ISO/TR 25741:2008

Lifts and escalators subject to seismic conditions - Compilation report

ISO/TR 25741:2008 provides a compilation of relevant safety standards pertaining to protection of the user and vertical transportation equipment during seismic activity.

Ascenseurs et escaliers mécaniques soumis aux conditions sismiques — Rapport de compilation

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-2008
• ICS: 91.140.90 - Lifts. Escalators
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 178 - Lifts, escalators and moving walks
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 178 - Lifts, escalators and moving walks
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 28-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 - Lifts and escalators subject to seismic conditions - Compilation report - Part 1: Rule by rule comparison
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO/TR 25741:2008 - "Lifts and escalators subject to seismic conditions - Compilation report" is an informative Technical Report that compiles existing national and regional safety guidance for protecting vertical transportation equipment (lifts, escalators, moving walks) and users during seismic events. The report documents seismic design rules, procurement information, seismic zone maps and relevant national standards (for example, ASME A17.1, Japan Elevator Association guidance, and NZS 4332) and is intended to assist designers, manufacturers and authorities in regions subject to earthquakes.

Key Topics

• Scope and intent: Compilation of safety requirements and good practice for lifts and escalators in seismic regions, focusing on commonly occurring (non‑catastrophic) ground motions.
• Seismic design principles: Overview of seismic effects on vertical transportation, earthquake magnitudes and ground motions, and historical earthquake case studies that illustrate typical damage modes.
• National standards and guidance: Summaries of country-specific documents including:
  • ASME A17.1-2004 (U.S.) - seismic requirements for Risk Zone 2 or greater (clauses covering horizontal clearances, machinery and sheave beams, supports and foundations, guarding, car enclosures, guide rails and brackets, driving machines, emergency operation and signalling).
  • Japan - Guide for Earthquake Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical Transportation (JEA Guide) and anti‑earthquake design practices.
  • New Zealand - NZS 4332 requirements for passenger and goods lifts under seismic conditions.
• Component-level requirements: Topics addressed include car and counterweight clearances, guide‑rail design and bracket spacing, fastenings and stresses, rope retainers, car safeties, and seismic load application.
• Operational and rescue considerations: Emergency operation, signalling, and measures to minimize risk to users inside stalled cars during and after earthquakes.
• Supporting material: Seismic zone maps, bibliography and annexes reproducing key national guidance.

Applications

ISO/TR 25741:2008 is useful for:

• Elevator and escalator designers and manufacturers developing seismic-resistant equipment.
• Building engineers and structural designers coordinating lift installations with building seismic design.
• Facility owners, building managers and procurement teams specifying seismic protection measures.
• Regulators, certification bodies and inspection authorities assessing compliance with seismic requirements.
• Maintenance and emergency response planners preparing rescue and recovery procedures for seismic events.

Related standards

• ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators) - seismic clauses summarized in the report
• NZS 4332 - New Zealand passenger/goods lift seismic requirements
• Japan Elevator Association (JEA) Guide - earthquake‑resistant design and construction guidance
• ISO/TS 22559-1 - global essential safety requirement on effects of earthquake

Keywords: ISO/TR 25741:2008, lifts, escalators, seismic design, seismic safety, vertical transportation, ASME A17.1, NZS 4332, earthquake-resistant design.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 25741
First edition
2008-03-15
Lifts and escalators subject to seismic
conditions — Compilation report
Ascenseurs et escaliers mécaniques soumis aux conditions
sismiques — Rapport de compilation

Reference number
©
ISO 2008
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ii © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
0 Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 United States . 1
[1]
2.1 ASME A17.1-2004 . 1
2.2 Seismic safety for buildings . 3
2.3 The seismic maps. 3
2.4 NEHRP and FEMA seismic criteria applicable to new buildings . 4
2.5 NEHRP and FEMA seismic criteria applicable to existing buildings . 4
2.6 Civil engineering design criteria . 4
2.7 Reference publications . 5
2.8 Procurement information. 5
3 Japan. 6
[7]
3.1 Guide for Earthquake Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical Transportation . 6
[8]
3.2 Anti-earthquake design and construction in Japan . 7
3.3 Reference publications . 8
3.4 Procurement information. 8
4 New Zealand . 8
[9]
4.1 New Zealand Standard NZS 4332 . 8
4.2 Reference publications . 9
4.3 Procurement information. 9
5 Major earthquakes of the world. 10
Annex A (normative) Guide for Earthquake Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical
Transportation (1998 Edition) Japan Elevator Association [JEA Guide]. 11
Annex B (informative) Anti-earthquake design and construction in Japan (Japan Elevator
Association) . 26
[9]
Annex C (normative) NZS 4332 : passenger and goods lifts . 33
Annex D (normative) Seismic zones . 43
Bibliography . 44

