As of November 2007, the State of Florida formally adopted ANSI A17.3 1996 edition for all existing elevators. What does this mean for elevator owners in the State? ALOT.

Some of the requirements of A17.3 1996 include:

• Door restrictors (zone locking devices)
• 2-way communication (telephones)
• Fire Service Operations (for buildings 25ft or higher)
• Emergency lighting

Many of the existing elevators throughout the State (where third party elevator inspections are required) are without the equipment listed above, and the amount of money needed to install some of these components is excessive - especially in condominiums wherein the tenant population is on a fixed income.

Take for example the Fire Service Requirement. If a building is 4 stories, more than likely it is over 25 feet high (above the main egress landing). Installing Fire Service operations is no easy task. More often than not, the existing controller is not equipped to incorporate Fire Service operations, so a new controller would need to be purchased and installed that includes that feature.

This is just the beginning of the nightmare.

Once a controller is needed, a permit needs to be pulled to cover the modernization. Once a permit is pulled, the code requirement for the elevators suddenly becomes more stringent. Now your elevator buttons are required to meet ADA requirements (42″ high at the centerline), and smoke detectors need to be installed in the elevator machine room and quite possibly at every landing in the building. Now you have to hire a fire alarm company to install the necessary sensors and relays on top of an elevator company to install the new controller.

Let’s assume your elevator mainline disconnect is not up to the new standards as well. Now you need to hire an electrician to change that component out as well as upgrade the lighting in the machine room and quite possibly the breaker that controls the elevator cab lights.

MAKE IT STOP!!!

We can stop the hemorrhaging of money right about now if you like, because we’re not entirely done with all the requirements necessary to comply with this new code requirement if your building is cited for the aforementioned violation on a State inspection.

We can, however, help you through this.

If your building was cited for an A17.3 violation, contact Alliance Elevator Consultants immediately before the myriad of proposals start pouring in from your elevator service company. We can negotiate the prices on your behalf, seek alternate proposals based on what you ACTUALLY need, and we can make the process of complying with this code significantly less stressful. We do of course require a fee to provide this service, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how economical this decision can be with a consultant as opposed to how outlandishly expensive it can be without one.

As always, you can contact us at any time, free of charge, and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.