Kenny Weaver Director of Sales, Q.E.I. in Training Draft — pending review If you’ve never been through one, an elevator inspection is simpler than it sounds: a credentialed inspector spends a few hours with your equipment — riding it, testing the doors and safety functions, and examining the machine room, car top and pit — then files a report with the state and signs off on your certificate of operation. Your job as the owner or manager is mostly about access and paperwork: have the keys ready, the machine room clear, and the maintenance records available.
Here’s the visit from your side of the clipboard, based on how RISE’s QEI inspectors run state-mandated periodic inspections across Pennsylvania — plus the prep list we wish every building used.
Before the visit: scheduling and coordination
In Pennsylvania, periodic inspections are performed by a Department of Labor & Industry code official or a certified third-party agency — for most elevators and escalators, at least every six months under 34 Pa. Code § 405.7. When you work with RISE, we track those due dates so the scheduling call comes from us, not from a violation notice.
One question to settle up front: is this visit a routine inspection, or does it include witnessed testing? They’re different events. Periodic safety tests — the Category 1 and Category 5 tests under 34 Pa. Code § 405.8 — are performed by your elevator maintenance contractor and witnessed by the inspector, so they require both companies on site at the same time. Lining up those calendars is half the battle, and it’s something RISE will coordinate between all parties as part of our compliance packages.
Expect the unit to be out of passenger service while it’s being inspected. For buildings with multiple elevators, units are done one at a time; for single-elevator buildings, pick a low-traffic window and let tenants know in advance.
What the inspector actually looks at
Every QEI has a routine, but a periodic inspection generally covers the same ground:
Inside the car. Door operation and door reopening devices, emergency communication, car lighting and alarm, floor leveling, signage — and the posted certificate of operation, which 34 Pa. Code § 405.6 requires to be in the car or enclosure, or attached to the controller in the machine room.
The machine room. Condition of the machine, controller and ropes or hydraulic components, housekeeping, lighting, and access. The maintenance records kept on site tell the inspector a lot about how the equipment has been cared for between visits.
The car top and hoistway. Riding the car top to examine the hoistway, guide rails, traveling cables and door equipment from above.
The pit. Cleanliness, water intrusion, pit lighting, the condition of buffers and the equipment at the bottom of the hoistway.
Operational checks. Running the equipment through its normal functions and verifying the safety devices behave the way the code expects.
A good inspection is more than pass/fail. Because RISE inspectors conduct every inspection with public safety as the highest priority, we take the extra steps to make sure equipment is genuinely compliant — the goal is that the state never has a reason to get involved with your building.
If testing is being witnessed
On a test day, the rhythm changes: your maintenance contractor’s mechanics run the equipment through the required test procedure — with weights for load tests when called for — and the inspector observes, verifies the results are accurate and measurable, and documents the outcome. RISE witnesses Category 1 & 5 testing precisely so that safety tests are performed safely and the results actually mean something. After passing, the testing gets recorded and tagged on the equipment per § 405.8.
How to prepare: the checklist
Most inspection-day friction has nothing to do with the elevator. Have these ready:
- Access. Machine room keys, roof or basement access, and any fobs or codes the inspector needs. Locked doors are the #1 cause of wasted visits.
- A reachable contact. Someone on site (or by phone) who can answer questions and authorize taking the unit out of service.
- A clear machine room. It should contain elevator equipment, not holiday decorations and paint cans. Clear storage out before the visit.
- Working lighting. Machine room, hoistway access points and pit lighting all need to function for the inspection to proceed safely.
- A reasonably dry, clean pit. Standing water or debris in the pit is both a finding in itself and an obstacle to inspecting everything else down there.
- Paperwork. The current certificate of operation posted where it belongs, and maintenance records available on site.
- Tenant notice. A simple “Elevator inspection Tuesday morning — expect brief outages” sign prevents most complaints.
- Your maintenance contractor booked, if witnessed testing is on the agenda.
None of this requires technical knowledge — it’s logistics. Ten minutes of prep the day before usually saves an hour on inspection day.
After the inspection
The formal machinery is quick. The inspector completes a written report and submits the results to L&I within 15 days, records the inspection date and signature on your certificate of operation, and — if the equipment failed — must notify the Department within one business day (§ 405.7).
If there are findings, you’ll know exactly what they are. Your maintenance contractor makes the corrections, the unit gets reinspected, and the compliance record closes. If everything passes, your certificate stays on track — see how often Pennsylvania elevators need to be inspected and our certificate of operation guide for how the cycles fit together.
One more thing worth knowing: an inspection doesn’t have to be only about compliance. RISE also performs maintenance program performance evaluations — an in-depth look at how your equipment is actually performing, the quality of the maintenance you’re paying for, and the expected lifespan of the equipment. Owners use them to right-size service contracts, avoid unnecessary shutdowns, and push back on unnecessary work proposed by elevator contractors.
Ready when you are
Whether your next periodic inspection is due, a Category 5 test needs witnessing, or you’d just like someone else to own the compliance calendar — request a free quote or contact us. We’ll handle the scheduling, the paperwork and the state, and you can get back to running your building.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an elevator inspection take?
It depends on the type of equipment, how many units are being inspected, and whether witnessed testing is happening the same day. A routine periodic inspection of a single elevator is usually a matter of hours, not days — when RISE schedules your inspection we'll tell you what to expect for your specific equipment.
Will the elevator be out of service during the inspection?
Yes, plan on it. The inspector needs to operate the car, test the doors, and access the machine room, car top and pit, so the unit can't carry passengers while that's happening. In multi-elevator buildings, inspections are typically done one unit at a time so the building keeps vertical service.
Do I need to be there in person?
Someone needs to provide access — keys to the machine room, any locked lobbies or roof access — and be reachable for questions. That can be a building engineer, superintendent or property manager. You don't have to shadow the inspector.
Does my elevator maintenance company need to be there?
For a routine periodic inspection, usually not. For Category 1 or Category 5 testing, yes — the maintenance contractor performs the test and the inspector witnesses it, as required by 34 Pa. Code § 405.8. RISE can coordinate scheduling between all parties as part of its compliance packages.
What happens if my elevator fails?
The inspector must notify the Department of Labor & Industry within one business day of a failed periodic inspection, and equipment can't get its certificate of operation without passing. In practice you'll get a clear list of what failed, your maintenance contractor corrects it, and the unit is reinspected. The faster the items are fixed, the smaller the compliance gap.
How often do these inspections happen?
For most elevators and escalators in Pennsylvania, at least every six months. See our guide on how often elevators need to be inspected in Pennsylvania for the full breakdown of the 6-month and 12-month cycles.
