604 Elevator Operation, Maintenance and Fire Service Keys — 2025 California Fire Code

Where elevators and conveying systems are installed, they shall comply with Chapter 30 of the California Building Code and Sections 604.2 through 604.7 of this code.

Existing elevators with a travel distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) or more shall comply with the requirements in Chapter 11. New elevators shall be provided with Phase I emergency recall operation and Phase II emergency in-car operation in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 6, Elevator Safety Orders.

In buildings and structures where standby power is required or furnished to operate an elevator, standby power shall be provided in accordance with Section 1203 of this code and Chapter 30 of the California Building Code . Operation of the system shall be in accordance with Sections 604.3.1 through 604.3.5.

604.3.1 Manual transfer. Standby power shall be manually transferable to all elevators in each bank.

604.3.2 One elevator. Where only one elevator is installed, the elevator shall automatically transfer to standby power within 60 seconds after failure of normal power.

604.3.3 Two or more elevators. Where two or more elevators are controlled by a common operating system, all elevators shall automatically transfer to standby power within 60 seconds after failure of normal power where the standby power source is of sufficient capacity to operate all elevators at the same time. Where the standby power source is not of sufficient capacity to operate all elevators at the same time, all elevators shall transfer to standby power in sequence, return to the designated landing and disconnect from the standby power source. After all elevators have been returned to the designated level, not less than one elevator shall remain operable from the standby power source.

604.3.4 Temperature and humidity control. Where standby power is connected to elevators, the machine room , machine space, control room and control space ventilation or air conditioning shall be connected to the standby power source.

604.3.5 Emergency hoistway venting. Where standby power is connected to elevators, the emergency hoistway ventilation system, if required, shall be connected to the standby power source.

[BE] 604.4 Emergency signs. An approved pictorial sign of a standardized design shall be posted adjacent to each elevator call station on all floors instructing occupants to use the exit stairways and not to use the elevators in case of fire. Where elevators are not a component of the accessible means of egress, the sign shall read: “IN CASE OF FIRE, ELEVATORS ARE OUT OF SERVICE. USE EXIT.”

Exception: The emergency sign shall not be required for elevators that are used for occupant self-evacuation in accordance with Section 3008 of the California Building Code .

Elevator features and lobbies required by Section 3006 of the California Building Code shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with Sections 604.5.1 through 604.5.4.

604.5.1 Fire service access elevators and lobbies. Where fire service access elevators are required by Section 3007 of the Califor- nia Building Code, fire service access elevator fire protection and safety features shall be maintained and lobbies required by Section 3007 of the California Building Code shall be maintained free of storage and furniture.

604.5.2 Occupant evacuation elevators and lobbies. Where occupant evacuation elevators are provided in accordance with Section 3008 of the California Building Code, occupant evacuation elevator fire protection and safety features shall be maintained and lobbies required by Section 3008 of the California Building Code shall be maintained free of storage and furniture.

604.5.3 Storage within elevator lobbies. Where hoistway opening protection is required by Section 3006.2 of the California Building Code, elevator lobbies shall be maintained free of storage.

604.5.4 Water protection of hoistway enclosures. Methods to prevent water from infiltrating into a hoistway enclosure required by Sections 3007.3 and 3008.3 of the California Building Code shall be maintained.

All elevators shall be provided with elevator car door and firefighter service keys in accordance with Sections 604.6.1 through 604.6.2.4.

604.6.1 Elevator key location. Keys for the elevator car doors and firefighter service keys shall be kept in an approved location for immediate use by the fire department.

604.6.2 Standardized fire service elevator keys. Buildings with elevators equipped with Phase I emergency recall, Phase II emergency in-car operation, or a fire service access elevator shall be equipped to operate with a standardized fire service elevator key approved by the fire code official or a standardized key in accordance with ASME A17.1/CSA B44.

Exception: The owner shall be permitted to place the building’s nonstandardized fire service elevator keys in a key box installed in accordance with Section 506.1.2.

604.6.2.1 Requirements for standardized fire service elevator keys. Standardized fire service elevator keys shall comply with all of the following:

1. All fire service elevator keys within the jurisdiction shall be uniform and approved in accordance with Section 604.6.2. Keys shall be cut to a uniform key code.
2. Fire service elevator keys shall be of a patent-protected design to prevent unauthorized duplication.
3. Fire service elevator keys shall be factory restricted by the manufacturer to prevent the unauthorized distribution of key blanks. Uncut key blanks shall not be permitted to leave the factory.
4. Fire service elevator keys subject to these rules shall be engraved with the words “DO NOT DUPLICATE.”

BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

604.6.2.2 Access to standardized fire service keys. Access to standardized fire service elevator keys shall be restricted to the following:

1. Elevator owners or their authorized agents.

2. Elevator contractors.

3. Elevator inspectors of the jurisdiction.

4. Fire code officials of the jurisdiction.

5. The fire department and other emergency response agencies designated by the fire code official.

604.6.2.3 Duplication or distribution of keys. A person shall not duplicate a standardized fire service elevator key or issue, give, or sell a duplicated key unless in accordance with this code.

604.6.2.4 Responsibility to provide keys. The building owner shall provide up to three standardized fire service elevator keys where required by the fire code official, upon installation of a standardized fire service key switch or switches in the building.

604.6.3 Shunt trip. Where elevator hoistways or elevator machine rooms containing elevator control equipment are protected with automatic sprinklers, a means installed in accordance with NFPA 72, Section 21.4, Elevator Shutdown, shall be provided to automati- cally disconnect the main line power supply to the affected elevator prior to the application of water. This means shall not be self- resetting. The activation of sprinklers outside the hoistway or machine room shall not disconnect the main line power supply.

604.6.4 Emergency hoistway venting. Elevator hoistways containing the driving machine shall be provided with a means for vent- ing smoke and hot gases to the outer air in case of fire.

604.6.4.1 Location of vents. Vents shall be located at the top of the hoistway and shall open either directly to the outer air or through noncombustible ducts to the outer air.

604.6.4.2 Area of vents. Except as provided for in Section 3003.1.4.4 of the California Building Code, the area of the vents shall be not less than 3½ percent of the area of the hoistway nor less than 3 square feet (0.28 m [2] ) for each elevator car.

604.6.4.3 Operation of vents. Vent openings shall automatically open upon detection of smoke in the elevator hoistway and upon activation of a manual override control. The manual override control shall be capable of opening and closing the vents and shall be located in an approved location. Smoke detectors provided in elevator hoistways to activate the hoistway ventilation system, shall also be required to activate the elevator Phase I emergency recall operation function in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 6, Elevator Safety Orders.

604.6.4.4 Reduced vent area. Where mechanical ventilation conforming to the California Mechanical Code is provided, a reduc- tion in the required vent area is allowed provided that all of the following conditions are met: 1. The vents required by Section 3003.1.4.1 of the California Building Code do not have outside exposure. 2. The hoistway does not extend to the top of the building. 3. The hoistway exhaust fan is automatically reactivated by thermostatic means. 4. Equivalent venting of the hoistway is accomplished.

Storage is prohibited in elevator cars or elevator machine rooms.

Exceptions:

1. Blankets used for protection of elevator cab walls during construction or renovation.
2. Materials necessary for the operation and maintenance of the elevator equipment.