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
In exceptional circumstances, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from that
which is normally published as an International Standard (“state of the art”, for example), it may decide by a
simple majority vote of its participating members to publish a Technical Report. A Technical Report is entirely
informative in nature and does not have to be reviewed until the data it provides are considered to be no
longer valid or useful.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TR 25741 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 178, Lifts, escalators and moving walks.
iv © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

0 Introduction
0.1 When an earthquake occurs, it releases energy in the form of waves that radiate from the earthquake
source in all directions. The different types of energy waves shake the ground in different ways and travel
through the earth at different velocities. The fastest wave, and therefore, the first to arrive at a given location,
is called the P wave. The P wave, or compressional wave, alternately compresses and expands material in
the direction in which it is travelling. The S wave is slower than the P wave and arrives next, shaking the
ground up and down and back and forth perpendicular to the direction in which it is travelling. Surface waves
[16]
follow the P and S waves. Source: NEIC .
0.2 Earthquake magnitudes are measured on different scales, namely, Richter and Modified Mercalli
Intensity. The Richter Scale is considered more accurate. Approximate values are summarised in Table 1.
[17] [14]
Sources: California Institute of Technology and Wiegel .
Table 1 — The Richter Scale
Richter Mercalli Acceleration Approximate Effect
magnitude intensity radius of
perceptibility
8,5 XII > 1,0g — Total damage
8 XI 0,8g 580 km General damage
0,5g
7 IX to X 385 km Considerable damage
Frightening; some broken chimneys; damage to weak
6 VII to VIII 0,15g 210 km
buildings
0,05g
5 VI to VII 145 km Felt by all; some fallen plaster; chimney damage
4 V 0,01g 130 km Felt by most; some broken windows; cracked plaster
3 III — 15 km Quite noticeable indoors
2 I to II — 0 km Barely felt
0.3 The magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the logarithm of the amplitude of waves recorded
by seismographs. An increase of one magnitude unit on the Richter Scale corresponds to a ten times greater
ground motion. An increase of two magnitude units corresponds to a 100 times greater ground motion, and so
on, in a logarithmic series.
0.4 The strongest earthquakes, measured on the Richter Scale, over the last century include those shown
in the worldwide map in Clause 5 and in Table 2 below.
Table 2 — The strongest earthquakes
Location Year Magnitude
Chile 1960 9,5
Alaska 1964 9,2
Russia 1952 9,0
Banda Aceh, Indonesia 2004 9,0
Alaska 1957 8,8
Kuril Islands 1958 8,7
Alaska 1965 8,7
India 1950 8,6
Chile 1922 8,5
Indonesia 1938 8,5
Great Kanto, Japan 1923 8,3
Gujrat, India 2001 8,1
Mexico 1985 8,0
Southern Peru 2001 7,9
San Francisco, CA, USA 1906 7,8
Bolivia 1994 7,7
El Salvador 2001 7,7
Taiwan 1999 7,6
Tangshan, China 1976 7,5
Sakhalin 1995 7,5
Taiwan 1935 7,4
Izmit, Turkey 1999 7,4
Southern Italy 1980 7,2
Fukui, Japan 1948 7,2
Miyagi, Japan 2005 7,2
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
vi © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

0.5 Seismic-induced ground motions can have an adverse effect on the operational and physical integrity of
building supports and vertical transportation equipment. Experience in the U.S. from the San Fernando,
California, earthquake on February 9, 1971 with a magnitude of 6,6 on the Richter Scale resulted in significant
damage to buildings and vertical transportation systems. The most notable damage included the following,
shown in Table 3.
Table 3 — Damage to vertical transportations systems
Quantity
Description
(Number of lifts)
Counterweights out of guide rails 674
Counterweights out of guide rails; damaged cars 109
Cars damaged 102
Rope systems damaged 100
Motor generators (moved; some damaged armatures) 174
Counterweight guide rail brackets broken/damaged 174
Roller guide shoes (broken or loose) 286

