IS: 10191- 1982

UDC 621-876~078-1 f First Reprint JANUARY 1999 ) ( Rcrllirn~ed 19% )

Indian Standard

SPECIFICATIO~N FOR CAR AND COUNTERWEIGHT

GUIDE RAILS, GUIDE-RAIL SUPPORTS AND
FASTENINGS FOR LIFTS

I. Scope - Covers the requirements of car and counterweight guide rails, guide-rail supports and
fastenings for electric passenger and goods lifts.
2. Terminology -For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given in IS : 1860-1968 ‘ Code
of practice for installation, operation and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts
( first revision )’ shall apply.
3. General
3.1 Guide rails, guide-rail brackets, rail clips, fishplates and their fastenings shall be of steel or
other metals conforming to the requirements laid down in-3.2 and 3.3.
Note- Where steel may present an accident hazard, as in chemical or explosive plants, direct friction betweer
guide rails and metallic guides should be avoided.

3.2 Requirements for Steel -Steel where used, shall conform to the following:
a) Rails, Brackets, fishplates and Rail Clips - Rails, brackets, flshpl-ates and rail clips shall
be made of open hearth steel or its equivalent having a tensile strength of not less than
380 x 103 kN/ma ad having an elongation of not less than 22 percent in a length of 50 mm.
b) Bolts and Rivets -Bolts and rivets shall conform to the relevant Indian Standards.
3.3 Requirements for Metals other than Steel - Metals other than steel shall be used provided the
factor of safety is not less than, and the deflections not more than, the values specified in 5. Casi
iron shall not be used.
3.4 Guide rails shall be continuous throughout the entire travel and shall be provided with adequate
steel brackets or equivalent fixings of such design and spacing, that the guide rails shall not deflec’
more than 5 mm under normal operation.
3.5 Guide rails shall be of such length that it shall not be possible for any of the car or counter.
weight shoes to run off the guides.
3.6 Guide rails and their fixings shall be arranged to withstand the action of safety gear wher
stopping a counterweight or a fully loaded car.
. Rail Section - Guide rails shall be T-section, conforming to Ihe nominal weights and dimen,
.ions shown in Table 1 read with Fig. 1.
Note-Other approved shapes may be used subject to the following requirements:
a) They shall have a section modulus and moment of inertia equal to or greater than that of the sectic
shown in fig. 1A or 1B for a given loading condition.
b) They shall have a sectional area sufficient to withstand the compressive forces resulting from the appl
cation of the car or counterweight safety device.

iA 1B
Fl6. 1 CAR AND COUNTER WEIGHT GUIDE RAILS

Adopted 24 May 1982 @ October 1982, DIS Gr 4

I I I

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHhDUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
IS : 10191.1982

TABLE 1 NOMINAL WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS OF GUIDE RAIL

(Clause 4, and Fig. 1 )

Nominal T- Nominal Dimensions in mm Guide Rails for Counterweight

Weight Without Safety
-
Weight of Nlaximum Bracket
Counterweight 8ipacing Without
! Reinforcement
c E
kg/m

4614
A B

-
32
D
- I
-i_
17’4
kg
-
mm

140 57
127

I
62 200 4 900
33.5 103 140 26 51 14.2 36 400 4 900
27.5 108 140 19 12.7 25 400 4 900
22.65 92 127 19 :: 12*‘7 18 800 4 900
22.32 89 127 16 50 12.7 18200 4 900
17.8 89 127 44 7’2 13 100 4 900
12.5 65 :“9 7.9 8 000 4 900 ,
11.9 62 :: 16 z 6 825 4 900
10.1 75 75 IO 32 1’0.: 6 400 4 115
10.0 75 75 9 32 9.0 5 900 4 000
9.95 72 75 6 38 9’5 5 300 3 700
9.85 74 75 32 10’0 5 700 3 800
9.6 74 75 x 32 IO.0 5 400 3 700
9’4 68 75 10 9’5 5100 3 650
a.74 60 60 13 it 8.5 5 000 3 400
8.00 56 78 10 26 6 4 000 3150
4.4
3. t:
50
50 t
-
26
26
- --
6
5
I
2 200
I 900
2 650
2 750

