ASME A17.1
Elevator phones: someone has to actually answer
ASME A17.1 is the safety code for elevators and escalators. Its communication requirements are the reason every lift in the country carries a phone line, and the reason that line cannot quietly disappear when copper is retired.
01
What it requires
| Requirement | What that means in practice |
|---|---|
| Two-way communication from the car | A trapped passenger must be able to reach help from inside the car, and be heard. |
| Answered by a live person, around the clock | An answering machine or a voicemail box does not satisfy this. Someone has to pick up, at three in the morning on a public holiday. |
| Additional features on newer installations | Later editions of the code add requirements around video observation and a text display for new installations, so what applies to you depends on which edition your jurisdiction has adopted and when the equipment went in. |
| Adoption varies by state | States adopt editions of the elevator code on their own timetables. Two identical buildings in neighbouring states can face different requirements. |
02
Why it matters to your lines
Elevator phones are the most commonly forgotten analog line, because they are almost never used and almost never tested. They are also the line most likely to be discovered by an inspector rather than by the building owner. When the copper underneath one is retired, the phone stops working silently.
03
Questions worth asking
- Which edition of the elevator code has my jurisdiction adopted?
- Will the replacement still reach a live answering point around the clock?
- Does the equipment support the display and video features my edition requires?
- Who tests it after installation, and what evidence do I keep?
ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators