BC adopts B44-16 safety code for elevators and escalators
To improve the safety of elevating devices across the province, BC’s Elevating Devices Safety Regulation has been amended to include the adoption of the 2016 edition of the ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The new safety code came into effect on April 30, 2020.
The adoption of the new code requires owners of elevating devices to:
- Have a maintenance control program in place for each elevating device no later than September 30, 2021. A maintenance control program, or MCP, is a maintenance and examination schedule for an elevating device where the maintenance intervals can be customized to reflect installation and usage.
- Conduct annual, three and five-year testing of elevator systems (Category 1, Category 3, and Category 5), and testing of escalators and moving walks (Category 1 tests for escalators and moving walks).
- Conduct daily start-up checks of escalators and moving walks and barricading of stopped escalators.
2016 B44 elevating code courses
Sign up now for an in-depth overview of the changes to BC’s Acts, Regulations and CSA B44 including interpretations and applications of the code as well as new definitions and tables.
For elevating devices mechanics these courses will contribute to your 6 hours continuing education training requirement of Act, regulations, and code.
Why are these changes important?
A maintenance control program helps ensure each elevating device is properly maintained throughout its life cycle. Customized maintenance control programs are designed to prevent elevator failure, maximize reliability, reduce risk, and improve public safety.
The new testing requirements help ensure that elevators can operate and stop safely in all circumstances. In jurisdictions where the new testing requirements have been implemented, safety defects have been identified that would not have been detected otherwise.
If you’re an elevating device owner, find out how you benefit from the B44-16 code.
Roles and responsibilities
Equipment owners are responsible for ensuring maintenance work is performed on their devices by licensed contractors. Owners should reach out to their maintenance contractors to make sure their maintenance contract complies with the new requirements.
An elevator’s owner is responsible for ensuring a maintenance control program is in place. However, only a licensed elevator contractor has the knowledge to develop a maintenance control program. It is standard practice for owners to contract licensed elevator companies to conduct the specific requirements of the maintenance control program on their behalf.
Resources
- Elevating Devices Safety Regulation
- Information Bulletin: Amendments to the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation and Adoption of ASME A17.1 – 16/CSA B44 – 16 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
- ASME A17.1 – 16/CSA B44 – 16 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators through CSA Standards Store (some sections and clauses are not adopted in BC, refer to this Information Bulletin for more details).