__
5. Maximum Load on Rails in Relation to the Bracket Spacing
5.1 Cars with Single Safety Gear -F-or cars fitted with a single safety gear, guide rails shall be
fastened to the building at intervals not exceeding the least values obtained under (a), (b), (c) or
(d) of this clause. Each span of guide rail shall be considered as a beam having ends supported,
so as to result in a deflection formula of WL3/96E/ and a stress formula of WL/SZ.

where
W = load of guide rail;
L 5=1 vertical distance, between centres of fastenings to the building structure;
E = modulus of elasticity of material;
I - minimum moment of inertia of guide rail ( or of rail and its reinforcement ); and
Z - sectional modulus of the rail, or of the rail and its reinforcement, about ii line at
right angles to-a line passing through the pair of rails.

a) 180 times the least radius of gyration of the rail.

W During loading, unloading or running, that distance which could result in either a maximum
deflection of 3 mm based on modulus E of 2 x 1011 N/m* or a maximum stress of 140 x 106
N/ma based on a yield stress of 228 x IO8 N/m*, such deflections or stresses being those
induced by forces acting along a horizontal line passing through the pair cf rails.

Nute - Figure 2 indicates maximum guide bracket spacings for 3 mm guide rails deflection under various
shoe loadings.

cl During loading, unloading or running, that distance which could result in either a maximum
deflection of 6 mm based on a modulus E of 2 x 1O1l N/m2 or a maximum stress of 140 x IO”
N/m2 based on a yield stress of 228 x I@ N/m2, such deflections or stresses being those
induced by forces acting at right angles to line passing, through the pair of rails. These
requirements shall apply only where the resultant guide shoe loads are applied other than
at rail fastenings.

4 The distance with which the stresses induced during safety gear operation shall be such
that:

does not exceed unity

2
 i9 : 10191- 1982

where
fc = the calculated compressive stress due to the weight of the rails and safety gear opera-
tion, determined on the basis of deceleration factors of 3 for Tyl::+ .A safety gear
( assuming an average retardation of 2 g ), 2 for Types B and C safet gears (assum-
ing an average retardation of 1 g ) and 2’5 for Type D safety gear (as: .irring an average
retardation of I.5 g );
PC = maximum permissible compressive stress as shown in Table 2;

fbc = $j- + l% at mid-span in which

T = deceleration factor ( as applying to fc );

F = half the weight of the empty car plus one quarter of the rated Icsd, for passenger
lifts, or half the weight of the empty car plus one-half of t: e rated load for
goods loading;
e = distance between the centres of the point of application of vertical force due to
F, and the neutral axis of the rail or of the rail and its reinforcb,msnt;
Z = sectional modulus of the rail, or of rail and its reinforcemerIt, about a line at
right angles to a line passing through the pair of rails;
L - vertical distance between centres of fastenings to the building structure;
K = turning moment as determined by the class of loading:
H = vertical centre distance between upper and lower guide shoes; and
Pbc = permissible bending stress of 173 x 106 N/m2 based on a yield stress of 228 X 10”
N/m2.

TABLE 2 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE COMPRESSIVE STRESS IN GUIDE RGELS

(BASED ON A YIELD STRESS 0-F 228 x IO” N/m2)
( Clause 5.1 )
-___ _---
L/R N/m2
_I- -- -- --

20 143 x 106

30 138 x 106

40 133 xl06

50 128 x10'

60 t15 x 106

70 110 xl06

80 101 x 106

90 91.7 x 106

100 82 xlOs

110 73.1 x IO6

120 64.7 x lo6

130 57.8 x IO6

140 50.5 x 106

150 44.8 x 106

160 40 x 106

170 36 x IO*

160 32.5 x 106

--

Note - L/R = Vertical distance between centre of fastenings to the building structure, divided by the lea
radius of gyration of the rail or of the rail and its reinforcement.

