CSA B44.1:25/ASME A17.5-2025

Preface This is the seventh edition of CSA B44.1/ASME A17.5, Elevator and escalator electrical equipment . It supersedes the previous editions published in 2019, 2014, 2011, 2004, 1996, and 1991. The purpose of this Standard is to reduce the risk of injury and property damage from fire and electrical shock. To this end, it is a safety standard for the design and construction of equipment to be used in conformity with the rules of the applicable elevator and electrical codes (i.e., ASME A17.1/CSA B44 and CSA C22.1, or NFPA 70). This Standard arose from the need to have identical Canadian and U.S. requirements for this equipment, thereby enabling manufacturers to have their products certified by an approved testing laboratory in Canada or the United States and to have the certification ratified for acceptance in either country. In 1986, an ad hoc committee on the certification of electrical equipment consisting of jurisdictional authorities, representatives of Canadian and U.S. testing laboratories, and Canadian and U.S. manufacturers began to develop a draft for submission to the ASME A17 Standards Committee on Elevators and Escalators and the CSA Technical Committee on the Elevator Safety Code. Its initial investigation consisted of a review of the industrial control standards CSA C22.2 No. 14 and ANSI/UL 508. These standards could not be used as such, due to the differences in the application of industrial control equipment and elevator equipment. It was recognized that industrial control equipment normally operates continuously for a low number of operations (about 3000/year) and at full-load current. In contrast, elevator control equipment operates intermittently for a high number of operations (about 500 000/year), and at up to 200% to 250% of full-load current in order to accelerate a mass. Further, elevator equipment is usually protected by either a locked machine room or a hoistway. The applicable portions of CSA C22.2 No. 14 and ANSI/UL 508 were then reviewed and adapted to elevator equipment. (Grateful acknowledgement is made to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for the use of ANSI/UL 508.) Where there were differences between the UL and CSA Group standards, the more stringent requirements were used. The following are the major changes to this edition: a) update to Clause 1, Scope; b) update to Clause 2.1, Reference publications; c) update to Clause 2.2, Definitions; d) addition of Clause 3.4, Battery powered platform lifts and stair lifts for barrier-free access; e) addition of Clause 3.5, Short-circuit current rating; f) update to Clause 4.2.3, Exceptions to minimum thickness requirements; g) update to Clause 5.3, Equipment accessible to general public (AGP); h) updates to Clauses 6.3.3, and 6.3.4, Flame Text A & Flame Test B; i) update to Clause 16.2, When transient voltages are unknown and controlled; j) update to Clause 16.27.4, Guidelines when using CSA C22.2 No. 0.2 or ANSI/UL 840; k) update to Clause 19.1, General; l) update to Clause 19.2.3, Where elevator duty is not required; m) update to Clause 19.4.11.1, General; n) update to Clause 20.22, Controllers for platform lifts and chair lifts; o) addition of Clause 20.26, Controllers for platform lifts or stair lifts for barrier-free access with an emergency power supply; p) update to Table 12, Minimum conductor spacings (creepage and clearance) for printed circuit boards; q) update to Table 17, Sequence of tests for solid-state ac motor controllers; r) update to Table 19, Sequence of tests for power-conversion equipment; s) update to Annex B, CSA Group and ASME elevator and escalator publications; t) update to Annex C, French marking translations; and u) addition of clause titles throughout. This Standard has been approved by the CSA Technical Committee on the Elevator Safety Code and the ASME A17 Standards Committee on Elevators and Escalators. It is the intent of these committees to maintain a single harmonized standard by coordinating their procedures for revising and interpreting this Standard. To this end, interpretations and revisions of this Standard will not be issued without the approval of both committees. This Standard was prepared by the CSA B44.1/ASME A17.5 Joint Committee on Elevator and Escalator Electrical Equipment, under the jurisdiction of the CSA Technical Committee on the Elevator Safety Code, the CSA Strategic Steering Committee on Mechanical Industrial Equipment Safety, and the ASME A17 Standards Committee on Elevators and Escalators, and has been formally approved by the CSA Technical Committee and the ASME A17 Standards Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. This Standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an American National Standard. Scope 1.1 Electrical equipment covered by this Standard 1.1.1 Application This Standard applies to the electrical equipment for a) elevators covered by ASME A17.1/CSA B44 and ASME A17.8/CSA B44.8; b) escalators; c) moving walks; d) dumbwaiters; e) material lifts; f) manlifts; and g) platform lifts and stair lifts for barrier-free access (see CSA B355), and platform lifts and stairway chairlifts (see ASME A18.1). 1.1.2 Types of electrical equipment The electrical equipment covered by this Standard are a) motor controllers; b) motion controllers; c) operation controllers; d) operating devices; and e) all other electrical equipment not listed/certified and labelled/marked according to another product safety standard or code. The equipment specified in this Standard is intended for installation in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1 (CSA C22.1), and NFPA 70, whichever is applicable. Note: Controllers (i.e., motion, motor, and operation controllers) are defined in CSA B44 and ASME A17.1. 1.2 Maximum voltage and ambient temperatures The electrical equipment covered by this Standard is intended a) to be connected to supply circuits at a nominal system voltage of 600 V or less; b) for internal voltages that are not more than 1500 V; c) for use in non-hazardous locations in accordance with the rules of the applicable electrical codes; and d) for use in an ambient temperature no greater than 40 °C. Note: This Standard does not include requirements for equipment intended for use in an ambient temperature above 40 °C. Additional investigation of the equipment will be required when equipment is to be used in an ambient temperature above 40 °C. 1.3 Fire and electrical shock hazards The objective of this Standard is to reduce the risk of injury to persons and damage to property from fire and electrical shock by presenting requirements for the proper design, the good construction, and the high quality of work of the equipment listed in Clause 1.1. 1.4 Terminology In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application. 1.5 Units The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.