Are elevator pit hydraulic shut off valves required?

From time to time we discuss modernization projects with potential customers and they indicate  Company XYZ said “this”.  I was approached after a scope review about an Intergalactic Company indicating all buildings must have a pit shut off valves installed.  I was not 100% on the answer.  I do remember going back and forth with a City of Chicago inspector about one we put in on an elevator cylinder replacement.  We typically install pit shut offs on all cylinder replacements and he was indicating it should not be there.

[Machine room shut off]

                                                   [Hydraulic elevator pit shut off]

Lets find out what the code says. A17.1 2013

3.19.4.1 Shutoff Valve.  A manually operated shut off valve shall be provided between the hydraulic machines and the hydraulic jack and shall be located outside the hoistway and adjacent to the hydraulic machine.

Where the hydraulic machine is located in the hoistway, the manually operated shutoff valve shall be permitted to be located inside the hoistway, provided that it is accessible from outside hoistway to elevator personnel only.

Ok, my interpretation is that one shut off needs to be located in the elevator machine room.  This is the minimum.  Now, we can install them in the elevator pit for maintenance reasons, but the pit cannot be the only means to isolate the hydraulic oil line.

So Intergalactic Company while your recommendation is good practice, it is not the code to install the shut off valve in the hoistway when you replace a controller.  But the sales person may have been confused because they are also installing MRL hydraulic elevators that would have a shut off in the hoistway[see paragraph 2].  The same sales person from the Empire also told the building owner they needed a pit ladder for the walk in pit.  Personally I would rather walk down the building stairs and walk through a pit door then climb down 14’ to the elevator pit.

If you have any questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.