groove profile, diameter, and condition determine rope traction, wear rate, and stopping performance.

Flexible steel or coated rope carrying car and counterweight loads over the sheave; subject to retirement criteria such as broken wires, diameter loss, corrosion, and broken strands.

Overspeed sensing device that trips a safety mechanism when car speed exceeds a set threshold, initiating a mechanical stop independent of the normal brake and controller.

Clamping assembly mounted under the car that grips the guide rails when activated by the governor, decelerating and holding the car during an overspeed or unintended movement event.

Vertical steel member aligned to constrain car and counterweight travel; its straightness, alignment, and bracket condition govern ride quality and provide the surface safety gear clamps against.

Sliding or roller component on the car or counterweight that engages the guide rail, maintaining alignment and absorbing lateral forces while contributing to ride smoothness.

Cylinder rod in a hydraulic elevator that transmits oil pressure to lift the car; single-stage or telescopic designs must be guided and protected against buckling and corrosion.

Tank, pump, motor, and valve assembly that pressurizes oil for a hydraulic elevator; the valve controls acceleration, deceleration, and lowering speed and must be kept clean and correctly adjusted.

Power-driven inclined stairway with moving step band and moving handrails carrying passengers between levels; key components include the truss, drive machine, step chain, and balustrade.

Continuous chain loop that drives and spaces escalator steps; tension, lubrication, and elongation must be monitored because failure can cause step pile-up and serious injury.

Toothed plate at each escalator landing that meshes with step cleats; its alignment, clearance, and comb tooth condition are critical to prevent trapping hazards.

Vertical side panel beside escalator steps; clearance to the step and the condition of skirt brushes or guards affect risk of entrapment between step and panel.

Moving belt synchronized with escalator or moving walk steps that riders hold for balance; drive, tension, and speed-matching faults are common inspection findings.

Cabinet housing logic, relays, or solid-state circuitry that sequences door operation, direction, speed, and stopping; modern units use microprocessor boards with diagnostic fault codes.

Motor control that varies voltage and frequency to regulate acceleration, deceleration, and leveling speed smoothly; reduces starting current and mechanical shock compared with direct-on-line starting.

Motor and linkage assembly that opens and closes car and landing doors; its clutch, belt, and close-force settings affect passenger safety and must be verified during inspection.

Electromechanical safety contact that prevents car motion unless every landing door is closed and locked; its adjustment and continuity are primary inspection items.

Fuse, circuit breaker, or overcurrent device protecting motor and control circuits; ratings and coordination must match design so faults clear without creating fire or shock hazards.

Intentional connection of equipment frames and enclosures to earth, providing a low-impedance fault path and limiting touch voltage; bonding continuity must be verified during inspection and maintenance.

Automatic control that brings the car floor within a small tolerance of the landing sill; excessive leveling error is a tripping hazard and indicates brake, drive, or sensor problems.

Machine-mounted friction device that holds the car at rest and stops it on power loss; lining wear, spring force, and air gap are adjusted and tested to confirm stopping capability.

Procedure of isolating energy sources, applying a personal lock and tag, and verifying zero energy before maintenance, protecting workers from unexpected startup or stored hydraulic pressure.

On-site record of servicing, examinations, repairs, and callbacks for a device; it supports regulatory compliance and helps technicians track recurring faults and parts history.

Notice placed on a device that is unsafe or noncompliant, warning that it must not be used until repairs are completed and, where required, the authority has cleared it.

Adjustment of individual hoist rope tensions so load is shared evenly; unequal tension accelerates groove and rope wear and can cause vibration or premature rope retirement.

Guide assembly using rollers instead of sliding shoes to follow the rail, reducing friction and improving ride quality at higher speeds; rollers require inspection for flat spots and bearing wear.