[13]
Source: Elevator World’s Annual Study .
0.6 In response to earthquake experience on different continents, some codes and standards organizations
have included a level of seismic protection in their national standards. ISO/TC 178 recognised that it would be
beneficial to promote worldwide guidance in order to ensure the safety of people, as well as equipment, taking
seismic forces into consideration for design and construction. The experiences of those national codes and
standards organizations that have already adopted seismic protection requirements would benefit the rest of
the worldwide elevator community through the compilation of such design safeguards.
0.7 The scope of this effort is the compilation of special specifications for lifts and escalators situated in
areas subject to seismic conditions in order to ensure safe operation of the vertical transportation equipment
within commonly occurring, i.e. non-catastrophic, ground motion excitation.
0.8 ISO/TC 178 took a Resolution on May 15, 1998, as follows:
“Resolution 156 — Study Group for Lifts and Escalators Working Under Seismic Conditions. On a
proposal by WG 6, ISO/TC 178 agreed to create a study group under the leadership of Mr. Gibson
(USA) to establish the essential safety requirements and dimensional considerations for lifts and
escalators working under seismic conditions. This is to be confirmed by an inquiry among ISO/TC 178
members.”
0.9 A new work item proposal covering the preparation of a Compilation Report was issued in document
No. ISO/TC 178 N319 on August 27, 1999. The results of the voting on this Item showed that 17 P-members
supported the programme of work. These members included Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA. The following P-members agreed to participate in the development of
the work: Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Spain and USA.
0.10 ISO/TC 178 took a Resolution on March 25, 2004, as follows:
“Resolution 231/2004. ISO/TC 178 agreed WG 6 to submit a draft Technical Report (compilation of
existing documents) by October 2004.”
0.11 ISO/TC 178 has included a global essential safety requirement (GESR) in ISO/TS 22559-1 as follows:
“6.1.12 Effects of earthquake. In areas subject to earthquakes, means shall be provided to minimize the
risk to users, when inside the LCU, and authorized persons, of the foreseeable effects of earthquakes
on the lift equipment.”
NOTE 1 The effects on the safety of users and authorized persons need to be considered at all stages: during the
earthquake (as much as possible), during rescue from a stalled LCU, and when the lift is returned to normal operation.
This assumes that there is no major building failure.
NOTE 2 LCU refers to load-carrying unit (lift car).
0.12 This Compilation Report has been prepared to document current seismic design rules/specifications
pertaining to vertical transportation equipment in different geographic regions, which regional experiences
have shown to be effective in providing a reasonable degree of seismic protection. Only those requirements in
lift safety standards are included.
0.13 Requirements in building codes are not included in this report; however, where applicable, references
are given to some building codes.

viii © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 25741:2008(E)

Lifts and escalators subject to seismic conditions —
Compilation report
1 Scope
This Technical Report provides a compilation of relevant safety standards pertaining to protection of the user
and vertical transportation equipment during seismic activity.
2 United States
[1]
2.1 ASME A17.1-2004
1)
The ASME A17.1-2004, which includes the ASME A17.1a-2005 Addenda , specifies safety requirements for
all elevators (lifts) with counterweights, and direct-plunger hydraulic elevators, including escalators and
moving walks, where these systems are installed in buildings that are designed and built to meet seismic risk
zone 2 or greater as defined by the applicable building codes. The requirements of Sections 8.4 and 8.5 are in
addition to the requirements specified in other parts of the ASME A17.1 Code, unless otherwise specified. The
outline of the seismic requirements are listed below, in terms of the ASME A17.1 rule/clause numbers and title.
[1]
For the complete text, the reader should consult the ASME A17.1-2004 Code .
Under predecessor building codes, i.e. those in effect throughout the late 1990s, the United States was
divided into five seismic zones, namely 0 to 4. The weakest seismic ground motion activity was designated 0,
4 indicated the strongest seismic activity in terms of magnitude. To put this into context with the ground-
motion-producing accelerations, the ASME A17.1 rules indicate the magnitude of the associated accelerations.
ASME A17.1, Section 8.4
Elevator Safety Requirements For Seismic Risk Zone 2 or Greater
8.4.1 Horizontal Car and Counterweight Clearances.
8.4.1.1 Between Car and Counterweight and Counterweight Screen.
8.4.2 Machinery and Sheave Beams, Supports, and Foundations.
8.4.2.1 Beams and Supports.
8.4.2.2 Overhead Beams and Floors.
8.4.2.3 Fastenings and Stresses.
8.4.3 Guarding of Equipment.
8.4.3.1 Rope Retainers.
Fig. 8.4.3.1.3 Arc of Contact.
8.4.3.2 Guarding of Snag Points.
8.4.4 Car Enclosures, Car Doors and Gates, and Car Illumination.
8.4.4.1 Top Emergency Exits.
8.4.5 Car Frames and Platforms.
8.4.5.1 Guiding Members and Position Restraints.
8.4.5.2 Design of Car Frames, Guiding Members, and Position Restraints.

