Frequently Asked Questions

We are currently working through the State process on the rules and regulations.  The bill requires our office to adopt at the minimum the current version of ASME safety code for elevators and escalators. The adopted code is ASME A17.1.

Yes, Facilities are required to register their units, this can be done at no charge on the website.

Any Elevator Contractor, Elevator Inspector, or an Elevator Mechanic, must apply for a license with the Kansas State Fire Marshal to conduct business in the State of Kansas. This license will be valid for two years from issuance date.

The categories are as follows:

• "Elevator contractor" means a sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, corporation, or association that is engaged in the business of erecting, constructing, installing, altering, servicing, repairing, or maintaining elevators.
• "Elevator inspector" means an individual engaged in the business of inspecting elevators.
• "Elevator mechanic" means an individual engaged in the business of erecting, constructing, installing, altering, servicing, repairing, or maintaining elevators under the direct supervision of an elevator contractor.

We will be using a database called Compliance Engine from a company called Brycer for all the inspection reports and certificates of operation. Licensing of contractors, inspector, mechanics and registration of the units will be thorough the KSFM's website.

In 2022, the Kansas Legislature passed into law, HB 2005, creating the Elevator Safety Act. This Act creates safety standards for elevators, licensure requirements for elevator inspection, installation, alteration, and repair, and the duties of the Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM).

No, we will not have any elevator inspectors. Inspections will be done by a licensed inspector who will also collect the annual certification fee of $100 in addition to any inspection fee charged by them.  The annual certification card will be sent after the inspection is reviewed.   

Our office will have a program manager with many years of elevator experience who will do spot inspections, respond to complaints, along with any accidents or major equipment failures. That person will also mediate any disputes or disagreements that arise between anyone involved in the industry.

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The Elevator Safety Act requires that a 3rd party inspection is carried out. Currently a mechanic could also hold an inspector license When an inspection is completed, the mechanic or inspector will collect the $100 state Certificate of Operation fee, in addition to their inspection fee, and will forward the inspection report to our office using Compliance Engine. Our office will then review the inspection report for acceptance, and the Certificate of Operation will be emailed to the inspecting party.

Each Licensee must pay by credit card (American Express is not accepted).  No Checks will be accepted.  Make payments to:  Elevator Payment Portal

                Elevator Contractor -      $500.00

                Elevator Inspector -        $250.00

                Elevator Mechanic -       $150.00

Each Contractor, Inspector and Mechanic must provide proof to the state fire marshal’s office of a current insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state that provides general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 for injury or death of any number of persons in any one occurrence, with coverage of at least $500,000 for property damage in any one occurrence and proof of workers compensation insurance coverage as required by Kansas law.

We have information on licensed contractors, mechanics, and inspectors on our website.   

When an inspector registers with Compliance Engine, they will be able to sign up for a training webinar. Compliance Engine will offer complimentary training on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on the Compliance Engine website. The inspector can sign up for the date/time that works best for their schedule. The training will be a live webinar, so they can ask any questions they may have. To sign up for training, click on the ‘training’ link on the main Compliance Engine website.  It will ask for some basic information and then choose a date/time. After signing up, they will receive an email with the webinar link.

The Kansas Legislature adopted ASME A17.

In areas with no elevator equipment code in effect prior to July 2022, the annual inspection and witnessing of applicable tests shall be performed according to the code that should have been in effect when the equipment was installed.

If your city or county has an elevator program that has been approved by the KSFM, a Contractor, Mechanic, or Inspector will not be required to have a state license, as long as they do not provide service outside of that city or county. The City of Wichita has an elevator program and conducts its own inspections.                     

License applications, installation and alteration permits, registration forms, and other information, can be found HERE.

