§8.6.3.3.1Whole set
Replace the whole set
If one rope needs replacing, the whole set is replaced: new ropes, all from one manufacturer, of the same material, grade, construction, and diameter.
Code Reference
The A17.1 rules a rope job runs into, one card each, in the order the job happens.
Check it against an elevator
Open the Code Reference on one of your elevators and each card gets a line with that elevator's own figure — pass or fail wherever the code sets a limit, and a tap opens the page that holds the fact.
Open on an elevatorPlan
Before the old ropes come off.
§8.6.3.3 · §8.7.2.21.1
Like for like, or it is an alteration
Replacement ropes are what the original manufacturer specified, or at least equivalent in strength, weight, and design; a change in material, grade, number, or size is an alteration under 8.7.2.21.1.
§2.20.43 ropes · 3/8"
Minimum number and size
A traction machine carries at least three suspension ropes (a drum machine two), each not less than 9.5 mm (3/8 in) in diameter.
§2.20.3 · Table 2.20.37.6 → 11.9
Factor of safety
Breaking force times the number of ropes, divided by the load they carry, must meet Table 2.20.3 for the rope speed: 7.60 at 50 fpm rising to 11.90 at 1,400 fpm and above for passenger cars (6.65 to 10.55 freight).
§2.24.2.240 : 1
Sheave to rope diameter
Drive, deflector, and secondary sheaves have a pitch diameter of at least 40 times the rope diameter.
A17.6 §1.10 · §8.6.4.2124 / 32 breaks · −6.25 %
When a rope is done
Replace on crown breaks per lay — 24 for six-strand, 32 for eight-strand rope, halved where there is rouge or unequal tension — on more than one valley break per lay, on any valley break with rouge, or on a diameter down 6.25 % (3.125 % with rouge).
§2.22.3 · §2.22.4200 fpm
Buffers for the speed
Spring buffers only up to 200 fpm (1.5 in stroke to 100 fpm, 2.5 in to 150, 4 in to 200); above that, oil buffers with a stroke based on 115 % of rated speed at 1 g.
§2.4.6 – §2.4.724" · 6"
Top-of-car clearance
With the car level at the top landing, the crosshead clears the overhead by the counterweight runby plus its buffer stroke plus 24 in, plus half the gravity stopping distance at 115 % speed where an oil buffer has no anti-jump means; anything on the car top keeps at least 6 in.
§2.4.1 · §2.4.224" · 6"–36"
Pit clearance and runby
With the car on its fully compressed buffer there is 24 in between the pit floor and the lowest part of the car; bottom runby is at least 6 in with oil buffers, and no more than 24 in for the car or 36 in for the counterweight.
Cut
Cutting, socketing, and tagging.
§2.20.980 %
Rope fastenings
Tapered babbitted sockets or wedge sockets (wedge sockets on steel rope only), developing at least 80 % of the rope’s breaking strength, with shackle rods as strong as the rope and individual compression-spring equalizers; never U-bolt clips or a single-bar equalizer.
Draka installation guide4d · 8d · 6" tail
Wedge sockets, the way the maker wants them
Leave 2–3 ft of slack before cutting, seat the wedge so it is visible under load, fit two retaining clips at 4 and 8 rope diameters torqued to about 8 ft·lb, leave a 6 in tail, and tie the socket bodies together with 1/2 in rope.
§2.20.2.2 · §8.13.39 items
Rope data tag
A new metal tag at the fastenings on every renewal: diameter, rated breaking strength, grade, month and year installed, preformed or not, construction, installer, rope manufacturer, and month and year of the first shortening, in letters at least 1.5 mm (1/16 in) high.
Hang
Hanging, tensioning, and the pit.
§8.6.4.1.310 %
Equal tension
Ropes in a set are equally tensioned when the lowest tension measured is within 10 % of the highest.
§8.6.3.12 · §8.6.4.11.1
Runby and clearances after new ropes
Once the new ropes are on, or old ones are shortened, the car and counterweight runby and the top-of-car clearances are brought back to what the code required when the elevator was installed.
§8.6.4.1.2
Lubricate the hoist ropes lightly
Hoist ropes are lubricated as the rope data tag says, lightly, and with precautions against loss of traction.
§2.18.5 · §8.6.4.2.23/8" · no lube
Governor rope
Iron or steel, regular lay, at least 3/8 in, never tiller-rope construction, and never lubricated after installation: a governor rope that has had lubricant on it is replaced and the governor and safety retested.
§2.21.4700 fpm
Compensation and tie-down
Above 700 fpm the job needs compensating ropes with a tie-down sheave; jacketed compensating cable is only published to 700 fpm.
After
Tests and records before the car goes back.
§2.24.2.3.4 · §8.6.4.19.12
Traction check
With the car or the counterweight resting on its buffer, the ropes must slip on the drive sheave rather than lift it; the traction-loss detection is tested the same way.
§8.6.3.4.3 · §8.6.4.12
Governor after a rope change
A new governor rope gets a pull-through test and a dated tag, and the governor seals and jaws are examined.
§8.6.1.4.1 · §8.6.1.7.2
Write it down
The on-site maintenance record notes the rope replacement, and the rope data tag, the tension check, and any governor rope test tag go with it.
Section numbers follow ASME A17.1-2019 / CSA B44-19 and are noted where a rule moved between editions. Figures were checked against the published code and the state transcriptions of it, but the edition the AHJ has adopted is the one that counts — read the rule there before relying on a card.