1) ASME is the registered trademark of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The A17.1 rule numbers and
titles shown below are summarised from the ASME A17.1-2004 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators; copyright ©
2004 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved. It includes the ASME A17.1a-2005 Addenda;
8.4.6 Car and Counterweight Safeties.
8.4.6.1 Compensating Rope Sheave Assembly.
8.4.7 Counterweights.
8.4.7.1 Design.
8.4.7.2 Guiding Members and Position Restraints.
8.4.8 Car and Counterweight Guide Rail Systems.
8.4.8.1 General.
8.4.8.2 Seismic Load Application.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-1 12 kg/m (8 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-2 16,5 kg/m (11 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-3 18 kg/m (12 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-4 22,5 kg/m (15 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-5 27,5 kg/m (18,5 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-6 33,5 kg/m (22,5 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-7 44,5 kg/m (30 lb/ft) Guide-Rail Bracket Spacing.
Fig. 8.4.8.2-8 Car and Counterweight Load Factor.
8.4.8.3 Guide-Rail Stress.
8.4.8.4 Brackets, Fastenings, and Supports.
8.4.8.5 Type and Strength of Rail Joints.
8.4.8.6 Design and Construction of Rail Joints.
8.4.8.7 Design and Strength of Brackets and Supports.
Table 8.4.8.7 Stresses and Deflections of Guide-Rail Brackets and Supports.
8.4.8.8 Type of Fastenings.
8.4.8.9 Information on Elevator Layouts.
Fig. 8.4.8.9 Guide-Rail Axes.
8.4.8.9.1 Force normal to the x-x axis of the guide rail.
8.4.8.9.2 Where normal to the y-y axis.
8.4.9 Driving Machines and Sheaves.
8.4.9.1 Seismic Requirements for Driving Machine and Sheaves.
8.4.10 Emergency Operation and Signalling Devices.
8.4.10.1 Operation of Elevators Under Earthquake Emergency Conditions.
8.4.10.1.1 Earthquake Equipment (see also Fig. 8.4.10.1.1).
Fig. 8.4.10.1.1 Earthquake Elevator Equipment Requirements Diagrammatic Representation.
8.4.10.1.2 Equipment Specifications.
8.4.10.1.3 Elevator Operation (see Fig. 8.4.10.1.3).
Fig. 8.4.10.1.3 Earthquake Emergency Operation Diagrammatic Representation.
8.4.10.1.4 Maintenance of Equipment.
8.4.11 Hydraulic Elevators.
8.4.11.1 Machinery Rooms and Machinery Spaces.
8.4.11.2 Overspeed Valve.
8.4.11.3 Pipe Supports.
Table 8.4.11.3 Pipe Support Spacing.
8.4.11.4 Counterweights.
8.4.11.5 Guide Rails, Guide-Rail Supports, and Fastenings.
8.4.11.6 Support of Tanks.
8.4.11.7 Information on Elevator Layouts.
8.4.11.7.1 Force normal to x-x axis of the rail (see 8.4.8.9).
8.4.11.7.2 Force normal to y-y axis of the rail (see 8.4.8.9).
8.4.12 Design Data and Formulae for Elevators.
8.4.12.1 Maximum Weight per Pair of Guide Rails.
8.4.12.1.1 Force Normal to x-x Axis of Rail (see 8.4.8.9).
8.4.12.1.2 Force Normal to y-y Axis of Rail (see 8.4.8.9).
8.4.12.2 Required Moment of Inertia of Guide Rails.
8.4.12.2.1 Force Normal to x-x Axis of Rail (see 8.4.8.9).
8.4.12.2.2 Force Normal to y-y Axis of Rail (see 8.4.8.9).
Table 8.4.12.2.2 Maximum Allowable Deflection.
8.4.13 Ground Motion Parameters.
8.4.13.1 For application to building codes of the United States.
8.4.13.2 For application to building code of Canada.
2 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

