AB 443

This bill requires that the owner of an individual residential dwelling unit that

is served by a dumbwaiter or elevator must ensure that the dumbwaiter or elevator

meets all of the following requirements:

1. The clearance between the hoistway face of a landing door or gate for the

dumbwaiter or elevator and the hoistway edge of the landing sill does not exceed

three-quarters of an inch.

2. The distance between the hoistway face of a landing door or gate for the

dumbwaiter or elevator and the farthest point of the car door or gate does not exceed

three inches.

The bill provides that, for a dumbwaiter or elevator installed before the

effective date of the bill, an owner may comply with the maximum clearance and

distance requirements by measuring from a space guard that is attached to the

hoistway face of a landing door or gate if the space guard is designed and installed

according to specifications established by the Department of Safety and Professional

Services.

The bill also provides that, for a dumbwaiter or elevator installed before the

effective date of the bill, an owner may install a light curtain on each landing that

meets certain minimum safety requirements. If the owner installs light curtains, the

maximum clearance and distance requirements are increased to three inches and

five inches, respectively.

The bill requires DSPS to develop a pamphlet that describes the maximum

clearance and distance requirements created in the bill and the dangers associated

with dumbwaiters and elevators that do not comply with those requirements, and

the bill requires persons that provide certain services to owners of residential

dumbwaiters and elevators to provide each owner with a copy of the pamphlet at the

time a service is provided.

Finally, the bill prohibits a person that is licensed as an elevator contractor or

elevator mechanic from altering, maintaining, repairing, or servicing a dumbwaiter

or elevator that does not comply with the maximum clearance and distance

requirements created in the bill unless the alteration, maintenance, repair, or

service brings the dumbwaiter or elevator into compliance.