Elevator Certification Explained
Elevator certification is the process of confirming that an elevator, escalator, moving walk, lift, or other regulated conveyance has satisfied the inspection and documentation requirements necessary to operate.
The document commonly associated with this process is the Certificate of Operation.
Certification Is Usually Not One Step
For many buildings, certification requires inspection scheduling, vendor coordination, documentation, correction of open issues, and certificate renewal follow-up.
- Confirm certificate expiration date
- Schedule the required annual inspection
- Coordinate with the elevator maintenance company
- Coordinate generator or fire alarm vendors when applicable
- Correct violations if any are found
- Submit passing inspection documents
Who Is Responsible?
The property owner or owner’s representative is generally responsible for making sure the elevator remains properly certified. In practice, this is often handled by property managers, engineers, facility managers, and association representatives.
Certification vs. Inspection
An inspection is the field review or test documentation process. Certification is the broader compliance result that allows the elevator to continue operating when jurisdiction requirements are met.