ASME A17.1-2004, Section 8.5
Escalator And Moving Walk Safety Requirement For Seismic Risk Zone 2 or Greater
8.5.1 Balustrade Construction.
8.5.2 Truss Members.
8.5.2.1 Lateral forces.
8.5.2.1.1 The Seismic Zone and NEHRP Maps.
8.5.2.2 Vertical Forces.
8.5.2.3 Truss Calculations.
8.5.3 Supporting Connections Between the Truss and the Building.
8.5.4 Earthquake Protective Devices.
2.2 Seismic safety for buildings
The following abbreviations are defined:
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
NEHRP National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NSF National Science Foundation
USGS United States Geological Survey
The Model Building Codes in the U.S. have a greater impact on the quality of construction and how structures
will withstand the forces of nature than any other NEHRP activity.
Over the past twenty years, the NSF and the USGS have accumulated a significant body of basic research
work in the areas of earthquake engineering, geoscience and seismology. This fundamental research work
and the use of earthquake monitoring networks by USGS have allowed the development of detailed seismic
hazard maps by USGS and the development of significant earthquake engineering knowledge by NSF.
Concurrently, FEMA and NIST have developed and continued to refine the NEHRP Recommended Provisions,
a guidance document for the seismic design of structures, directly incorporating the results of scientific
advances of NIST, NSF and USGS. The seismic hazard maps developed by USGS are directly referenced in
the NEHRP Recommended Provisions, and NSF research results are used throughout the document. This
guidance document within the engineering profession is regarded as the state of the art in earthquake design
guidance.
National implementation of new design standards is done through the adoption and enforcement of building
codes. FEMA and USGS work with state and local governments and multi-state consortia to improve hazard
identification and to promote the adoption of building codes in seismically at-risk communities and states. In
addition, the NEHRP Recommended Provisions was selected by model code organizations as the basis for
[5]
the seismic design provisions of the International Building Code and the International Residential Code, and
[6]
the NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code .
2.3 The seismic maps
The NEHRP is the U.S. Federal Government's programme to reduce the risks to life and property from
earthquakes. The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program agencies are the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (the lead agency), the National
Science Foundation and the United States Geological Survey.
2.4 NEHRP and FEMA seismic criteria applicable to new buildings
[18][19]
The NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings .
Guide to Application of the 1991 Edition of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions in Earthquake Resistant
[20]
Building Design .
[21]
A Non-Technical Explanation of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions .
[22]
Seismic Considerations for Communities at Risk .
[23]
Seismic Considerations: Apartment Buildings .
[24]
Seismic Considerations: Elementary and Secondary Schools .
[25]
Seismic Considerations: Health Care Facilities .
[26]
Seismic Considerations: Hotels and Motels .
[27]
Seismic Considerations: Office Buildings .
[28]
Societal Implications: Selected Readings .
2.5 NEHRP and FEMA seismic criteria applicable to existing buildings
[29] [30]
NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings .
[31]
Case Studies: An Assessment of the NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings .
[32]
Planning for Seismic Rehabilitation: Societal Issues and Example Applications of the NEHRP Guidelines
[33]
for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings .
[34]
NEHRP Handbook of Techniques for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings .
[35]
NEHRP Handbook for the Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings .
[36]
An Action Plan for Reducing Earthquake Hazards of Existing Buildings .
2.6 Civil engineering design criteria
[3]
ASCE 7-02 gives current requirements for dead, live, soil, flood, wind, snow, rain, ice and earthquake loads
and their combinations, which are suitable for inclusion in building codes and other documents.
The earthquake load provisions in that edition of ASCE 7-02 for the first time are now referenced in the
[5] [6]
2003 International Building Code and the NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code . All other
ASCE 7 provisions continue to be referenced in the 2003 International Building Code. Also included is a
detailed commentary on the standard, containing explanatory and supplementary information designed to
assist building code committees and regulatory authorities.
Architects, structural engineers and those engaged in preparing and administering local building codes will
find the structural load requirements provided by this standard essential. The document uses both SI units and
Imperial units.
4 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

2.7 Reference publications
[1]
ASME A17.1-2004/ASME A17.1a-2005 Addenda . Available from the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers.
[2]
AISC Specification for the Design, Fabrication, and Erection of Structural Steel for Buildings . Available from
the American Institute of Steel Construction.
[3]
ASCE 7-02, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures . Available from the American
Society of Civil Engineers.
[4]
NEHRP Maps . Available from the Building Seismic Safety Council and the U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[5]
2003 International Building Code . Available from the International Code Council.
[6]
2002 NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code . Available from the National Fire Protection
Association.
2.8 Procurement information
2.8.1 American Institute of Steel Construction
1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 3100
Chicago, IL 60601
USA
Tel: ++ 312-670-2400
Web: http://www.aisc.org
2.8.2 American National Standards Institute, Inc.
25 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
USA
Tel: ++ 212-642-4900
Web: http://www.ansi.org
2.8.3 American Society of Civil Engineers
ASCE Publications
1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, VA 20191
USA
Tel: ++ 800-548-2723
Web: http://www.asce.org
2.8.4 American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME Order Department
22 Law Drive
Box 2300
Fairfield, NJ 07007-2300
USA
Tel (US & Canada): 800-843-2763, ext. 848
Tel (Outside North America): ++ 973-882-1167, ext. 848
Tel (Mexico): ++ 95-800-843-2763, ext. 848
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.asme.org/catalog
2.8.5 Building Seismic Safety Council
National Institute of Building Sciences
1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
USA
Tel: ++ 202-289-7800
Fax: ++ 202-289-1092
Web: http://www.nibs.org
E-mail: [e-mail]
2.8.6 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
USA
Tel: ++ 202-566-1600
Web: http://www.fema.gov
2.8.7 International Code Council
5203 Leesburg Pike
Suite 600
Falls Church, VA 22041
USA
Tel: ++ 703-931-4533
Web: http://www.iccsafe.org
2.8.8 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
1 Batterymarch Park
P. O. Box 9101
Quincy, MA 02269-9101
USA
Tel: ++ 617-770-3000
Web: http://www.nfpa.org
2.8.9 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 3460
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3460
USA
Tel: ++ 301-975-6478
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.nist.gov
2.8.10 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Web: http://www.usgs.gov
3 Japan
[7]
3.1 Guide for Earthquake Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical Transportation
This guide applies to elevators (lifts) and escalators to be installed in buildings. The text of the provisions were
translated into English by the Japan Elevator Association for use as a reference document. The outline of the
seismic requirements are listed below, in terms of the rule/clause numbers and title.
1 Basic Provision
1.1 The Application Scope
1.2 The Object of Earthquake Resistance
1.3 The Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction
1.4 The Allowable Stress
Table 1-2 Design Safety Rate of Anchor Bolt
6 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

