Maximum allowable clearance distances between doors in residential dumbwaiters and elevators. (FE)

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.