Elevator Retrofit
The State of Florida now requires buildings that are 6 or more floors in height to retrofit their elevators to allow operation in fire emergency situations with one master key. The Compliance Date for Existing Buildings is October 1, 2009. Below is the statute which outlines the new key access and inspection rules:
Florida Statutes, Chapter 399.15, Regional emergency elevator access
(1) In order to provide emergency access to elevators:
(a) For each building in this state which is six or more stories in height, including, but not limited to, hotels and condominiums, on which a building permit is issued after September 30, 2006, all of the keys for elevators that allow public access, including, but not limited to, service and freight elevators, must be keyed so as to allow all elevators within each of the seven state emergency response regions to operate in fire emergency situations with one master elevator key.
(b) Any building in this state which is six or more stories in height and has undergone “substantial improvement” as defined in s.161.54(12) must also comply with paragraph (a).
(2) Each existing building in this state which is six or more stories in height must comply with subsection (1) before October 1, 2009.
Florida’s Department of Financial Services publishes a map showing the seven (7) emergency response regions as well as a list of the vendors authorized to perform the installation and issue uniform keys.
The installation must be complete and the property compliant no later than October 1, 2009.
Additionally, elevator inspections must be performed annually by a Certified Elevator Inspector or the State of Florida may contract with the County or Municipality for elevator inspection services. Nonetheless, Section 399.02, Florida Statutes requires the building owner or operator to bear responsibility for obtaining the inspections, the safe operation of the elevator, the proper maintenance of the elevator, and correction of any deficiencies noted in the annual inspection.
The statute further goes on to say that “an elevator maintenance contract will not insulate the building owner or operator (including an Association) from liability for damages or personal injuries.”
Additional items concerning elevator safety and inspection reporting are detailed below and should be discussed with your elevator maintenance and elevator inspector, if your association is made to comply with these rules.
Owner to submit Accident Report
The Bureau issues administrative complaints and fines to owners who do not forward a completed Elevator Owner Accident Report within 5 working days to the bureau. This applies to any accident that occurs in or upon an elevator or vertical conveyance. Please advise your customers.
Service Maintenance Agreements
The elevator service maintenance company must make a written record indicating the date or dates of routine examinations and required testing. This record must be maintained in the elevator machine room, available for review by the division or its contractual designees.
Inspection Report Follow-up Issues
All inspection reports must contain the owner or delegate signature and be submitted within 5 working days, record the time of inspection, and check the ‘comply with’ emergency generator and uniform fire key sections on the inspection form. A supervisor of construction signature is required for initial inspections. They must be submitted in hard copy only.
Elevator maintenance contracts are governed by Section 399.01, Florida Statutes and further requirements are found in the Florida Administrative Code. Additional information regarding inspections, licensing and a number of forms is available on our website at http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/hr/elevators.html or by calling 850-487-1395.
{ 1 trackback }
Comments on this entry are closed.