Professional Documents
Culture Documents
7—1998
Australian Standard™
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Australian Standard™
PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
Committee ME/4, Lift Installations, to supersede AS 1735.7 — 1987.
This Standard is the result of consensus among Australian and New Zealand
representatives on the Joint Committee to produce it as an Australian Standard.
The objective of this Standard is to provide requirements for power-operated stairway lifts
intended for use by persons with limited mobility.
This Standard is one of a series of Standards covering lifting devices which are able to
assist persons with limited mobility; other Standards in the series are as follows:
AS
1735 Lifts, escalators and moving walks
1735.2 Part 2: Passenger and goods lifts — Electric
1735.3 Part 3: Passenger and goods lifts — Electrohydraulic
1735.8 Part 8: Inclined lifts
1735.12 Part 12: Facilities for persons with disabilities
1735.13 Part 13: Lifts for persons with limited mobility — Manually powered
1735.14 Part 14: Low-rise platforms for passengers
1735.15 Part 15: Lifts for people with limited mobility — Restricted use — Non-
automatically controlled
1735.16 Part 16: Lifts for people with limited mobility — Restricted use — Automatically
controlled
1735.17 Part 17: Lifts for people with limited mobility — Restricted use — Water-drive
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.
CONTENTS
Page
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 RATED CAPACITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 RATED LOAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7 PLATFORM AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
8 SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
9 SLOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
10 WEATHER RESISTANCE . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
11 FLUSHNESS OF STAIRWAY . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
12 ACCESS ALONG STAIRWAY . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
13 SIDE CLEARANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
14 END PERSON CLEARANCE . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
15 HEAD CLEARANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
16 FACTORS OF SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
17 GUIDES AND SUPPORTS . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
18 CARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
19 DRIVING MACHINERY . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
20 ENCLOSURES AND GUARDING . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
21 MACHINE BRAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
22 SAFETY DEVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
23 OPERATING CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
24 ELECTRICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
25 LIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
26 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION FOR WHEELCHAIR
PLATFORM LIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
27 NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
APPENDICES
A INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B GUIDE FOR SELECTION OF LIFT TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
AS 1735.7 — 1998 4
STANDARDS AUSTRALIA
Australian Standard
Lifts, escalators and moving walks
2 APPLICATION Lifts complying with this Standard are intended for passengers and
wheelchair applications. Goods shall not be carried.
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5 AS 1735.7 — 1998
4 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard, the definitions in AS 1735.1 and
those below apply.
4.1 Stairway chair lift — a stairway lift equipped with a carriage (load-carrying unit) in
the form of one or two attached chairs.
4.2 Stairway lift — a device installed on a stairway accessible to and usable by persons
with limited mobility, for raising and lowering the persons between two or more levels by
means of a guided carriage moving substantially in the direction of flight of the stairway.
4.3 Stairway platform lift — a stairway lift equipped with a carriage (load-carrying unit)
in the form of a platform, which may also incorporate a chair.
5 RATED CAPACITY The rated capacity shall be not more than one person plus one
person in a wheelchair.
6 RATED LOAD The rated load shall be not more than 300 kg nor less than the
relevant minimum rated load specified in Table 1.
7 PLATFORM AREA The platform dimensions shall be not less than the relevant
minimum dimensions, and the platform area shall be not more than the relevant maximum
area specified in Table 1.
8 SPEED The rated speed shall be not more than 0.16 m/s.
9 SLOPE The slope of the direction of travel shall be not more than 45 degrees to the
horizontal.
TABLE 1
DESIGN PARAMETERS
1 2 3 4 5 6
Platform
NOTE: Length is measured horizontally in the direction of travel between the safety flaps in the elevated
position or the sensitive edges in the non-actuated, position, whichever applies.
11 FLUSHNESS OF STAIRWAY The side of the stairway in which the stairway lift
is installed shall be solid, smooth and substantially flush.
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AS 1735.7 — 1998 6
12 ACCESS ALONG STAIRWAY A free access along the stairway and beside the
carriage, for every position of the carriage along its path of travel, shall be provided. The
horizontal width of this access between any part of the carriage and any obstruction on
the side of the stairway opposite to that supporting the carriage, including walls and
handrails, shall be not less than the following:
(a) Folded condition When the platform, any armrests and any footrests are in the
folded condition —
(i) where located in a private residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 mm; or
(ii) where located in other than a private residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 mm.
(b) Unfolded condition When the platform, any armrests, and any footrests are in the
unfolded condition —
(i) where located in a private residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 mm; or
(ii) where located in other than a private residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 mm.
NOTE: In other than private residences, the (BCA) has specific requirements covering
obstructions encroaching on the required width of fire exits.
