N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 12, § 8-1.40 – Passenger elevators.

(1) All passenger elevator cars shall be fully and substantially enclosed on all sides including the top, except the landing side. In future installations the car frame shall be of wrought iron or steel.
(2) The enclosure shall be of wood or metal and must be of solid construction to a height of not less than 48 inches above the car floor. Above the solid panel and extending to the top frame of the car, open work may be used provided the spacing between the members does not exceed one inch. That portion of the car enclosure to its full height where the counterweights pass, shall be of solid construction or of wire mesh or expanded metal not less than No. 18 U. S. gauge which will reject a three-eighths inch diameter ball.
(3) When wood is used the enclosure shall not be less than seven-eighths inch in thickness.
(4) The enclosure of the top of the car shall be sufficiently strong to sustain a concentrated load of 150 pounds.
(5) The enclosure of the top of the car shall be provided with an emergency trap door not less than 18 inches in its smallest dimensions, and not less than 400 square inches in area.
(6) Where two or more cars are in the same hoistway emergency doors may be provided in the side of each car in lieu of trap doors to afford easy egress from one car to another, the size of which shall be not less than 18 inches in width and 60 inches high measured from a point not higher than six inches from the floor.
(b) Car openings.
(1) Passenger elevator cars hereafter installed shall have doors or gates on all landing sides that shall be kept closed while the car is in motion.
(2) Such doors or gates except the one immediately accessible to the operator shall be provided with an interlock or electric contact conforming to the specifications of sections 8-1.55 and 8-1.56, or other approved device performing similar functions.
(3) The distance from the car operating device to the handle on the car door or gate immediately accessible to the operator, also the locks and their extensions on all the hoistway doors or gates at the same entrance shall not exceed 48 inches.
(4) Elevator cars hereafter installed shall have not more than two openings.
(5) Floor tracks for doors or gates shall not project above the finished floor surface.
(6) Cars hereafter installed shall consist of not more than one compartment horizontally or vertically.
(c) Carrying capacity.
(1) The carrying capacity of elevators hereafter installed shall be not less than 75 pounds for each square foot of floor area inside of car.
(2) No elevator shall be used for carrying safes or other material of a greater weight than the normal lifting power of such elevator unless the car is equipped with a locking device which will hold the car from descending at any landing independent of the hoisting ropes while the safe or other material is being loaded or unloaded.

(a) Enclosure and construction.