2 Seismic Force for Design
2.1 The Calculation of the Seismic Force for Design
2.2 The Horizontal Seismic Intensity for Design
Table 2-1 Standard Seismic Intensity, K
s
Table 2-2 Coefficient of Usage, I
Fig. 2-2 Coefficient in Consideration to the Amplification Rate of Elevator Equipment
2.3 Guide Rail
Table 2-4 Reduction Rate, β
Table 2-5 Reduction Rate, α
Fig. 2-4 Engagement Dimension between Guide Shoe (Off-Stopper) and Rail
Table 2-7 Section Performance & Stress Intensity, Allowable Value of Deflection of Guide Rail
Fig. 2-5 Load Given to the Tie Bracket
2.4 The Equipment of the Machine Room
Fig. 2-6 Load and Dimensions of Equipment
2.5 The Structure of Sheave
Table 2-9 Earthquake Resistant Class and Sheave Structure
Fig. 2-62 Installation Standard of Rope Guard
Fig. 2-63 Relation between Sheave Rope Groove and Rope Radius
2.6 The Hoistway Equipment
Table 2-10 Protection Measures to the Projections
Fig. 2-70 Hoistway Equipment & Protection Measures against the Projections
2.7 The Control Operating Device in the Occurrence of an Earthquake
Table 2-12 Setting Value of Earthquake Sensor
4 Others
5 The Earthquake Measures for the Existing Elevators
[8]
3.2 Anti-earthquake design and construction in Japan
This document outlines and explains the important requirements contained in the Guide for Earthquake
[7]
Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical Transportation . The followings points are covered:
⎯ summary of modification;
⎯ anti-earthquake classification and requirements;
⎯ classification and standard seismic intensity for design, K ;
s
⎯ equations for horizontal seismic force, F , and horizontal seismic coefficient, K ;
H H
⎯ coefficient of usage, I, and horizontal seismic coefficient, K ;
H
⎯ engagement dimension between guide shoe (off-stopper) and rail;
⎯ installed position of intermediate stopper;
⎯ structure of sheave;
⎯ rope guard installation standard;
⎯ classification height;
⎯ protection measures;
⎯ structure for preventing drop-out of counterweight blocks;
⎯ anti-earthquake standard of hydraulic piping for hydraulic elevators;
⎯ setting value of earthquake sensor;
⎯ anti-earthquake design and construction for escalator;
⎯ example for fixing method of pedestal and truss supporting angle.
3.3 Reference publications
[7], [8]
Japan Elevator Association .
Architecture Standard Law, enacted June 1, 1981, Japan.
3.4 Procurement information
3.4.1 Japan Elevator Association
5-11-2 Minami-Aoyama
Minato-Ku
Tokyo
Japan
Tel: ++ (81) 3-3407-6471
Fax: ++ (81) 3-3407-2259
4 New Zealand
[9]
4.1 New Zealand Standard NZS 4332
This standard specifies safety requirements for the design, construction, operation and testing of passenger-
carrying lifts and goods lifts with car controls, but does not include lifts in single-unit dwellings. It applies to
new building work, either the installation of a new lift or new work associated with an existing installation. The
requirements are in addition to those specified in other parts of the NZS 4332 Code, unless otherwise
specified. The outline of the seismic requirements is given below, in terms of the NZS 4332 rule/clause
numbers and title. For the complete text, the reader should consult the NZS 4332 Code.
NOTE 1 The NZS rule numbers and titles shown below are summarised from NZS 4332:1997, copyright © by
Standards New Zealand.
NOTE 2 Annex C contains actual text from the NZS 4332, copyright © by Standards New Zealand.
Part I GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Earthquake loadings.
Table 2.1 Risk factors.
Part 2 ELECTRIC LIFTS: PASSENGERS AND GOODS
5.2 Electric lift particulars to be documented
— Seismic categories
25.8 Operation of lifts under earthquake conditions
25.8.1 Major component displacement detector
25.8.2 Operation
Figure 25.1 Major component displacement detector
Part 3 ELECTROHYDRAULIC LIFTS
31.2 Drawings and particulars
— Seismic categories
Annex D SEISMIC ZONES
Figure D.1 Seismic zones
8 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

