An explanation of the requirements of the Elevator Maintenance Control Program in Washington State and Seattle for Building Owners and Managers.

1. PRESENTS
ELEVATOR
MAINTENANCE
CONTROL PROGRAMS
A Building Owner’s Guide

2. An Elevator Maintenance Control Program,
or Elevator MCP, is a program or plan to
ensure that an elevator or escalator is
maintained correctly throughout its life.
It is mandatory in any jurisdiction that has
adopted the ASME 17.1 2000 Elevator Code.

3. The State of Washington and the City of
Seattle are two of those jurisdictions as of
January 1, 2014.

4. How the State of Washington administers
the MCP is different from any other state.
Just
here

5. The Elevator Service Providers doing
business in the State of Washington and the
City of Seattle, have had to submit their
MCP programs to the AHJ (Authority Having
Jurisdiction) for acceptance.
No other state requires the Elevator Service
Providers to do that at this time.

6. For a Maintenance Control Program to be
code-compliant, (and accepted by the AHJ), it
must be specific to the type of equipment and
address the following things:

7. 1. Examinations at scheduled intervals.
2. Periodic inspections at intervals
established by the Authority Having
Jurisdiction.
3. Cleaning, lubricating and adjusting at
regular intervals.
4. Repairing or replacing damaged or
broken parts affecting safe operation.

8. 1. Design and inherent quality of the
equipment.
2. Environmental conditions.
3. Usage.
4. Improved technology.
The code also states the following criteria
be considered when determining the
intervals between these tasks:

9. MCP Documentation
Includes:
A Procedure Manual (for
mechanics only), which is:
1. Not left on job site.
2. Specific to type and manufacture of
equipment.
3. Tells mechanic how to correctly fulfill
each task.
4. Proprietary to the Elevator Service
Provider.

10. This manual will not be found in the
elevator machine room. It is kept by the
Elevator Service Provider.
The Owner can ask to see it, but cannot
keep it.

11. 1. A record of maintenance tasks with
interval.
2. A record of examinations with
interval.
3. A record of safety tests and interval.
4. A record of callback and repair.
5. A record of fire service and
initiation device with interval.
6. A record of oil use (for hydraulic
elevators).
7. A sample signature page.
The MCP also includes these logs which
should be found in the elevator machine room:

12. Here’s an example of what a page from
one of these logs might look like.
Notice the dates and initials denoting when
task was completed and by whom.
How do you know whose initials these
are?

13. The MCP should include a sample signature
page within the MCP documentation in the
elevator machine room.
Elevator mechanics can be held personally
responsible for the validity of the MCP
documentation.
Jesse
Reno
JRJesse Reno

14. Additionally, in the State of
Washington, the Elevator Service
Provider must also cover the section of
the Code pertaining to Periodic
Inspection and Witnessing of Tests
(Section 8.11). Previously the testing
required by this section was
completed by the State Elevator
Inspector.
In the City of Seattle, City Elevator
Inspectors will still cover this part of
the code, for now.

15. 1. Belong to the owner of the
conveyance.
2. Are the Owner’s responsibility to
maintain.
3. Belong in the machine room or other
location within the building
designated by a sticker on the
controller.
4. Have a retention cycle of six years.
The MCP
logs:

16. So why is administration of the MCP unique in
Washington?
Over the years, several things can be said to
have contributed to where we are now.

17. Changes in technology have made many
elevator components less time consuming to
maintain. Elevator companies have used
this factor to try to drive down direct labor
costs.
1. Changes in
technology

18. 2. Labor Costs
In the last 25 years, the hourly wage for a
trained and qualified elevator mechanic has
increased about 2 ½
times. However, the monthly price charged
for elevator services has not increased
proportionately.

19. Strong competition and aggressive bidding
within the elevator industry itself have
exerted downward pressure over the years
on monthly service pricing.
3. Competition

20. Some believe that over the years, the
culmination of these things have had a
negative effect on the elevator industry
which needed to be addressed for the
good of the public at large.
The Maintenance Control Program,
administered in this particular way, was
seen as a means to do that.

21. Building Owners are responsible for
having an MCP for each elevator or
escalator in the facility.
The Elevator Service Provider is responsible
for providing and following the MCP.

22. 2014 was a grace
year...
Both the City of Seattle and the State
of Washington wanted to ease all
parties into the new procedures in
2014.
However, starting in 2015, things will be different.

23. Elevators that are overdue for Category 5
tests (for example a full-load safety test)
will be sealed out of service in the City of
Seattle.

24. Previously, there was a 90 days grace
period, i.e. , if an elevator was 60 days
past due for a 5 year full load test, the
City would give an additional 30 days,
after which it was sealed out of service if
the test was not done.
Starting in 2015, once the test is 30 days
past due, the elevator may be sealed out of
service.

25. In the State of Washington, the AHJ will
assess the owner a civil penalty of $500 per
month, per conveyance, after being one year
overdue, beginning in month 13.

26. Compliance with the MCP
is ultimately the responsibility of the
Owner.
Because of the extra labor required to
comply with the MCP, testing is sometimes
written out of Elevator Service Contracts.
Having your Elevator Service Contract
reviewed, or even re-written, by an
Elevator Consultant, could save your
building money in the long run.

27. Questions?
Call or write.
We’ll be happy to help.

28. CALIFORNIA
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Laguna Hills, CA
949-348-9711
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NEVADA
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Las Vegas, NV
702-319-9711
jim@hkaconsulting.com
WASHINGTON
15811 32nd Ave. NE
Lake Forest Park, WA
206-954-1821
lchain@hkaconsulting.com