An elevator inspection is an examination of the equipment against the safety code, performed to establish whether that equipment was in compliance on the day it was inspected. It is a compliance event. It is not a review of whether the maintenance you are paying for is being performed, and owners sometimes confuse these two purposes.
This page explains what an inspection covers, who carries it out, and what it establishes. If yours has gone wrong, the last section is the one you want.
Who performs an elevator inspection
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) determines who may perform an inspection and which qualifications or approvals are required. ASME QEI-1 is the standard for the qualification of elevator inspectors; QEI certification may be part of the applicable requirements. Depending on the location and assignment, inspection or test-witnessing work may be performed by an AHJ inspector or an approved independent inspector or agency. Confirm the requirements for the building.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction. Frequency, who is permitted to inspect, what documentation is required and who files it are all set locally, and requirements can differ between cities or other jurisdictions within the same state.
The inspections and tests an owner will encounter
Acceptance inspection. Required for new equipment and applicable alterations, which can include modernization. Confirm the required permits, inspections and tests with the AHJ before the equipment is placed in service.
Periodic inspection. The routine examination required at intervals set by the jurisdiction, commonly annual.
Periodic testing. Tests operate specified equipment or safety devices under defined conditions; they are distinct from the routine inspection. Under ASME A17.1 these are grouped by category:
- Category 1: the annual test. Safety devices and operation checked under defined conditions.
- Category 3: three-year testing for applicable hydraulic equipment; confirm which equipment and requirements apply with the AHJ.
- Category 5: the five-year test, performed at rated load and rated speed.
Check the jurisdiction for your building. Intervals, scope, who is permitted to perform and witness each test, and what documentation must be filed are set by the authority having jurisdiction and they differ. Confirm the requirement that applies to your building rather than assuming the general case, and know what the witnessing requirement is where you are. If you are not sure why the code matters to you as an owner rather than to your contractor, why building owners need to know about the A17.1 safety code is the shorter explanation.
What an inspection establishes, and what it does not
An inspection answers one question: was this equipment in violation of the code on the day it was examined.
An inspection can include maintenance control program (MCP) and record requirements under the applicable code, and missing or deficient records may be cited. It is not a complete evaluation of the commercial questions below:
- Whether the preventive maintenance you are contracted and billed for has actually been performed
- Whether all contracted maintenance tasks were completed, even when the required maintenance records are present
- Whether the equipment is being run into the ground in ways that are not yet code violations
- Whether the parts being replaced needed replacing
- Whether what you are paying is reasonable for what you are receiving
- Whether the deferred maintenance accumulating on your equipment is being disclosed to you
Equipment can pass an inspection and still be poorly maintained, expensively maintained, and heading for a failure the owner has not been told about. A passing result does not establish the value or completeness of the maintenance service you receive.
Inspection, audit, and why owners confuse them
Most owners who call us saying they need an inspection actually need an audit. Some say survey, some say assessment, some say evaluation. They are all describing the same thing: they want to know what condition their equipment is in and whether they are being looked after.
| An inspection | An audit | |
|---|---|---|
| The question it answers | Was the equipment in compliance on this date | Is the owner getting the maintenance, the condition and the value being paid for |
| Measured against | The safety code | The service contract, the maintenance record, and the equipment’s actual condition |
| Who it is for | The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and the owner’s compliance file | The owner |
| Typical output | Pass, or a list of violations to correct | Findings, deferred maintenance, contract gaps, and what to do about each |
| What it will not tell you | Whether your contractor is performing the work you pay for | An audit does not substitute for a required code inspection or establish an official inspection status. |
Neither one substitutes for the other. We perform both, which is how we know that. If it is the second column you actually need, what an elevator audit actually covers sets it out in full.
When your inspection has gone wrong
This is the part most owners are looking for.
You failed, or you have open violations. We review what was written up, establish what is genuinely required to clear it, and make sure the correction work being proposed is the correction work and not a modernization wearing a disguise.
Your certificate has lapsed or the paperwork is missing. Contact the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the building to establish its current status and the steps required. A missing certificate, an expired certificate and an outstanding inspection or filing are different issues. Do not assume an extension or continued operation is permitted. Obtain the relevant inspection, testing and filing records, then check responsibilities under your agreement through elevator maintenance contract consulting.
Your contractor says the required testing was performed and you have no evidence. Request the dated test report identifying the equipment and test performed, the required signatures or witness information, and any filing confirmation required by the AHJ. Compare those records with the maintenance agreement and invoice. A statement that testing was completed is not a substitute for the required documentation; resolve missing evidence with the contractor and AHJ as applicable.
Your maintenance control program is not being maintained. The MCP is a code requirement, it is the building’s responsibility and most owners do not know that, and it is one of the most commonly neglected items we find.
The same violations keep appearing year after year. Compare each finding with the prior correction records and current equipment condition to identify whether work was incomplete, the issue recurred or further review is needed. An elevator audit can help establish the underlying maintenance and condition issues.
You have equipment in several jurisdictions and no idea what is required where. This is a portfolio management problem, and it is one we solve routinely.
Your property includes escalators. Confirm the inspection and testing requirements for that equipment with the AHJ. For related owner questions, see escalator consulting.
Where TEC fits
We are independent. We do not sell elevators, install them or service them, and we have no relationship with any manufacturer or service provider that could be affected by what an inspection finds.
We perform inspections for our clients, including the City of Chicago Annual Inspection Certification, and our inspectors are certified. But inspection is not what most owners need from us. What they need is someone to tell them what the findings mean, whether the work being proposed is the work required, and whether the underlying maintenance is the real problem. That is the work we do.
Frequently asked questions
What is an elevator inspection?
An examination of elevator equipment against the applicable safety code to establish whether it was in compliance on the date of inspection. The inspector must meet the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), which may include QEI certification under the ASME QEI-1 standard.
How often does an elevator have to be inspected?
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) sets the inspection interval for the building and equipment. Annual inspections are common, but confirm the applicable schedule. Required testing has its own scope, intervals and witnessing rules; it should be tracked separately.
Does passing an inspection mean my elevator is well maintained?
No. A passing inspection addresses the required inspection scope on that date. It does not prove that all contracted maintenance was performed or that the service provides good value. Review the inspection report, any open items and the maintenance evidence separately.
What is the difference between an elevator inspection and an elevator audit?
An inspection measures the equipment against the code for the jurisdiction. An audit measures the service you are receiving against the contract you are paying for, and the equipment against its actual condition. The first is compliance. The second is accountability.
My elevator failed its inspection. What now?
Establish what is genuinely required to clear each item, then establish who is responsible for it under your existing contract. Correction work is frequently proposed at a scope well beyond what the violation requires, and much of it is often already covered by the agreement you hold.
Who is responsible for elevator inspections, the owner or the service contractor?
The owner carries the legal responsibility for compliance. The contract usually assigns much of the practical work to the service provider. What the contract actually obligates them to do, and what it quietly leaves with you, is worth reading carefully.
Do you perform elevator inspections?
We do, for our clients, including the Chicago AIC. Most of our inspection-related work is helping owners understand and resolve findings rather than performing the inspection itself.