Elevator maintenance: Do-it-yourself to save money?

[TheWayISeeThings]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...but if the building is such that for ADA compliance the elevators...

Just a side note. No builder will ever install an elevator because its "nice" to include in their building plans. They are hugely expensive to install and maintain. They require special permits and inspections. They are required to be fire shelters with 2 hour rated firewalls separating it from the rest of the structure. And as a result, they require special separate ventilation and door assemblies.

The only time elevators are installed is when they are required by the codes based on occ loads and purpose, or for barrier free compliance.

[chet everett]

Nobody said is was "OK for people to get killed" -- the implication that I was making was that the elevator would be essentially taken out of service so that a handyman could rebuild it.

[TheWayISeeThings]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Nobody said is was "OK for people to get killed" -- the implication that I was making was that the elevator would be essentially taken out of service so that a handyman could rebuild it.

You may not have meant it this way, but your post totally indicated that it would be okay to use a non-licensed handyman to do the work as long as the elevator wasn't required for ADA purposes. That is absolutely wrong.

1. Its always required if its there. Unless the occupancy type of the building has been reclassified since the elevator was installed--which is unusual.

2. Its never okay to have a handyman do work on an elevator whether or not its in service. Just for giggles, I checked these state websites: MASS, IL, WI, OR, WA, RI & NY. In all of these places, it is either a class C or class B misdemeanor to perform work on an elevator without the proper state license.