Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and City of Seattle Elevator Code Inspection Process
This blog is intended to provide clear and concise information to our customers so that you can more efficiently manage your business and hopefully reduce some stress, when it comes to elevators! If you’re not a customer of ours (yet 😊), you can still use this information to work with your current vendor. Let’s get started…
Specifically, Washington Elevator provides service to two jurisdictions – Washington State Labor & Industries and the City of Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections. Each jurisdiction has elevator inspectors, who are tasked with inspecting all conveyances (aka elevators) once per year. When the inspection is complete, the inspector will prepare a report for you that will include the following:
The report will contain an itemized list of code or safety deficiencies that need to be corrected.
The report will contain a deadline for when deficiencies must be completed. This can range from 10-days for imminent safety issues up to 90-days for completion.
The State sends the report via snail mail to the contact information on file while the City emails a link, again to the contact email on file. However, both jurisdictions have the reports available online (links below). It’s important to make sure that your information is current.
Now what?
Your first step is to send your elevator service provider a copy of the report as soon as possible. Your elevator service provider DOES NOT get a notification of an annual inspection or the subsequent report.
Your elevator service provider should review the report and help provide you with next steps.
Some items on the report with be the building’s responsibility. For example, testing fire extinguishers, FAID testing, missing keys, machine room door not closing, storage in the machine room, etc.
Some items on the inspection report will be the elevator service provider’s responsibility. For example, general maintenance, housekeeping and testing. At Washington Elevator, due to our monthly maintenance philosophy, we strive to minimize as a result, what is written up on the code report and remain proactive.
If the inspector’s note is not entirely clear, an elevator mechanic may need to go investigate further action needed.
Lastly, there can be items written up by code that must be performed by an elevator service provider that fall outside of your service agreement. In this case, further discussion should be held prior to receiving a proposal from your service provider.
At Washington Elevator, we will return the report to you with our notes and send a copy to our service mechanic with deadlines required. Once our items are complete, we will update the report comments and return it to you. But you’re not done yet… DON’T MISS THIS! While it is important that your service provider supports you along the way, as the building/owner/representative, it is your responsibility to return the completed report to the State of Washington or City of Seattle before the due date to avoid fines. The State/City do not accept elevator code inspection reports from the elevator service provider.
STATE OF WASHINGTON. If you have log-in credentials, you can check the items off online (see link below). Otherwise, email the completed report to ElevatorSect@Lni.wa.gov. The State is in the process of rolling out a new system (currently scheduled for February, 2025). We will provide updates as they become available.
CITY OF SEATTLE. You must either mail your completed report back to the Elevator Inspector at: City of Seattle, SDCI, Attn: Elevator Section, PO Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019 or email your completed report back to the Elevator Section at SCI_Elevator@seattle.gov.
And just like that, you’re done! You can rest assured that your elevator is safe and code compliant (until next year).
MORE INFORMATION - for your ease, each hyperlink will take you directly to what you need.
Code Reports - Not sure if you have an open elevator inspection code report? Both the CITY OF SEATTLE and STATE OF WA have it available online. Both will ask you to enter your building’s address.
Extension Requests - Although pending approval, The State of WA typically will allow you to request for an extension. The form can be found here.
It’s easy to update your contact information with the CITY OF SEATTLE or STATE OF WA. This is important so that they have the correct information on file and you are more likely to receive timely notice of any corrections needed.
Common Deficiencies - We listed common deficiencies and corrections on a recent blog post.
Enforcement - These two jurisdictions are taking different approaches to enforcement.
City of Seattle The City is focusing on safety issues and red-tagging serious deficiencies. A red-tag means your elevator is shut down.
State of WA The State is focusing on safety issues which and may give a 10-day requirement to correct/or red-tagging serious deficiencies. It’s also possible a fine may be issued if the code report is not completed in the time required, if you do not send in the report, and/or it is a repeat item from prior years. The fines can add up quickly!
We hope this blog helps you better understand the current process. As always, we will continue to update as needed. Please reach out to our Chief Problem Solver, Sean if you have further questions.
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