The American Society of Mechanical Engineers known as ASME, is the association that updates and maintains control of the elevator code books for vertical transportation codes. The organization has been providing codes for elevators since 1921 and they release a new code year whenever they update the code. ASME publishes the ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The current published edition is ASME A17.1-2025/CSA B44:25 (verified September 2026). Your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) may still enforce an earlier edition, with local amendments. Confirm the requirements adopted for your equipment with the AHJ.
Determining which elevator code applies to a building may seem straightforward, but it can quickly become complicated. The local Authority Having Jurisdiction determines when a code is adopted and may also modify or supplement the ASME code with its own requirements.
As a result, it can be difficult to determine which code governs a specific elevator system, which equipment the requirements apply to, and how those requirements should be interpreted for your particular building or location.
To better understand your building’s elevator code, give the Elevator Consultants a call.