Pennsylvania's New Elevator Code: What Building Owners Need to Know

If you own or manage a building with an elevator in Pennsylvania, there is a deadline you need to know about. On **December 20, 2026**, Pennsylvania officially transitions to the **ASME A17.1-2016 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators**. This is the most significant update to Pennsylvania's elevator regulatory framework in years, and it affects building owners, property managers, and facility directors across the state. The good news: most building owners will not need to make dramatic changes overnight. The better news: if you start preparing now, you will be well ahead of the curve. Here is what you need to know. ## What Is the ASME A17.1-2016 Code? ASME A17.1 is the national standard for elevator safety in the United States and Canada, published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It covers everything from elevator design and construction to testing, inspection, and maintenance requirements. The 2016 edition introduced a number of updates to the previous standard, including: - **Revised testing requirements** for hydraulic and traction elevators - **Updated safety device standards**, including requirements for certain types of buffers, safeties, and interlocks - **New provisions for machine-room-less (MRL) elevators**, which have become increasingly common in newer construction - **Clarified maintenance and inspection intervals** for various elevator components - **Enhanced requirements for emergency operations**, including firefighter service and emergency lighting Pennsylvania's adoption of the 2016 edition brings the state in line with the current national standard and replaces the older code edition that has been in effect. ## What Does This Mean for Your Building? The impact of the code transition depends on several factors: the age of your elevator, the type of equipment you have, when it was last modernized, and what testing and inspection records you currently maintain. ### Existing Elevators For most existing elevators in Pennsylvania, the transition to ASME A17.1-2016 does not require immediate replacement or full modernization. The code generally applies a "grandfather" approach to equipment that was installed and approved under a previous edition — meaning your elevator does not automatically become non-compliant on December 20, 2026 simply because it was built to an older standard. However, there are important exceptions: - **Certain safety device requirements** may apply to existing equipment, particularly if your elevator has not been recently tested or if specific components have been identified as deficient - **Testing and inspection requirements** under the new code may differ from what you have been doing — and compliance with the new testing schedule will be required going forward - **Any new work, modifications, or alterations** to an existing elevator after the effective date must comply with the 2016 edition The bottom line: you need to know where your elevator stands before December 20, 2026. ### New Installations Any elevator installed or permitted after the effective date must fully comply with ASME A17.1-2016. If you have a new construction project or a major renovation in the pipeline, make sure your elevator contractor is designing and specifying to the 2016 standard. ## Testing Requirements Under the New Code One of the most practically significant changes for building owners involves elevator testing. Under ASME A17.1-2016, elevators are subject to both **periodic inspections** (conducted by a licensed inspector on behalf of the state or local authority) and **category tests** (performance tests conducted by a qualified elevator mechanic and witnessed by an inspector). The specific tests required — and how often they must be performed — depend on the type of elevator and its drive system. Common test categories include: - **Category 1 tests**: Annual tests of safety and operating devices under normal load conditions - **Category 3 tests**: Periodic tests of safeties and buffers under full load (required every 3-5 years depending on equipment type) - **Category 5 tests**: Full-load, full-speed tests of safeties and buffers (required every 5 years for most traction elevators) The 2016 code refines the requirements for each category and clarifies the documentation that must be maintained. Building owners are responsible for ensuring that required tests are scheduled, completed, and properly recorded. **This is where working with a qualified, local elevator company matters.** A company that understands the ASME A17.1-2016 requirements can help you build a testing schedule, maintain the right documentation, and avoid the compliance gaps that lead to failed inspections and potential liability. ## What You Should Do Before December 20, 2026 You do not need to wait until the deadline to start preparing. In fact, the building owners who will be in the best position after December 20 are the ones who are taking steps now. ### 1. Review Your Current Testing and Inspection Records Pull your elevator's maintenance and inspection history. When was the last Category 1 test performed? Has a Category 5 test been completed within the required interval? Are your records complete and accessible? If you are not sure, your elevator service company should be able to help you reconstruct the history and identify any gaps. ### 2. Understand Your Equipment Know what type of elevator you have — hydraulic, traction, MRL — and when it was installed or last modernized. This information determines which specific requirements of the 2016 code apply to your equipment and what testing schedule you need to follow. ### 3. Talk to a Qualified Elevator Company This is not the kind of compliance question you want to answer based on a quick internet search. The specifics matter — and they vary by equipment type, installation date, and local authority jurisdiction. A qualified elevator company can walk through your equipment with you, review your records, and give you a clear picture of where you stand relative to the new code. That conversation should happen before December 20, not after. ### 4. Plan for Required Testing If you want to be prepared, reach out to get your testing scheduled now. Testing slots fill up, and the period leading up to a major code transition tends to be busy for elevator companies and inspectors alike. Getting on the schedule early gives you time to address any findings before the deadline. ### 5. Consider Whether Modernization Makes Sense For older elevators — particularly those that have not been significantly updated in 15 or more years — the code transition may be a natural trigger to evaluate modernization. Modernizing an elevator can bring it into full compliance with current standards, extend its service life, improve reliability, and reduce long-term maintenance costs. Modernization is not always necessary, and it is not always the right financial decision. But if your elevator is aging and you are already facing testing requirements and potential component replacements, it is worth having an honest conversation about the full picture. ## The Role of Local Elevator Companies in Code Compliance Pennsylvania's elevator code is administered at the state level, with inspections coordinated through the Department of Labor & Industry. But the day-to-day work of keeping elevators compliant — scheduling tests, maintaining records, performing required maintenance, and coordinating with inspectors — falls to building owners and their elevator service providers. A local elevator company that knows your equipment, understands the ASME A17.1-2016 requirements, and has a working relationship with the inspection authorities in your area is an invaluable resource during a code transition like this one. At Sheric Elevator, we have been helping Central and Southern Pennsylvania building owners navigate code requirements, testing schedules, and modernization decisions for years. We are not here to sell you something you do not need. We are here to give you straight answers about your elevator and help you stay ahead of the requirements — without the corporate runaround. ## Summary: Key Dates and Action Items - **December 20, 2026**: Pennsylvania transitions to ASME A17.1-2016 Safety Code - **Now**: Review your testing and inspection records - **Now**: Confirm your elevator type and installation/modernization date - **Before December 20**: Schedule any overdue Category tests - **Before December 20**: Have a qualified elevator company review your compliance status - **Ongoing**: Maintain required testing intervals under the new code The transition to ASME A17.1-2016 is manageable — but only if you start preparing before the deadline, not after. [Request a free equipment evaluation from Sheric Elevator](/lp/sheric-elevator-york-pa?utm_source=blog-aab&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cmp_IKb47mcvkbLWp6w1Eqlo41UMBav1jDcVCFlvels7Cks&utm_content=act_-kRRdxVkHmntABMPu5UHLnA6EgjMy0OfHg8xXssVKUg&utm_term=topic_pa-elevator-code-2026) and find out exactly where your elevator stands before December 20, 2026.