3
 t FOR 3.8kg RF:IL

1 FOR 27.5kq RA!!

I FOR 22.32 kg RAIL

/-

1GOOO

1000-

MINIMUM MOMENT OF INERTIA OF GUIDE RAIL IN cm’

(OR OF RAIL WITH REINFORCEMENT)
FIG. 2 MAXIMUM GUIDE BRACKET SPACING FOR LOADS IN DIRECTION OF PLANE Di GUIDE RAILS
 IS:10191-1982

5.2 Cars with Multiple Safety Gear - Where a car is provided with more than one safety gear, 5.1
shall be applied, with the following additional conditions in respect of &l(d).
a) The calculated compressive stress fc in the guide rails, shall be based on the total vertical
forces transmitted by the safety gears.

b) In determining the bending stress induced in a guide rail by the vertical torte from a safety
gear, the point of application of each force taken shall be the point or points least favourable
in relation to the span of the fixing of the guide rail to the building.

5.3 Counterweights Fitted with Single Safety Gear - For counterweights fitted with a single safety
gear, the guide rails shall be fastened to the building structure at intervals not exceeding the least
value obtained under (a), (b) or (c) of this clause:

a) 180 times the least radius of gyration.

W During running, the deflection in a direction along a horizontal line passing through the
pair of rails shall be timited to 6 mm, such deflection being based on the calculated static
guide shoe pressure, with each span of guide rail being considered as a simple beam
supported at each end. Such guide shoe pressure shall not be less than that calculated
either on the assumption that the counterweight is suspended on a vertical line 25 mm from
its centre of gravity; cr on the designed out-of-balance moment, for example, off-centre
compensation whichever is-larger.
Note- Figure 2 indicates maximum guide bracket spacing for 6 mm guide rail deflection under various
shoe loadings.

cl That distance with which the stresses induced during safety gear operation shall not exceed
the values specified in 5.1(d). The calculated stress shall be determined in accordance
with the method used for the calculation of car-guide rails in 5.1(d), taking into consider-
ation as the vertical forces acting on the rail and the guide shoe loads caused by out-of-
balance moments, subject to the deceleration forces.
The out-of-balance moment in the plane of the rails shall be not less than that calculated
either on the assumption that the counterweight is supported on a vertical line 25 mm from
its centre of gravity, or on ~the out-of-balance moment (For example off-centre compensation)
as designed, whichever is the larger.
The calculated out-of-balance moment in the direction at right angles to the plane of the
rails shall be same as that actually occuring during safety gear operation.

5.4 Counterweight with No Safety - Guide rails for counterweights not provided with a safety device
shall be fastened to the building structure at intervals of not more than 4’9 m and the weight of the
counterweight for each sire of guide rail shall not exceed that specified in Table 1.

5.4.1 Intermediate tie brackets, approximately equally spaced, shall be provided between the
guide rails at intervals as specified below:
Nominal Distance Between Number of Intermediate
Fastenings to Building Tie Brackets
Structure in Metre
0 to 3’7 0
3 7 to 4.3 1
4 3 to 4’9 2

5.4.2 Intermediate tie brackets are not required to be fastened to the building structure.

5.4.3 The mass of counterweight shall not exceed the values specified for each size of guide rails
in Table 1.

6. Rail Joints and Fish Plates

6.1 Type and Strength of Rail Joints - Metal guide rails shall be joined together by fishplates or by
any other approved means, as specified in 6.2.

6.2 Design and Construction of Rail Joints - The joints of metal guide rails shall conform to the
following requirements:
a) The ends of the rails shall be, accurately machined with the tongue and matching groove or
matched with dove1 pins centrally located in the web:
IS:10191-1982

b) -In case of lifts with speeds abave 1.0 m/s the backs of the rail flanges shall be accurately
machined, in relation to the rail guiding surfaces, to a uniform distance from front to back
of the rails to form a flat surface for the fishplates;
cl The ends of each rail shall be bolted to the fishplates with not less than four bolts;
4 The width of the fishplate shall not be less than that specified in Table 3;
4 The thickness of the fishplates and the diameter of the bolts for each size of guide rail shall
not be less than those specified in Table 4; and
f) The diameter of bolt holes shall not exceed the diameter of the bolts by more than 2 mm
for guide rails nor 4 mm for fishplates.

