Maintenance Inspections for Elevators & Escalators

MEMORANDUM

Department of Building Construction and Inspections

County of Henrico, Virginia

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Building Official

SUBJECT: Maintenance Inspections for Elevators and Escalators

DATE: July 17, 2008

Section 104.1 of the 2006 Virginia Construction Code (Part I of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code - USBC) and 606.3 of the 2006 Virginia Maintenance Code (Part III of the USBC) requires that each local building official provide for the inspection of existing elevators and escalators. This memorandum establishes criteria applicable to the approved 3rd Party agencies that perform elevator and escalator maintenance inspections and stipulates the format and timeframe required for building owners to obtain and submit these maintenance inspections. Elevators installed in single family and two-family homes and townhouses are exempt from this policy.

The Henrico County Department of Building Construction & Inspections requires that the maintenance inspections required by the Virginia Maintenance Code be performed by a 3rd Party as an approved agency. Approved agencies are required to be an individual, partnership or corporation that has either met the Elevator Inspector certification requirements established by the Virginia Certification Standards, a Qualified Elevator Inspector certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME QEI-1), a Virginia registered design professional (RDP- architect or engineer), or an individual performing under the direct supervision of an RDP in accordance with Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. The qualifications of individuals performing inspections under the supervision of an RDP shall be the responsibility of the RDP.

All 3rd party inspection reports are required to be submitted on the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections Elevator Inspection Report form. The Elevator Inspection Report form is mailed to the building owner at least 15 days prior to the month in which the inspection report is due. The form indicates the type of inspection and/or test that is due (i.e. Periodic Inspection and Category One Test or Category Five test). All elevator maintenance inspection reports performed by an approved agency shall bear the name (legibly printed or typed) and signature of the approved elevator inspector. All elevator maintenance inspection reports that are performed by an RDP shall bear the seal and signature of the RDP that is approved to perform the inspection. All 3rd party elevator maintenance inspections performed under the direct supervision of an RDP shall bear the name (legibly printed or typed) and signature of the elevator inspector in addition to the seal and signature of the RDP. Individuals, partnerships or corporations other than RDP's are required to submit a copy of their certification(s) for review and verification prior to submitting inspection reports. Inspection reports shall be received by Henrico County on or before the last day of the month in which the report is due.

Questions regarding this policy can be answered by calling the Electrical/Elevator Inspections Supervisor Calvin Hazzard or Electrical/Elevator Inspector Dale Powers at 804/501-4360.

Gregory H. Revels
Building Official