Alliance Elevator Ontario

INDUSTRY PROVEN - HEAVY DUTY

CAMBRIDGE ELEVATING - JOURNEY LU/LA

(LIMITED-USE / LIMITED-APPLICATION)

PASSENGER ELEVATOR

Limited-Use / Limited-Application (LU/LA) Commercial Elevators are designed to service schools, libraries, low rise commercial buildings, churches and multi-family housing. Custom cab sizes and various finish options allow your LU/LA elevator to blend into the surrounding decor seamlessly. Our Journey LU/LA Elevator uses a state-of-the-art hydraulic drive system and controls, and offers safe, reliable, smooth and quiet operation. Modern fixtures and robust equipment make the Journey LU/LA a long lasting choice.

Where is a LU/LA Elevator Allowed?

This questions comes up a great deal and the answer is that it depends on the application.  To understand why the question is a little bit complex it helps to understand the differences between a LU/LA (Limited Use/ Limited Application) Elevator and a Full Commercial Passenger Elevator.
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  • LU/LA elevators are limited use limited application – this means they are limited in weight capacity (1400lb), floor space (18 square feet) and in some locations travel distance (7.6m/ 26ft)
  • They are primarily used to accommodate the requirements for an accessible/ barrier free route in commercial buildings
  • They typically do not have sufficient space for a stretcher as a stretcher is 79in by 24in (see guidance on stretcher ready lifts)

The key questions are really whether a building requires a full passenger elevator and whether that elevator needs to be equipped for Fire Emergency Operation (FEO) or be a Fire Service Access Elevator (FSAE). Whether a building requires a passenger elevator is a complex question and depends on 3 main factors:
  1. The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and their specific local requirements
  2. Fire Protection and firefighter access
  3. Barrier Free Accessibility
The International Building Code provides guidance on a variety of topics including accessible routes. For instance, in IBC section 1104.4 Multilevel buildings and facilities. “At least one accessible route shall connect each accessible level, including mezzanines, in multilevel buildings and facilities. Exceptions:

1. An accessible route is not required to stories and mezzanines that have an aggregate area of not more than 3,000 square feet (278.7 m2) and are located above and below accessible levels. This exception shall not apply to:
1.1. Multiple tenant facilities of Group M occupancies containing five or more tenant spaces;
1.2. Levels containing offices of health care providers (Group B or I); or
1.3. Passenger transportation facilities and airports (Group A-3 or B).
2. Levels that do not contain accessible elements or other spaces as determined by Section 1107 or 1108 are not required to be served by an accessible route from an accessible level.
3. In air traffic control towers, an accessible route is not required to serve the cab and the floor immediately below the cab.
4. Where a two-story building or facility has one story with an occupant load of five or fewer persons that does not contain public use space, that story shall not be required to be connected by an accessible route to the story above or below.
5. Vertical access to elevated employee work stations within a courtroom is not required at the time of initial construction, provided a ramp, lift or elevator can be installed without requiring reconfiguration or extension of the courtroom or extension of the electrical system.”

The international building code also states in section 1007.2.1 Elevators required “In buildings where a required accessible floor is four or more stories above or below a level of exit discharge, at least one required accessible means of egress shall be an elevator complying with Section 1007.4. Exceptions:

1. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a horizontal exit and located at or above the levels of exit discharge.
2. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a ramp conforming to the provisions of Section 1010.”

It should be noted that 2 Fire Service Access Elevators are required for any building that has an occupied level more than 120ft above ground level. FSAE’s have an even more robust rating than standard passenger elevators but this travel distance is well beyond the limit of LU/LA elevators. 

Alliance Elevator Provides LU/LA products in Ontario, so looking at this from a Canadian code perspective there are a few more points to consider:

Canada Building Code – 2006
  • The Class of building being considered will dictate many things including whether an elevator is required but in general if a building is under 3 storeys then a passenger elevator is not required and a LU/LA elevator can be used in place of a full passenger elevator as part of barrier free accessibility design.
  • According to section 3.3.1.7 if a LU/LA is used in a building in place of a full passenger elevator then the floor must be sprinklered through out and have a number of other fire separation requirements met. If those requirements are not met then a full passenger elevator with all the fire operation requirements outlined in 3.2.6.4 and 3.2.6.5 of the Canadian building code will be required