Codes and Standards (ASME A17.1/A17.1s, A17.2, A17.3, A17.4, A17.5, A17.6, A18.1)
The code family on the exam
ASME A17.1/CSA B44 is the primary new-installation safety code for elevators and escalators. A17.1s is a supplement that carries additions and revisions between full editions. A17.2 is the inspection guide: it tells an inspector what to examine and how to witness tests, but it is not itself a design code. A17.3 sets minimum safety requirements for existing elevators and escalators that are not being upgraded to current A17.1. A17.4 guides emergency responders during rescue operations. A17.5 covers electrical equipment for elevators and escalators. A17.6 addresses suspension, compensation, and governor systems. A18.1 covers platform lifts and stairway chairlifts.
Worked example
A 1978 hydraulic elevator in a Minneapolis office is inspected. The owner asks whether the car must meet current A17.1 door-gap rules. The inspector starts with A17.3 because the unit is an existing installation. A17.3 sets minimum safety requirements for existing elevators; A17.1 governs new installations and alterations within its scope. The inspector cites the applicable A17.3 door requirement rather than demanding a full new-code upgrade, unless the alteration itself triggers A17.1.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat A17.2 as a mandatory construction code; it is an inspection guide. Do not cite A17.4 for installation requirements; it is for emergency personnel. Do not assume A17.3 requires every current A17.1 feature. Know which document applies to new work, existing equipment, electrical equipment, suspension systems, and accessibility lifts.