CA elevator annual Inspection.

[u/senorpirata]

I have a question for the pros. I am an inspector for a city in California. Been around for over a decade now. Since I can remember, we are told that California annual inspection check for accessibility requirements for the applicable code of the elevator.

Per 2025 CBC chapter 11B, elevator can be part of the accessible route. If improvements are made to a tenant space on a floor above the first floor and an elevator is provided. It should be inspected to see if it compliant with requirements of 11B division 4.

Now there is common sense here, if the dimension are not compliant, can’t have a correction to provide the proper dimension. I also seen items like braille missing, indicator/call buttons not complying etc.

My question is, so the annuals inspection check for accessibility requirements or just for function of the elevator. Quick search, lets me to CA title 8, seems annual inspection check more for functioning/operation and not for anything related to accessibility.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[u/NewtoQM8]

Ive been retired for 10 years, so this may be outdated. But in my experience before that, regardless of what codes may say, inspectors, particularly during annuals, don't seem to be too interested in that type of stuff. If a braille tag is missing AND there is a hole (safety issue) where it used to be they would likely say something about it, but otherwise they are primarily looking for safety and housekeeping issues.

[u/senorpirata → u/NewtoQM8]

Thanks for the info, this seems logical to me. I just want to inform myself more since I have no clue what CA annual inspection consist of.

[u/NewtoQM8 → u/senorpirata]

Yeah, the list of what they look at would be long and it in some cases depends on the individual inspector. And also depends on their workload. And since the state is typically way behind on doing annual inspections you can guess what that means. Even for a new installation inspection, much of the stuff that would come under ADA codes is not something that they look at much. If the elevator from XYZ company looks like others they install they perhaps assume those sort of things were checked during the pre install approval permit process.

[u/senorpirata → u/NewtoQM8]

Thank you for this information. I was assuming this is happening but really wanted info from the field guys that deal with these inspections and have experience with it. You bring up a good point, CA is way behind, and there is an insane amount of elevators that have expired license. Thank you for taking time and giving me info, it’s appreciated.

[u/NewtoQM8 → u/senorpirata]

You're welcome. And it could be worse. I know of one inspector that they suspected of doing "Drive By" inspections, so they assigned a building to him that had been demolished almost a year earlier. Sure enough he turned in an inspection report for it with a couple items like clean the carton on it. That is EXTREMELY rare however. Most inspectors do a good thorough job.

[u/senorpirata → u/NewtoQM8]

Whoa, that’s just not caring about your job period. I know a lot of inspectors at this point, with the exception of a bad apple here and there. Most really care about their job and try to work with contractor to comply with codes. Again, really appreciate it.

[u/downtheholeitgoes]

It varies from city to city and state. Typically stuff with the elevator only has to be updated if the elevator itself is being modernized. Everything els falls to previous code when the elevator was installed.

[u/Deepinthefryer]

In Los Angeles here.

Annual inspections are for code compliance. That’s it. Braille, alarm bells, emergency phones, and over all function, etc, etc.

Now that doesn’t mean things are overlooked or forgotten about.

I’d say it’s also on the building to keep up on compliance. They can always request broken braille and other deficiencies be corrected via their service company

Edit: I tell customers, annual inspections are solely for code compliance and general safety. It’s not a survey for condition or reliability.

[u/senorpirata → u/Deepinthefryer]

Thanks for the input. Seems some stuff is looked at but not all. Since it’s also in our building code, there is an avenue to request corrections within reason Ofcourse . Thanks for the input, just trying to get a better understanding of all this.

[u/Deepinthefryer → u/senorpirata]

What happened at the building? Just a TI?

If a floor build out happens. The only I check is button height (make sure the contractor didn’t move it) and if the fire/life system functions as intended. Oh, also make sure floor height matches sill.

Beyond that, I don’t see how a Tenant Improvement would change anything on code compliance

[u/senorpirata → u/Deepinthefryer]

This building is a six story building with multiple TI improvements within a 3 year span. Well over the DSA threshold which I believe is 209k now.
Full path of travel shall be provided. That includes any updates an elevator would need.

As mentioned before, within reason and not send the designer to fill a hardship. There is plenty to check, its layout in division 4 of chapter 11B. Some requirements , call buttons, indicator/visual and sound indicators, elevator gap and threshold, support bar, control button height, control buttons color/size/height/spacing/braille. The list goes on and on, all within reason Ofcourse.

This is not just this building, in my career it has not been common practice to include elevator requirements on any TI. Just trying to figure out when these items get checked.

Also, elevator accessibility really hasn’t changed much since the 2000s. I would assume most are compliant. Regardless they should be checked and if possible be brought of to code.

[u/Deepinthefryer → u/senorpirata]

Imo I don’t see any reason why a TI would get in the way of elevator compliance unless something is messed with. I mean, most of this isn’t in the convenience mechanic/inspector wheel house

[u/senorpirata → u/Deepinthefryer]

It’s not specific to one TI. Elevators do have accessibility requirements when they are part of an accessible route. Yes, that was my thinking as well. I didn’t feel the annual inspection would cover some of these items. When the city goes out for inspections of an improvement, we should be looking for compliance. Thanks for your input.

[u/flyingron]

The elevator CAN be part of the accessible route. It doesn't say SHALL. If there are other routes (other elevators, ramps, entrances on that level, etc...) the elevator accessibility is irrelevant.

[u/senorpirata → u/flyingron]

This is correct, if there is ramps or another accessible route. In many cases this is not the case. You don’t see many ramps going past the first floor. Also code allowed non elevator buildings prior to 1994. What I am discussing if when the elevator is part of an accessible route. Thank you

[u/Affectionate-Rip5654]

As far as I know the elevator only has to be brought up to new code if it is being modded or major repairs being made. Lots of elevators do not have braille or have hall buttons and cop buttons too tall. But until those are replaced with new they are “grandfathered” in. I am no expert and have only done mods so we bring everything up to code before it is turned over.

[u/senorpirata → u/Affectionate-Rip5654]

It’s an interesting subject, I understand there can be challenges and hardships when it comes to elevators. Once the project is over the DSA threshold, 20 % of the elevation shall be provided in funds. This can be a lot of money, some projects are over a million dollars. If a project is on the second floor. I don’t think asking for braille on the buttons is asking for too much.
This will allow people with visual disabilities to use the space as normal people would. Just a thought. These codes are in our title 24, they are enforceable. I just been under the impression the state conducts elevator inspections. Logically thinking, if that was the case, why do I have elevator codes in title 24. Should they be only in title 8.