State of Florida

Elevator Code Changes

Introduction

As of December 23, 2023, a new elevator safety code went into effect in the State of Florida. Article 61C-5.001 of the Florida Administrative Code has adopted the following updated ASME standards:

• A17.1-2019, which applies to new and modernized elevators.

• A18.1-2020, which applies to new and modernized platform lifts and stairway chairlifts.

• A17.3-2020, which applies to existing elevators and escalators.  

Importantly, the adoption of A17.3-2020 will require owners and operators of elevators to comply with new retroactive requirements. Due dates have also been extended for some previously adopted retroactive requirements.

As always, BOCA Group will continue to monitor the requirements and deadlines for any additional elevator code updates provided by the state of Florida.

Retroactive Requirements for Existing Elevators

The following are major retroactive requirements that the Owners and Managers of buildings will need their elevators to comply with by the stipulated lines:

• An emergency brake shall be required on all traction elevators to provide unintended car movement and ascending car overspeed protection.

  • Compliance can typically be achieved by installing a rope-brake device (such as a Rope Gripper). If installing such a device isn’t feasible, it may be necessary to install a new machine with dual independent brakes instead.

  • Compliance with this requirement must be achieved by August 1, 2028.

• A door lock monitoring system shall be provided on all automatic elevators to monitor and prevent the operation of the elevator with faulty door contact circuits.

  • Compliance can typically be achieved by controller software upgrades (depending on the controller product), or a standalone system that will interface with the existing controller.

  • Compliance with this requirement must be achieved by August 1, 2025. This is an extension to the previous due date.

Substantial New Requirements for Elevator Installations and Modernizations

The following list includes some of the new requirements that could have a significant impact on the scope and cost of new installations and modernizations going forward. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. As always, please contact your BOCA Group account representative with any questions you might have.

• Means to communicate and obtain responses from a trapped passenger who cannot verbally communicate or cannot hear will now need to be provided.

  • This will typically take the form of a display screen for messages, and buttons for the trapped passenger to provide responses.

• Means to display live video inside the cab of any location on the car floor must be provided, to allow observation of trapped passengers and allow assessment by emergency personnel.

  • This will require a camera inside the cab that is capable of seeing any location on the car floor.

  • If elevator travel is 60 feet or greater, the building is required to monitor this video. For travel less than 60 feet, this video can go directly to the maintenance contractor.

  • Building personnel will need to be trained on how to use and monitor this new equipment.

How Will These Changes Affect Building Owners and Managers?

The retroactive requirements should be investigated immediately to determine if the existing equipment is compliant. It is important for Owner and Managers to identify the scope and expected cost of the work required to achieve compliance as early as possible, to allow time to budget and complete this work prior to the deadlines.

Going forward, the code changes will affect elevators installed or modernized under a permit filed on or after December 23, 2023. Some of these changes will affect the scope and cost of new installations and modernizations, particularly the new requirements that are related to in-car communication, interactions with trapped passengers, and video monitoring of trapped passengers (summarized in the preceding section of this bulletin). These new features will also require additional training for building personnel once they are installed.

If you have any questions after reviewing this bulletin, please do not hesitate to reach out to your BOCA Group Account Representative.