2022 Requirement for Category Testing of Elevators
January 12, 2022
As of January 1, 2022, category testing of elevators must comply with the new requirements in Local Law 126 of 2021. The agency performing the category test is required to notify the Department of Buildings at least five days prior to the Category 1 testing of escalators, Category 3 testing of water hydraulic elevators and Category 5 testing of elevators.
If a witnessing agency is required in Table N1 of ASME A17.1, as modified by Chapter K1 of Appendix K of the New York City Building Code, the category test report is no longer required to include the signature of the witnessing agency inspector. The report must still include the signature of the witnessing agency director.
New Filing Deadlines
For all of the changes to the category test requirements that have been placed into effect on January 1, 2022, review Local Law 126 of 2021 (Article 304 of Title 28 of the Administrative Code) and Title 1 of the Rules of the City of the New York Sections 101-07 and 103-02.
Category test reports must be submitted in DOB NOW: Safety. A Service Notice with additional information about changes to DOB NOW related to the new category test requirements will be posted at nyc.gov/buildings.
REMINDER: Periodic Elevator Inspections
Review the November 30, 2021 Service Update for a description of the changes to the requirements for periodic elevator inspections.
FAQ:
Q. How does the new Category test filing deadline affect property owners and managers?
A. Due to the extremely short turnaround time for filing, building owners will need to sign off on the test report on the DOB website immediately upon being notified. Otherwise, the deadline will be missed and substantial fines imposed on the owner.
Q. How do the new Affirmation of Correction (AOC) deadlines affect property owners and managers?
A. Although correcting deficiencies and filing of AOC’s is typically your maintenance contractor’s responsibility, the reduced correction timeframes and AOC filing deadlines means that the owner must negotiate and approve contractor proposals and correct items that are the building’s responsibility more expeditiously than before, and will need to sign off on the AOC immediately. Otherwise, substantial fines will be imposed on the owner.
Q. How is the scheduling of Category tests affected?
A. Although there are no changes to how Category tests must be scheduled, additional coordination will be required because the new annual Periodic Inspections cannot be scheduled to occur within three months before or after Category testing.