For elevator inspection requirements, confirm the adopted edition with your AHJ.
Elevator Inspection Requirements: Codes, Frequency and Who Can Inspect
There's no single national elevator inspection rule. The technical standard is largely consistent. The edition adopted, the interval, and who's licensed to do the work get decided at the state or local level.
Which codes apply
- ASME A17.1 / CSA B44. The Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The core technical standard covering design, operation, maintenance and testing.
- ASME A17.2. Guide for Inspection, the companion inspection procedures manual.
- ASME A17.3. Existing Installations. Retroactive requirements that older equipment may be brought up to.
- ASME QEI-1. Qualification standard for elevator inspectors.
- NFPA 72. Governs the fire alarm initiating devices that trigger elevator recall.
- State and local amendments. These decide which edition is enforced and how often inspections happen.
Two buildings in neighboring states can run identical equipment on different code editions with different intervals.
Inspection frequency
Under ASME A17.1 as commonly adopted:
- Routine/periodic inspection. Typically annual for most passenger elevators, though some jurisdictions require semi-annual.
- Category 1 testing. Commonly annual. No-load testing of safeties, brakes, and operating devices.
- Category 3 testing. Applies to certain hydraulic equipment on a longer interval.
- Category 5 testing. Commonly every five years. Full-load, rated-speed testing of car safeties, governors and buffers.
- Firefighters' emergency operation. Commonly a monthly operational check, with a fuller test at the periodic inspection.
- Acceptance inspection. Required after new installation or alteration, before the unit returns to service.
Escalators, dumbwaiters, platform lifts and residential elevators each carry their own intervals. Set those intervals separately in your elevator service software calendar.
Who is qualified to inspect
Periodic and acceptance inspections generally require a Qualified Elevator Inspector certified under ASME QEI-1, and many states add licensing or registration on top. Some require the inspector to be independent of the company holding the maintenance contract, specifically to stop self-certification.
Day-to-day operational checks, like the monthly firefighters' service test, are usually permitted to be done by the maintenance contractor or trained building staff. It's still the owner's obligation.
Why state rules differ
Elevator safety is administered at the state level, and states adopt ASME editions on their own schedules. A state may enforce an edition several cycles behind the current one, add amendments, set its own interval, or license its own inspectors. Some delegate enforcement to municipalities.
A contractor takes on twelve units across two states. All were installed the same year and have the same OEM and controllers. One state runs the periodic annually. The neighbor requires semi-annual. The dispatcher uses the first state's rules because most units are there.
Six months later, half the portfolio is overdue on paper while every car runs fine.
What inspectors cite
- Missing or expired certificate in the car
- Storage in the machine room or pit
- Emergency communication not reaching a monitored location
- Overdue Category testing
- Firefighters' service not tested or not documented
- Maintenance Control Program records incomplete or unavailable on site
ASME A17.1 requires a documented Maintenance Control Program. If the inspector can't get those records, an otherwise clean unit may still get written up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my state's specific requirements?
Start with your state elevator safety board or department of labor. Most publish the adopted edition and inspection intervals. Local building departments may add more.
Can the maintenance company perform the annual inspection?
Depends on the jurisdiction. Some allow it, others require an independent QEI.
What happens if an inspection is overdue?
Possible consequences include a correction notice or removal from service. An overdue inspection can complicate an insurance claim if an incident occurs.
Keeping every unit on schedule
Essential's elevator service software tracks inspection due dates per unit and per jurisdiction. Run digital checklists on mobile and log deficiencies with photos. Pull up the Maintenance Control Program record when an inspector asks.