13 SIDE CLEARANCE The clearance between the gripping surface of the handgrip or
handrail of the carriage and fixed parts of the stairway or building, for every position of
the carriage along its path of travel, shall be not less than 75 mm.
14 END PERSON CLEARANCE At each end of travel with the carriage resting
against its fully compressed buffer or stop, a person clearance of not less than 300 mm
shall be provided between the end of the carriage, including any carriage attachment, and
any fixed obstruction in the direction of travel. This person clearance shall extend over a
width of not less than 600 mm.
15 HEAD CLEARANCE For every position of the carriage along its path of travel,
the head clearance above any platform and any foot rest shall be not less than the
following:
(a) For chair lifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700 mm from the footrest.
(b) For chair type lift with standing option, or for platform lift. . . . . . . . . . . 1850 mm
at the leading edge of the platform and 2000 mm at the centre of the standing area.
NOTE: For other than a private residence, the BCA may require building clearances in excess
of the above.
16 FACTORS OF SAFETY
16.1 General The factor of safety of the equipment shall be not less than the
following:
(a) For carbon steel or other ductile material (i.e. with elongation not less than
14 percent in a gauge length of 50 mm) based on yield strength . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5.
(b) For cast material, based on tensile strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.
16.2 Suspension means Suspension means and their connections shall have a factor of
safety of not less than 10, based on the maximum static rated load and the tensile strength
of materials; however, where a single chain is used, the chain and its connections shall
have a factor of safety of not less than 12.5.
Cast iron or other brittle materials shall not be used.
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7 AS 1735.7 — 1998
18 CARRIAGE
18.1 Provision A carriage shall be provided to support the platform or chair.
18.2 Chair types Chair carriages shall be provided with a seat with footrest, backrest
and one or more armrests or other means to support the passenger. The surface of the
footrests shall be slip-resistant. Any swivel type seat shall be able to be positively located
in the travelling position and in the swivelled position. The clearance shall be adequate to
ensure that the user will clear any obstruction throughout the length of travel.
18.3 Platform types Wheelchair platforms shall have a slip-resistant standing surface,
shall be provided with an approach ramp, and shall have sufficient area to accommodate
the wheelchair and user.
A means for locating the wheelchair and preventing it from moving off the platform shall
be provided. This means shall be applied either before the carriage can be set in motion or
automatically as the platform leaves the landing.
The user and the wheelchair shall travel clear of any obstruction throughout the path of
travel.
In other than a private residence, the platform shall be fitted with the following:
(a) A folding seat and one or more armrest, or other means to support the passenger.
(b) Retractable protective rails that shall be in place before the platform can be moved.
19 DRIVING MACHINERY
19.1 Power unit The power unit may be mounted on the carriage or placed at a remote
location.
19.2 Drums and sheaves Winding drums and sheaves shall —
(a) be of cast iron, steel, or aluminium; and
(b) have machined rope grooves.
The ratio of the pitch diameter of drums or sheaves to the diameter of the rope shall be
not less than 30, except for 7-strand rope and 8-strand rope for which this ratio shall be
not less than 21.
19.3 Ropes and chains
19.3.1 Types Ropes and chains used to drive or support the carriage shall be of one of
the following types:
(a) Steel wire rope complying with AS 3569 of diameter not less than 6 mm.
(b) Aircraft type wire rope complying with ISO 2020 of diameter not less than
3.175 mm.
(c) Roller chain complying with AS 1532 or equivalent.
19.3.2 Equalizing Where more than one rope or more than one chain is used, means
shall be provided to equalize the load.
19.3.3 Chain and chain wheel drive Chain wheels shall be of steel with not less than
12 accurately formed machine-cut teeth.
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AS 1735.7 — 1998 8
Where the carriage is directly driven, the number of teeth in engagement with the chain
shall be —
(a) where full engagement is ensured by the use of stable chain guides . . . . . . . . . not
less than 4; or
(b) where full engagement is not ensured by the use of stable chain guides . . . . . . not
less than 6.
19.4 Drive from motor Power transmission from the motor to the driving machine
shall be by means of a directly connected motor, toothed belt, or V-belt drive; in the latter
case, not less than two V-belts shall be used, of which each V-belt shall be capable of
transmitting full load power. The life factor of any belts shall be not less than 2, in
accordance with the belt manufacturer’s recommendations.
Where the power unit is remotely located, intervening pulleys, sheaves, chain wheels, and
racks shall be placed so that the rope, chains, or pinions shall operate in alignment.
19.5 Final drive Direct gearing shall be used for the final drive. Friction gearing or
clutches shall not be used, unless they are subjected to a load test of not less than twice
the rated load, at the time of installation.
