D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-G606
Strike Section 606 of the International Property Maintenance Code in its entirety and insert new Section 606 in the Property Maintenance Code in its place to read as follows:
General. No elevator or conveying system, including, but not limited to, escalators, dumbwaiters, wheelchair lifts, cartveyors, manlifts and moving walks, shall be operated without a valid certificate of inspection issued by the code official.
Exceptions:
Content of certificate of inspection; posting. The certificate of inspection shall contain the following information:
Posting of certificate. A copy of the most current certificate of inspection shall be conspicuously displayed at all times within the elevator car or attached to the conveying system unless display of certificates is exempted pursuant to Section 606.4. If the building operator maintains an office in the same building, the certificate of inspection may be made available for public inspection in the office instead of being on display within the elevator.
Maintenance, testing, inspections. Periodic tests and inspections shall be made by the code official, or by an approved Third Party Inspection Agency, and shall be made at the expense and responsibility of the owner. Except as otherwise provided for in this code, the maintenance, inspection and testing of all elevators and conveying systems and their components, including the frequency of inspections and testing, shall conform with Sections 606.3.1 through 606.3.4.
Elevators, escalators and other conveyances listed in ASME A17.1, Appendix N. Inspection and tests shall be performed at not less than the periodic intervals listed in ASME A17.1, Appendix N, except where otherwise specified by the code official.
Exception: Units in residential use serving one family dwelling unit.
Platform lifts and stairway chair lifts. Inspections and testing of platform lifts and stairway chair lifts shall be performed for all units as stated in ASME A18.1, Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts.
Exception: Units in residential use serving one family dwelling unit.
Manlifts. Inspections and testing of manlifts shall be performed for all units as stated in ASME A90.1, Safety Standard for Manlifts.
Conveyors and related equipment. Inspections and testing of conveyors and related equipment shall be performed as stated in ASME B20.1, Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.
Cartveyors. Cartveyors shall be maintained as per original equipment manufacturer's recommendations. Inspection and testing shall be at the same frequency as escalators as stated in ASME A17.1, Appendix N.
Reports and certificates. Where inspections and tests are not made by the code official, the approved agency shall submit a report of the inspections and tests to the code official on approved forms not more than thirty (30) days after completion of the inspection and tests. Upon receipt of satisfactory inspection and test reports, the code official shall authorize the issuance of a certificate of inspection, or a renewal certificate as provided in Section 3009.9 of the Building Code, for each unit of equipment.
Exceptions: The submission of test reports to the code official and the issuance of certificates and display of certificates is not required:
Out of service; temporarily dormant. A permit from the Department shall be required:
Temporarily dormant. An elevator or conveying system shall be temporarily dormant where removed from its normal class of service for an extended period of time (not to exceed five (5) years) by an owner's decision and not due to maintenance or repair. During this period of time, the equipment shall be secured for the benefit of public safety in accordance with the following requirements:
Equipment in operation. In buildings equipped with passenger elevators, at least one elevator shall be maintained in operation at all times when the building is occupied.
Exception: Buildings equipped with only one elevator or conveying system shall be permitted to have the elevator or conveying system temporarily out of service for testing, maintenance and/or repair.
Renewal of certificates. The certificate of inspection, for each elevator and conveying system, must be renewed every twenty-four (24) months, or at an alternate interval specified by the code official, as long as the unit is in service. Renewal of the certificate of inspection will be granted upon satisfactory demonstration to the code official that the unit of equipment has met all of the inspections and testing required by the Construction Codes and referenced standards.
Unsafe equipment. When, in the opinion of the code official, an elevator or conveying system or its components is unsafe or unlawful, the code official is authorized and empowered to place the unit out of service, and to prohibit the operation of the equipment until the unsafe or unlawful condition is corrected pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 108. When, in the opinion of the code official, there is imminent danger due to an unsafe condition, the code official is authorized to place the equipment out of service and to take other emergency measures, without notice to the owner, pursuant to Section 109. Whenever the code official places an elevator or conveying system out of service, a placard or notice bearing the words "Unsafe to Use" shall be posted on the equipment, and the code official may also attach a lead seal to prevent the equipment from being operated.
Notification of code official by third party inspection agency. When an approved Third Party Inspection Agency inspector observes or identifies unsafe, unlawful or imminently dangerous condition(s) causing an elevator to be removed from service, the inspector shall notify the code official immediately. Where emergency measures are required, the Third Party Inspector is authorized to place on the unit adjudged to be unsafe or unlawful an "Unsafe to Use" placard; provided, that the code official is notified immediately of the Third Party Inspector's action, pursuant to the notification procedures established by the code official.
Placard removal. The code official shall remove the "Unsafe to Use" notice whenever the defect or defects upon which a closure action was based have been eliminated. Any person who defaces or removes an "Unsafe to Use" notice or lead seal without the approval of the code official, or operates placarded equipment, shall be subject to the penalties provided by this code. An approved Third Party Inspector is permitted to remove an "Unsafe to Use Notice" issued by that inspector, after abatement of the unsafe or unlawful condition and appropriate reinspection of the conveyance.
Exception: Placarded equipment may be operated only as necessary to effectuate repairs.
Abatement methods. The owner of the equipment deemed unsafe by the code official shall abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, replacement or other approved corrective action.
Insert a new Section 606.9 into the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows:
Required Elevator Signage. A permanent sign of durable material, with lelttering no smaller than one quarter inch (6 mm) high shall be placed in all elevators cars, with the following wording:
ALL ACCIDENTS ON OR DAMAGE TO ELEVATORS ARE TO BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS 202-442-4400, OR AFTER WORKING HOURS BY CALLING 311.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-G606