1. Get an inspection from a state licensed inspector, of the facility’s choice 
2. The inspector collects the $100 state Certificate of Operation fee, in addition to their inspection fee, and then enters the inspection report into Compliance Engine the database that The Kansas State Fire Marshal uses.
3. The inspection report is reviewed and approved by the Kansas State Fire Marshal elevator manager.
4. The certificate is then generated and emailed out from Compliance Engine the state database the following night after midnight to the inspecting party.

Yes. Equipment repairs are preferred over personal injuries. Civil litigation is sure to follow if a rider is injured.

Certificate of Operation cannot be issued with deficiencies / violations.

A state inspection is required annually by population of the county.

• Each year for elevators located in counties with a population of 100,000 or more;
• Every two years for elevators located in counties with a population of 50,000 to 99,999, and;
• Every three years for elevators located in counties with populations of less than 50,000.

Competitive pricing drives the cost of an inspection. Costs may vary between different state licensed inspectors. So, it is recommended that a customer obtain more than one bid for conducting the inspection. Usually if a re-inspection is required, a cost is associated with the re-inspection.

To set up an inspection you must schedule a state-licensed inspector or a state licensed mechanic to perform an elevator inspection. A current list of state licensed Contractors, Mechanics and Inspectors may be found here: Elevator Safety Program | State Fire Marshal, KS

You may either contact your elevator contractor, mechanic or the inspector that conducted the inspection. The Kansas State Fire Marshal will provide written notification of the violations and notice of 30 days to comply.

Yes. To request additional time, you must submit, in writing, a request for an extension with details outlining proposed dates of completion.

A re-inspection is required on all life safety violations. This includes firefighters operation, emergency communications and signaling devices, emergency cab lighting failures and any major violations that could cause injury to a rider. 

The effective date of this amendment will be established via the promulgated rule process. If additional time is needed to achieve compliance, the KSFM will review the circumstances on a case-by-case basis to establish a reasonable time frame for the owner to achieve compliance.

A Licensed Elevator Contractor is required to perform the work as follows:

A17.1-2019: Section 8.11.1.4 (b) Installation placed Out of Service 

Section 8.11.1.4(b) (1) Electric elevator, dumbwaiter, or material lift whose suspension ropes have been removed, whose car and counterweight rest at the bottom of the hoistway, and whose hoistway doors have been permanently barricaded or sealed in the closed position on the hoistway side. 

Section 8.11.1.4(b) (2) Hydraulic elevator, dumbwaiter, or material lift whose car rest at the bottom of the hoistway; when provided with suspension ropes and counterweight, the suspension ropes have been removed and the counterweight rest at the bottom of the hoistway; whose pressure piping has been disassembled and a section removed from the premises and whose hoistway doors are permanently barricaded or sealed in the closed position on the hoistway side: 

Section 8.11.1.4(b) (3) Escalator or moving walk whose entrances have been permanently barricaded.

It may be difficult to make this determination; however, the elevator company you have a maintenance contract with may be able to make this determination.

You have three options:

1. Replace with double bottom jack.
2. Install car safety device.
3. Install a plunger gripper as a temporary fix.

No. Choosing to install the plunger grippers or the safety devices will not prevent the single bottom jack from eventually failing. The options are simply a temporary fix.

Any licensed elevator contractor can perform this work. 

Nationally recognized codes are implemented to address safety issues and often are in response to accidents. Failure of a single bottom jack has the potential to allow the elevator car to suddenly drop to the bottom of the hoistway causing injury to the elevator rider(s) and cause considerable damage to the elevator/structure. Due to the age of single bottom jacks, the potential for failure is more evident.

Whether you have a single bottom jack or double bottom jack each contain hydraulic oil. Leakage of oil into the soil is an EPA violation and becomes costly to clean up. Due to the age of single bottom jacks, the potential for leakage is greater.

In addition to costs associated with changing the single bottom jack, you now have created additional costs to remove contaminated soil which can be expensive. As mentioned before, jack failure can result in the elevator car to suddenly drop risking injury to a rider(s) and cause additional damage to the elevator and structure.