Elevators are among the safest means of transport and news of accidents involving these accessibility systems is quite unnerving.

Failing to install quality elevator systems can lead to fatal accidents and subsequent penalties for device owners. Last year, the New York Daily News reported on the discovery of a potentially dangerous flaw in a specific brand of commercial elevator during the investigation of a fatal elevator accident in Williamsburg. The buildings inspectors discovered what they thought to be a ‘potential deficiency’ in this brand of lift and reported that the elevator malfunctioned due to passenger overload. According to the report, the tenants said the elevator malfunctioned quite often. It had had four violations, all resolved, since 2013. The inquiry also found this brand of elevator in 60 buildings across the city including many upscale areas such as Brooklyn and Manhattan. Like quality elevators, periodic inspections are necessary for elevator safety. In NYC as in other states, elevator inspections are mandatory and building owners must keep a record of the inspection certificates in each elevator. The NYC buildings department conducts one periodic inspection of devices every twelve months. According to the department’s rules for private inspections, owners should have their devices inspected annually as well as get an additional inspection every three or five years, depending on the type of device. The tests recommended are

  • Annual Test (Category 1)
  • Three Year Test (Category 3) Water Hydraulic Elevators Only
  • Five Year Test (Category 5)

Partnering with a reliable New York elevator dealer can go a long way in detecting potential flaws, preventing serious accidents and ensuring compliance with building department regulations on tests and inspections. An established company would supply only premium quality elevators from top manufacturers. Building owners can also rely on them for timely elevator inspections. Licensed inspectors are deployed to conduct comprehensive inspections such as:

  • On-site inspections
  • Annual/periodic inspections
  • Specification development
  • Maintenance surveys
  • Violation resurveys
  • Modernization surveys
  • Test witnessing
  • Code evaluations

Elevator inspections ensure compliance with local, state, and federal safety codes and minimize the risk of accidents, thereby allowing building owners to avoid penalties and costly shutdowns.