Updated: October 2023
Table of Contents
ASME 17.1 Section 2.2.2.5
Plumbing and mechanical systems shall not be located in an elevator shaft. Exception: Floor drains, sumps and sump pumps shall be permitted at the base of the shaft provided they are indirectly connected to the plumbing system.
Elevator pit drain or sump pump. All elevator pits for elevators that have Firefighters’ Emergency Operation shall have a drain or sump pump in accordance with ASME A17.1 Section 2.2.2.5 (2007). The drain or sump pump discharge shall be into the sanitary or storm drainage system through an indirect waste connection. In elevators provided with Firefighters’ Emergency Operation, a drain or sump pump shall be provided. The sump pump/drain shall have the capacity to remove a minimum of 3,000 gal/h per elevator (50 GPM).
Oil separators required. At repair garages, car-washing facilities, at factories where oily and flammable liquid wastes are produced and in hydraulic elevator pits, separators shall be installed into which all oil-bearing, grease-bearing or flammable wastes shall be discharged before emptying into the building drainage system or other point of disposal. Exception: An oil separator is not required in hydraulic elevator pits where an approved alarm system is installed and an indirect waste connection in accordance with §P802.1.8.
Elevator Sump Pump Requirements in Florida
Here is a great information site on elevator sump pump requirements in Florida. It is written by Tom Waardenburg from Florida Certified Elevator Inspections, Inc. Here is a brief summary of the elevator sump pump.
ASME A17.1, 106.1b (3) states: “Drains connected directly to sewers shall not be installed in elevator pits. Sumps may be installed. Where drains are not provided to prevent the accumulation of water, sump pumps shall be provided”.
This code change was made to ensure the removal of accumulated (accidental) water, from such sources as fire sprinkler heads or flooding from a source above the first landing. This provision in the code is to assist in maintaining elevator service during a fire emergency. It does not state that the pump must keep up with or surpass the volume of water from sprinklers. It was not intended for the removal of accumulated oils and/or hazardous materials. The ASME A17.1 code is not an environmental code but an Elevator Safety Code. “Drains connected directly to sewers shall not be installed in elevator pits” was not added to prevent hydraulic oil or gear oil from seeping into sewers. Instead, the purpose is to prevent methane gas from the sewer system from entering into the elevator hoistway and potentially causing an explosion. The sump pump should discharge into an open-air environment. Connection to drains could cause problems in a fire emergency due to traps within a drainage system.
NYS Code 802.1.8 Elevator Pit Drain or Sump Pump
All elevator pits for elevators that have Firefighters’ Emergency Operation shall have a drain or sump pump in accordance with ASME A17.1 Section 2.2.2.5. The drain or sump pump discharge shall be into the sanitary or storm drainage system through an indirect waste connection. The elevator pit discharge system is not required to include an oil separator, except as required by section 1003.4.
An elevator sump pump is specifically designed to be used in an elevator pit. Elevator pits are the areas below an elevator shaft that contain the machinery and cables that allow an elevator to move up and down. These pits can sometimes accumulate water, and an elevator sump pump can be used to remove the water and prevent flooding.
Whether or not an elevator sump pump is required will depend on the specific needs of the building. If the elevator pit is prone to accumulating water or if there is a risk of flooding, an elevator sump pump may be necessary to prevent damage to the elevator equipment and to ensure the safe operation of the elevator.
It is important to follow all local building codes and regulations when installing an elevator sump pump or any other type of sump pump.
