Structural Assessment, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Existing Elevator Support Structures

Elevators are crucial to the accessibility and serviceability of a building or a structure – they transport people and freight throughout its height. Routine inspection and assessment of elevators is required to identify deficiencies, address code compliance issues, and ensure the life safety of the general public. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 17.1 “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators” provides requirements for the design of elevators, elevator components, and the elevator support structure, and recommendations for elevator inspection frequency. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 524 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 35.00: “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators” currently provides modifications to ASME 17.1-2013. As a building ages, its owners may elect to study its vertical transportation systems and determine which components require repairs, refurbishment, or replacement.