Note 1 -Joints of different design and construction to those specified in 6 shall be used subject to the approval
of the enforcing authority, provided they are equivalent in strength and will adequately maintain the accuracy of the
rail alignment.

Note 2 -For car and counterweight guides having their working surface not machined, 6.2(a) and 6.2(b) shall
not aQQly.

TABLE 3 MINIMUM WIDTH OF FISHPLATES FOR GUIDE RAILS

[ Clause 6.2 ( d ) ]

Width of Fishplate Width of Back of Rail

140 140
125 127
90 68.9
90 89
75 75
75 78
80 60
60 62
50 50

TABLE 4 MINIMUM THICKNESS OF FISHPLATES AND MINIMUM DIAMETER

OF FASTENING BOLTS

[ CIauses 6.2 ( e ) and 9.2 ]

Nominal Weight of Minimum Thickness Minimum Diameter of

Guide Rail of Fishplates Fishplate Bolts and
Rail Fastening Bolts
kg/m mm mm
___ _i_
46.14 20
33.5 El
27’5 20 ::
22.65 18
22.32 :8”
17.8 18 :6”
12.5 12
II.9 :I 12
10’72 12
10’00 :: 12
9’85 IO 12
9.6 12
8.74 :: 12
8.00 10 12
4.4 6 8
3.8 6 8
- -

7. Overall Length of Guide Rails -The top and bottom ends of each run of guide rail shall be
located in relation to the extreme positions of travel of the car and counterweight in such a way,
that the car and counterweight guiding members cannot travel beyond the ends of the guide rails.

6
 IS: 10191-1982

8. Guide Rail Brackets and Building SuPPOrtS

8.1 Design and Strength of Brackets and Supports-The building constructions forming the
supports for the guide rails, and the guide rail brackets, shall be of such design as to safely with-
stand the application of the car or counterweight safety, when stopping the car and its rated load or
the counterweight.
Where necessary, the building construction shall be reinforced to provide adequate support
for the guide rails.
Note-Lift-well walls of brick, terrecotta and similar materials, used in buildings of steel and concrete
cons’ruction, are usually insufi%Ant in strength to form by themselves adequate supports for the guide rails. .

8.2 Bracket Fastenings - Guide rail brackets shall be secured to their supportihg structure by means
of bolts, rivets or by welding. Fastening bolts, bolt hole-s in brackets and their supporting beams
shall conform to the requirements of 9. Welding shall be done in accordance with relevant Indian
Standard Codes of Practice.
9. Fastening of Guide Rails to Rail Brackets

9.1 Type of Fastenings - Guide rails shall be secured to their brackets by clips and bolts.
9.2 Size of Bolts for Fastenings - The size of bolts used for fastening the guide rails or rail clips
to the brackets shall not be less than those specified in Table 4.
9.3 Bolt Holes for Fasfenings - The diameter of holes or the width of slots for fastening bolts,
shall not exceed the diameter of the bolt by more than 2 mm.
10. Information on Lift Layouts- Elevator layout drawings shall, in addition to other data,
indicate the following:
a) The bracket spacing;
b) The estimated maximum vertical forces on the guide rails on application of the safety
device;
c) In the case of goods lifts for motor vehicle, industrial truck loading or other heavy con-
centrated loading, horizontal forces on the guide rail faces during loading and unloading,
and the estimated maximum horizontal forces in a post-wise direction on the guide rail
faces on the application of the safety device; and
d) The size and weight per metre of any rail reinforcements where provided,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This standard is one of a series of Indian Standards on mechanical components for lifts. The
other standards in the series are as follows:
a) IS : 9803-1981 Buffers for electric passenger and goods lifts, and
ti) IS : 9878-1981 Safety gears and governors for electric passenger and goods lifts.

While preparing the standard, assistance lias been derived from:

ANSI A 17.1’-1971 Safety code for elevators, dumbwaiters, escala-tors and moving walks, issued
by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

AS 1735 ( SAA Lift Code) Rules for the design, installation, testing and operation of lifts
escalators and moving walks, issued by Standards Association of Australia.

7
Reprography Unit, MS, New Delhi, India