Of all the compliance obligations a property manager carries, elevator inspection compliance is one where gaps have the most immediate consequences. A lapsed certificate, a missed CAT5 test, or an elevator operating without a current inspection sticker can result in shutdown orders, significant fines, and — in worst-case scenarios — liability exposure if an incident occurs.
This guide covers everything property managers need to know about elevator inspection compliance under ASME A17.1, the standard that governs elevator safety across North America.
Why Elevator Compliance is Non-Negotiable
Elevators are classified as conveyances under ASME A17.1 and are subject to mandatory third-party inspection by licensed elevator inspectors. Unlike some compliance areas where self-reporting is acceptable, elevator inspections must be performed by a qualified inspector authorized by your jurisdiction — and the results must be documented, certified, and displayed.
Property managers who operate elevators without a current certificate of inspection can face:
- Immediate shutdown orders from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
- Fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per day of non-compliance
- Difficulty obtaining or renewing property insurance
- Personal liability exposure in the event of an accident
Important: In most jurisdictions, operating an elevator without a valid certificate of inspection is a code violation regardless of whether the elevator is functioning properly. The paperwork matters as much as the mechanical condition.
CAT1 vs CAT5: Understanding the Two Inspection Types
The most common source of confusion in elevator compliance is the difference between the CAT1 annual inspection and the CAT5 five-year test. These are separate, distinct requirements — and the CAT5 is often missed by property managers who assume their annual CAT1 covers everything.
| Inspection Type | Frequency | What It Tests | Who Performs It |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT1 | Annual | Full operational test — doors, safeties, buffers, stopping accuracy, emergency phone, lighting | Licensed elevator inspector |
| CAT5 | Every 5 years | Full-speed safety test under full load. Tests governor, safety devices, buffers under load conditions | Licensed elevator inspector + elevator mechanic |
The CAT5 requires the elevator to be taken out of service for the duration of the test and requires a licensed elevator mechanic present alongside the inspector. Plan this well in advance — in high-demand inspection markets it can take 4-6 weeks to schedule a CAT5 with qualified contractors.
What the CAT1 Annual Inspection Covers
A licensed elevator inspector conducting a CAT1 inspection will test and document the following:
- Door operation — opening and closing force, timing, and reopening device function
- Emergency stop switch operation
- Floor leveling accuracy — the elevator must stop within a specified tolerance of the floor level
- Emergency lighting — must illuminate for a minimum duration on battery power
- Emergency telephone — must connect to a monitored line and provide two-way communication
- Capacity plate — must be current and accurately reflect the rated load
- Certificate of inspection display — the current certificate must be posted inside the cab
- Pit condition — lighting, stop switch, and drainage must meet code
- Machine room condition — temperature, lighting, and access must meet code
Documentation Requirements
Elevator inspection compliance is as much a documentation exercise as a mechanical one. Here is what must be maintained:
- Certificate of inspection — Must be posted in the elevator cab at all times. A copy should be retained in your records.
- Inspection report — The inspector's full written report must be retained, typically for five years minimum.
- CAT5 test results — Must be retained permanently or until the next CAT5 is performed.
- Maintenance records — Most jurisdictions require a log of all maintenance work performed on the elevator. Your elevator maintenance contractor should provide these.
- Deficiency correction records — Any deficiencies noted in an inspection must be corrected and documented. A follow-up inspection may be required.
Best practice: Store all elevator compliance documents digitally and tied to the specific property. When an inspector, auditor, or insurer asks for your elevator records, you want to be able to pull them in seconds — not spend an hour searching through filing cabinets.
Common Elevator Compliance Violations
Based on inspection reports across commercial and residential properties, these are the most frequently cited elevator compliance issues:
- Expired certificate of inspection — The most common violation. The certificate expired and no one scheduled the renewal inspection in time.
- Emergency phone non-functional — The line was disconnected, the monitoring contract lapsed, or the phone hardware failed.
- Missing or illegible capacity plate — The original plate was removed during a cab renovation and not replaced.
- CAT5 overdue — Property managers who track only the annual CAT1 often miss the five-year CAT5 requirement entirely.
- Pit deficiencies — Water infiltration, inadequate lighting, or non-functioning pit stop switch.
- Machine room temperature violations — Overheating in the machine room due to inadequate ventilation.
How to Track Elevator Compliance Across Multiple Properties
For property managers with more than two or three elevators across a portfolio, manual tracking quickly becomes unreliable. The challenge is not just remembering the annual CAT1 — it is tracking the CAT5 cycle across multiple units, each of which may be on a different five-year schedule depending on when they were last tested.
A dedicated compliance tracking tool that separates the CAT1 and CAT5 as distinct inspection types — each with its own due date, history, and document storage — is the most reliable way to stay on top of elevator compliance across a portfolio.
PropCompliance tracks both the annual CAT1 and the five-year CAT5 separately for every elevator in your portfolio, stores the inspection certificates and reports, and alerts you before each deadline so you have time to book the inspection before the certificate lapses.
Start a free 14-day trial and see how much simpler it is to manage elevator compliance when everything is tracked automatically.