4.2 Reference publications
[9]
NZS 4332 .
[10]
NZS 4203 .
[11]
NZS 4203 CORR1 .
4.3 Procurement information
4.3.1 Standards New Zealand
155 The Terrace
Private Bag 2439
Wellington, New Zealand
Tel: ++ [phone]
Tel: ++ [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.standards.co.nz

5 Major earthquakes of the world

Figure 1 — Major earthquakes of the world

10 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

Annex A
(normative)
Guide for Earthquake Resistant Design & Construction of Vertical
Transportation (1998 Edition) Japan Elevator Association [JEA Guide]
A.1 Basic provision
A.1.1 The application scope
a) This guide applies to elevators and escalators (herein referred to as “Vertical Transportation”) to be
installed in the buildings.
b) For some of the buildings which anti-earthquake design and construction are conducted based on the
special investigations and studies, the item above may not be applied.
A.1.2 The object of earthquake resistance
a) The vertical transportation should continue to provide safe operation without any trouble, even after the
occurrence of an earthquake, by assuming that a middle scale earthquake would frequently hit the
building during its useful life.
b) The elevator should ensure the safety of passengers even if it gets damaged by assuming that a large
scale earthquake might often hit the building during its useful life.
c) The escalator should not be detached and should not fall from the supporting material or beam of the
building, even if it gets damaged, assuming that a large-scale earthquake might often hit the building
during its useful life.
A.1.3 Earthquake resistant design and construction
a) Taking the seismic force for design into consideration, the design and construction of the elevator must
be conducted so that the stress and deflection of the equipment and the material will be less than the
allowable unit stress of the material or remain within the required scope.
b) Against the seismic force for design, the equipment of the elevator must be designed and installed so that
shift, overturn or detachment of the equipment, will not be caused.
c) The main ropes of the sheaves must not be detached by the shaking caused by the earthquake.
d) Protection measures should be taken so that the mobile cables will not be damaged by the projections in
the hoistway when the earthquake occurs.
e) The escalator must be designed and installed so that it will not be detached or will not fall from the
supporting material or beam of the building even if the seismic force for design and the deformation
between floors in the building occur.
A.1.4 The allowable stress
a) The allowable stress of the steel and concrete conforms to the regulations of the Architectural Standard
Law, and under the earthquake the allowable stress for the short term is used.
b) The allowable load of the anchor bolt for concrete being given for the installation of equipment in the
machine room and the hoistway is obtained by dividing the pulling strength by the safety rate shown in
Table A.1. (The pulling strength was determined by experiment.)
Table A.1 — Design safety rate of anchor bolt
Safety rate to pulling
Application of anchor bolt
strength
Installation of equipment in the machine room 7
Installation of equipment in the hoistway 4

A.2 Seismic force for design
A.2.1 The calculation of the seismic force for design
NOTE Equation numbers correspond to those in the JEA Guide.
A.2.1.1 The horizontal seismic force F for design is calculated by the following formula and the point of
H
action is defined as the centre of gravity of the equipment:
F=×KM×g
HH
F=×KW (2-1)
HH
where
F is the horizontal seismic force in newtons;
H
K is the horizontal seismic intensity for design;
H
g is acceleration due to gravity (981 cm/s );
M is the mass of the equipment in kilograms;
W is the weight of the equipment in kilograms force.
A.2.1.2 For the machine room equipment, calculate by the following formula, taking the vertical seismic
force F for design into consideration.
v
F=×KM×g
vv
F=×KW (2-2)
vv
K = ½ K (2-3)
vH
where
F is measured in newtons;
v
K is the vertical earthquake intensity for design;
v
W is as defined in A.2.1.1.
12 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

