If you own a commercial building with an elevator, you must follow a regular elevator maintenance schedule to keep it in safe, working order for all occupants. Even knowing that, you may wonder: How often do elevators need to be inspected? Below, we discuss the recommended elevator inspection frequency and what to expect.
Elevator Inspection Requirements
When considering the issue of elevator safety checks, frequency matters. While most commercial elevators require yearly inspections, the laws on inspection intervals for elevators vary between states and counties per city ordinances, so you must check the regulations in your area. For instance, elevators in high-traffic environments may require inspections as frequently as every one to three months.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of creating a custom inspection plan to ensure legal compliance. Doing so also benefits the community by demonstrating your commitment to safety.
Considering the Inspection Requirements for Your Elevator
Elevator service and inspection timelines depend on the type of elevator you have and your traffic loads. Just because your state requires annual inspections does not mean you only need inspections once per year. Your elevator’s maintenance guide may recommend inspections every three months, so be sure to check with the manufacturer for more information.
If your elevator goes through constant use throughout the day, it will likely require inspections on a regular basis, perhaps monthly.
What Do Elevator Inspections Involve?
Now that you have the answer to “How often do elevators need to be inspected?” let’s discuss how you can prepare for the inspection. To do so, you must understand what the inspection process looks like.
If you know anything about how elevators function, it won’t surprise you to learn just how complex they can be. Because of this, inspectors examine far more than the components you can see. The inspection will go over the following:
- The elevator car’s exterior, including door locks, firefighter’s service systems, etc.
- The elevator car’s interior, including call buttons, handrails, lighting, etc.
- The machine room and car top, including hoist ropes, roller guides, guide rails, etc.
- The elevator pit, including the sump pump, buffers, etc.
- The elevator monitoring system, emergency power supply, alarms, etc.
Preparing Your Elevator for Inspection
Much goes into preparing your elevator for inspection, as the safety codes continually update to minimize risks as much as possible. One of the latest elevator code updates requires two-way communication with audible and text features. If you have not already adopted such systems, you will need to do so before your next inspection.
So, how often do elevators need to be inspected? The answer depends on your elevator, but inspection requirements can range anywhere from once per month to once per year. Knowing the difference and scheduling accordingly will go a long way in ensuring the safety of all who use it.
Contact ELEVATE Monitoring today at 877-990-9191 to learn more about office building security and our elevator monitoring solutions so you can prepare for your next inspection.
