Title 23
Health and Safety

Chapter 33
Elevators, Escalators, and Dumbwaiters

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-30

§ 23-33-30. Elevators placed out of service.

All elevators and other devices subject to the provisions of §§ 23-33-1 to 23-33-29, inclusive, having been out of active service for a period exceeding one year, or said devices to be placed out of service for a period exceeding six (6) months, after July 1, 1997, shall comply with the following: (A) (1) The owner or agent for the owner shall notify the chief inspector in writing, giving the date when the elevator or other device will be placed out of service. (2) If the out of service period is to exceed six (6) months, the car and counterweights where provided shall be lowered to the pit floor, all suspension means removed, all main line fuses removed, and the service switch opened and tagged and sealed. (3) All hoistway entrances shall be bolted securely in the closed position from the hoistway side. (4) Where hoistway gates are in place, the landing openings shall be totally enclosed and strongly reinforced. (5) The lowest landing hoistway door shall be locked from the outside of the hoistway to facilitate repairs for reactivation. (6) Where the elevator or other device is hydraulically operated, the decommissioning shall, in addition to the securing of the hoistway and electrical power as described previously, lower the car into the pit, and have all hydraulic fluid and piping from the cylinder to the pump unit removed from the premises. (7) In addition to the removal of the main line fuses, the supply wiring from the load side of the main line disconnect switch to the controller shall be removed on all devices decommissioned. (8) Any device having been decommissioned as described previously, shall be reactivated when in compliance with the current rules and regulations as promulgated by the code commission. (B) Any device required to be decommissioned shall have this procedure completed by a licensed company as specified in § 23-33-2.2. The said company shall notify the chief inspector when any device is decommissioned. (C) Any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter, having been placed out of service for code violations or non-use by an inspector or the chief inspector shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

Provided, that nothing in this section shall be interpreted to eliminate any requirement for hoisting engineers that would be required pursuant to the provisions of § 28-26-5 and/or to authorize the promulgation of any rules and/or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of § 28-26-5.

History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 271, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 68, § 2.