21 MACHINE BRAKES The stairway lift shall be provided with either a machine
brake of the electrically releasing spring-applied type or self-sustaining gearing. Either
arrangement shall stop and hold the carriage when carrying the rated load within not more
than 100 mm of down travel after the power is removed.
NOTE: There are differences of opinion on the self-sustaining (or self-locking) characteristics
of worm gear drives. The effectiveness of such a drive to act as a brake should be demonstrated
by the manufacturer.
22 SAFETY DEVICES
22.1 Safety gear Safety gear of the instantaneous type shall be provided, which shall
operate in the event of overspeed of the carriage and in the event of total loss of
suspension.
22.2 Safety gear springs Where the safety engagement is dependent on springs, the
springs shall be of the contained compression type.
22.3 Slack rope or chain switch A slack rope or chain switch (which need not be of
the manually reset type), which will remove power from the motor and brake in the event
of any hoisting rope or chain failing or slackening, shall be provided.
22.4 Terminal stopping devices A device that will operate to stop the carriage or
reverse its direction of travel, in the event that it should travel past either terminal, shall
be provided. The device shall be of any of the following types:
(a) A whole-current directional limit switch operated by the carriage at each terminal.
(b) A whole-current reversing switch operated by the carriage at each terminal.
(c) A directional limit switch connected in the control circuit, backed up by a whole
current final limit switch operated by the carriage at each terminal.
(d) A directional limit switch connected to two independent relays that open the main
current circuit.
NOTE: Switches specified above may be mounted either on the carriage or at the terminals.
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9 AS 1735.7 — 1998
23 OPERATING CONTROLS
23.1 General Operating controls shall be of the continuous-pressure device and
capable of being isolated by a key-operated switch, which may be the isolating switch
required by Clause 24.4.
23.2 Carriage out of sight of landing controls Where any landing call devices can be
out of sight of the carriage at any position along its path of travel, the control system
shall incorporate provisions to prevent the carriage being called from either landing
during boarding or disembarking, or when travelling under the control of an occupant.
NOTE: A suitable device for chair types would be a seat belt interlocked into the control circuit
so that the carriage cannot be moved while the seat belt is not fastened.
24 ELECTRICAL
24.1 General Wiring shall comply with AS 3000.
24.2 Travelling cables Travelling cables to the carriage shall comply with the
following:
(a) Have sufficient flexibility to suit normal operation.
(b) Be connected to a junction box or fitting on the carriage that will support the cable
and prevent undue strain on the electrical conductor.
(c) Be provided with automatic take-up gear to prevent undue slackening of the cable.
(d) Be protected against damage.
24.3 Power supply voltage The power supply shall be not more than 250 V, except
that motors installed in a fixed machine enclosure may operate at 415 V.
Where a battery supply is used, the battery charger shall incorporate a double-wound
transformer.
24.4 Control of power supply The electrical supply shall be capable of being locked
in the off position. The switch shall open all the active conductors of the supply. Where
battery power is mounted on the carriage, an additional isolation switch shall be mounted
on the carriage.
24.5 Earthing The supporting guide rails shall be directly earthed.
Where the voltage on the carriage exceeds 24 V, the carriage shall be earthed by the
travelling cables.
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AS 1735.7 — 1998 10
24.6 Overspeed switch Where other than an alternating current cage rotor motor is
used to drive the machine, an overspeed switch shall be provided to open the control
circuit and stop the carriage, which shall be set to trip at 130 percent of the rated speed.
24.7 Control circuit and operating circuit Control circuits and operating circuits
shall be designed to fail safe, and be arranged so that an earth fault, an open-circuit, or
the discharge or failure of a capacitor cannot cause an unsafe condition.
27 NOTICES A load plate, bearing a legend similar in content and layout to one of
those illustrated in Figure 1, shall be securely mounted in a prominent and visible position
on the carriage or platform.
The maximum load displayed on the load plate shall be the rated load. The height of
lettering used on the load plate shall be not less than 5 mm.
In addition, the following information shall be given, either on the load plate or on a
separate plate:
(a) Manufacturer’s name.
(b) Model.
(c) Serial number.
(d) Power supply.
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11 AS 1735.7 — 1998
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AS 1735.7 — 1998 12
APPENDIX A
INSPECTION
(Normative)
APPENDIX B
GUIDE FOR SELECTION OF LIFT TYPE
(Informative)
3 No Private or
Non-automatically Non-automatic public
15 0.15 1.60
controlled key-lockable (see Notes
7 Yes 1 and 2)
0.25 Private or
Automatically 0.30 public
16 12 Yes Automatic 1.60
controlled (see (see Notes
Note 3) 1 and 2)
Private
Water drive 17 3 Yes Not limited 0.10 1.30 only (see
Note 1)
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