A.2.2 The horizontal seismic intensity for design
A.2.2.1 The horizontal seismic intensity K for design of the elevator that is installed in a building of a
H
height less than 60 m should be established based on the standard seismic intensity of each earthquake
resistant class and should be greater than the value calculated by the following formula.
K =ZK l (2-4)
Hs
where
Z is the local coefficient (refer to JEA Guide:1998, Table 2-3);
K is the standard seismic intensity for design (see Table A.2);
s
I is the coefficient of usage.
Table A.2 — Standard seismic intensity, K
s
Earthquake resistant class
Application equipment
for application equipment
Classification Floor to be installed S A B (standard class)
Floors over 2nd floor 2,0 1,5 1,0
Machine room
equipment
1st Floor and basement 1,0 0,6 0,4
Floors over 2nd floor 1,0 0,6
Hoistway
equipment
1st Floor and basement 0,6 0,4

Table A.3 — Coefficient of usage, I
Application equipment
Type of elevator
Machine room Hoistway
equipment equipment
Elevator for passenger and bed type 1,0 1,0
Freight elevator 1,0 0,75
However, when the floor response acceleration (hereafter referred to as floor response) based on the
earthquake motion for design of the building, is used for the calculation of the seismic intensity for design, it
can be obtained by the following.
A.2.2.2 The horizontal seismic intensity for design of the elevator that is installed in a building of a height
greater than 60 m, with a structural isolation system and structural control system, should be greater than the
value calculated by the following formula based on the floor response F .
R
However, for the building to be installed at a height lower than 60 m, with a structural isolation system and
structural control system, it is allowed to calculate the horizontal seismic intensity for design by employing the
(2-4) formula based on the standard seismic intensity for design.
F
R
K=×Kl× (2-5)
H2
g
where
K is the horizontal seismic intensity for design;
H
F is the maximum value of floor response of each floor in metres per second per second;
R
g is acceleration due to gravity (981 cm/s );
K is the coefficient in consideration of amplification ratio of equipment;
I is the coefficient of usage (see to Table A.3).
But,
1) F value applies a maximum value of the floor response based on the elasticity response analysis of
R
the building.
2) K value should be obtained by Figure A.1, complying to the rate f /f of the fundamental frequency
2 b m
of the building and equipment.
Where
f is the fundamental frequency of building;
b
f is the fundamental frequency of equipment.
m
Figure A.1 — Coefficient in consideration to the amplification rate of elevator equipment

A.2.3 Guide rail
In the calculation of the guide rail, obtain the load to be given to the guide rail through the car or counterweight
by the seismic intensity. By this, calculate the stress and deflection produced in the guide rail and the
supporting materials and make sure that they will remain below the allowable value.
A.2.3.1 The load given to the guide rail.
Obtain by the following formula the load to be given to the guide rail through the car and the counterweight by
the seismic intensity.
PF=×ε=K×W (2-8)
xH H ε
PF=×ε=K×W (2-9)
yH H ε
14 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

where
P is the load to x direction of guide rail in kilograms force;
x
P is the load to y direction of guide rail in kilograms force;
y
F is the horizontal seismic force for design in newtons;
H
K is the horizontal seismic intensity for design;
H
W is the equivalent weight of car or counterweight in kilograms force;
ε is the load ratio of upper and lower guide shoes (0,6).
Use the value (equivalent weight) obtained by the following formula:
WW=+αW (2-10)
where
W is the car dead load in kilograms force;
W is the car capacity load in kilograms force;
α is the reduction rate (refer to JEA Guide:1998, Table 2-5).
NOTE 1 The multiple effect of β or β is not allowed.
1 2
NOTE 2 Regarding the mark *, the figure shall be 0,7 in case of using a ditch (groove)-type middle stopper.
NOTE 3 In the case of rails mentioned in JEA Guide:1998,Table 2-6, reduction rates β and β are defined according to
1 2
rail type and installation configuration. If not mentioned, one of two methods can be applied.
The reduction factors can be calculated using the section coefficients Z and Z according to the formula
x y
(2-63) ζ = Z /(2Z ).
x y
In case of ζ W 0,67, β = 0,67.
In case of ζ > 0,67, β = ζ. Or through application to the agency.
As for β without ditch (groove), in case of ζ u 0,7, β = 0,7 and in case of ζ > 0,7, β = ζ.
2 2 2
For an elevator to be installed in a steel structure building of a height greater than 60 m, the forced
deformation force caused by a maximum layer deformation angle must be considered in the elastic response
of the building.
A.2.3.2 Allowable scope of the stress intensity and deflection.
The stress intensity and deflection of the guide rail are as follows:
Stress intensity σ u allowable stress intensity in kilograms force per square centimetre (2-13)
Deflection δ u A − 1,5 in centimetres (2-14)
where A is the engagement dimension between guide shoe (or off-stopper) and guide rail.
Key
1 guide rail
2 guide shoe or off-stopper
Figure A.2 — Engagement dimension between guide shoe (off-stopper) and rail
A.2.3.3 JEA Guide:1998, Table 2-7 shows the section performance, stress intensity and allowable val
...