Inspections
Inspection Services for: Traction Elevators/ Hydraulic Elevators/ Escalators/ Moving Walks/ Wheelchair Lifts/ LULAs
- Annual Safety Code Inspection
- Initial Inspections
- Construction Inspections
- Alteration Inspections
- Temporary Construction use
Welcome Florida Elevator Owners!
We would like to take this opportunity to provide you with valuable information regarding recent changes in the law regulating elevators in Florida.
The most recent change went into effect on June 5th, 2002 requiring elevator inspections annually instead of once every two years, as has been the case, and the Bureau of Elevator Safety now also requires the periodic tests to be witnessed by a QEI certified inspector every year.
We have found that many owners have been confused about when to have their equipment inspected since the State issued Certificates of Operation for all elevators expire in August of every year. This does not mean that you do not have to have your equipment inspected until July or August of each year. You are required to have your equipment inspected within twelve months after its last inspection. Therefore, if your last inspection was performed in April of 2002, you are required to have your equipment inspected again in April of 2003.
Because of this confusion, and the volume of elevators that are due for inspection in July or August, we recommend that you schedule your inspection in advance of when it is required, to avoid delays and/or any penalties you might incur because of delays in having your inspection. We would be glad to find the due date of your inspection from the Bureau of Elevator Safety database of elevator accounts.
Welcome Alabama Elevator Owners!
In 2003 the Alabama legislature passed HB 197, signed into law by Governor Riley, requiring the registration/permitting and inspection of all new and existing installations, relocations, or alterations to elevators, escalators, wheelchair lifts, dumbwaiters, moving walks and automated people movers. The elevator inspection program, under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Labor, is headed by Ralph P. Pate, Chief Elevator Inspector. The program, initiated on June 21st 2004, will require the code compliance of all elevator devices to a nationally recognized baseline safety standard and provide for public safety by ensuring annual inspections are performed in a timely manner. The State of Alabama adopts the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A17.3 Code for Existing Equipment. This standard will require the modernization of the elevator system and components to a newer baseline, but the implementation timeframe has not been determined. These changes are of particular concern to the owners and need to be addressed over the implementation period to avoid inconvenience, interruption of service or inability to get the mandated changes completed by the end of the implementation period.
Vertical Assessment Associates is a full service elevator inspection and consulting firm registered with the State of Alabama Elevator Safety Division. Our inspectors hold the national Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) certification, which is required for inspecting elevators in the State of Alabama.
Vertical Assessment Associates was formed in 2000, as a result of the State of Florida privatizing elevator inspection services. This legislative mandate allowed VAA to employ a large staff of former State Elevator Inspectors including the former Engineer III, the Plans Examiner and the Senior Elevator Inspection Supervisor. We are qualified and prepared to handle the recent elevator inspection privatization in Alabama with the same degree of reliability that has made us the best in Florida.
Our level of experience enables more accurate reporting of deficiencies and better familiarity with the history of code development. This is especially important in Alabama, where the passing of recent State Laws mandate the modernization of every elevator in the state to a newer baseline safety standard. The impact of these changes can be lessened by employing a full service firm to properly inspect and make recommendations on improvement measures, accomplished during the phase-in period, targeting this newer baseline standard. At Vertical Assessments, we believe inspection services really involve more than just the required inspections. Our services include code research to answer any elevator related questions, and also advising the elevator owner of new State of Alabama code requirements. Our company's President Lee Rigby, and Operations Manager Bill Strawn, both currently serve on several national code writing committees.