This Standard has been developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to provide guidance to the elevator industry for the appropriate use of means for suspension, compensation, and governors. This edition includes standards for three technologies for elevators, namely: steel wire ropes, aramid fiber ropes, and noncircular elastomeric-coated steel suspension members. Uniform standards for these important items are necessary to ensure consistent levels of safety and to provide guidance for the manufacturers of these items as well as the designers, manufacturers, installers, maintainers, and inspectors of elevator equipment.

As other technologies emerge and are deemed to be suitable for similar applications, this Standard will be expanded to include criteria for their usage.

In developing this Standard, experts were assembled from the steel wire rope, aramid fiber rope, and noncircular elastomeric-coated steel suspension members engineering and manufacturing fields. Relevant existing standards were studied during the development of this Standard and are referenced where appropriate. The scope of this Standard covers North American and international requirements in a comprehensive manner and does not conflict with existing American or international standards. This Standard is intended to be used in conjunction with the ASME A17.1/CSA B44, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, and related Codes and standards.