§ 3095. Hoistway Construction.

(a) Enclosures. Hoistways shall be substantially enclosed to a height of not less than 6 feet above all floors on the sides not used for entrances, and from floor to ceiling except for the necessary entrances on the sides opposite any car entrance.

(b) Counterweight Enclosure. The counterweight shall be enclosed for its entire travel, and no passageway shall be permitted under the counterweight.

(c) Protection of Entrances. All hoistway entrances shall be equipped with self-closing gates not less than 5 feet 6 inches high, constructed to conform to the requirements of Section 3020(c).

(1) The height of the clear hoistway entrance shall be not more than the height of the car.

(d) Top Clearance.

(1) The overhead clearance shall be not less than 18 inches, except platforms installed before June 5, 1947.

(2) The counterweight shall be arranged to land at the bottom of the counterweight run before the car is within 12 inches of the overhead. The car shall be arranged to land on its bumpers or floor before the counterweight is within 12 inches of the overhead.

(e) Hoistway Clearance. The horizontal car and counterweight clearances shall comply with Section 3018 except the requirements of Section 3018(g).

Group II regulations apply to existing elevators installed prior to October 25, 1998. Italicized paragraphs, sentences, or phrases apply to all existing elevators while non-italicized apply to elevators installed after 1970 or after the date the regulation was adopted.