Elevator Information Center - Elevator Inspections and 5 Year Tests

Summary of Required Elevator Inspections

All elevators must be inspected annually as per the Florida State statute 399.061(1)

(a) Which reads as follows: All elevators or other conveyances subject to this chapter must be  annually inspected by a certified elevator inspector or by a municipality or county under contract with the division pursuant to s. 399.13 If the elevator is not an escalator or a dumbwaiter, serves only two adjacent floors, and is covered by a service contract, an inspection is not required so long as the service contract remains in effect.

(b) A statement verifying the existence and performance of each service maintenance contractmust be filed at least annually with the division and as prescribed by rule.  Cancellation of a service maintenance contract must be reported to the division as prescribed by rule.

Description of required inspections

Annual Inspection (Hydraulic Elevator):
Includes hydraulic system pressure test which will determine the maximum amount of PSI that the system will produce. Also includes but is not limited to, periodic testing of elevator safety devices such as proper fusing, alarm bell, emergency lighting, telephone, terminal slow down and stopping switches, pit and machine room lighting, door safety equipment and the overall condition of the elevator.

Annual Inspection (Traction Elevator):
Includes no-load governor/ safeties test. This will test the over speed protection devices of the elevator with no load inside. Also includes but is not limited to, periodic testing of elevator safety devices such as proper fusing, alarm bell, emergency lighting, telephone, terminal slow down and stopping switches, pit and machine room lighting, door safety equipment, traction cable wear and the over all condition of the elevator.

Five Year Test (Traction Elevator):
Every five years traction elevators are required to under go additional tests with the annual inspection. These tests include full load governor/ safety tests. This will test the over speed protection devices of the elevator loaded to its full load capacity. Also with a full load, the elevator and counterweight buffers will be tested at full contract speed of the elevator.

All inspections are to be performed by the elevator contractor and witnessed by a state certified inspector. There are different jurisdictions in charge of inspecting an elevator depending where the elevator is located.

Broward County-
Broward County employs state certified inspectors to inspect all elevators located in Broward County.

Miami-Dade County-
Miami-Dade County employs state certified inspectors to inspect county owned buildings as well as monitor third party inspections provided by other private elevator inspection companies.

City of Miami-
The City of Miami employs state certified elevator inspectors to inspect the elevators located within the city limits of Miami.

City of Miami Beach-
The city of Miami Beach employs state certified elevator inspectors to inspect the elevators located within the city limits of Miami Beach.

All other Jurisdictions-
All other jurisdictions such as Palm Beach and Monroe Counties have their elevators inspected by certified elevator inspectors employed by independent third party inspection companies. These companies and their inspectors report to and are monitored by the Florida’s Bureau of Elevator Safety.