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Land Development Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Regular hours for calls and emails are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Friday.

703-324-1780
TTY 711

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12055 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035

Bill Hicks,
Director

Department Resources

Elevators and Vertical Transportation Equipment

NEW!  State Mechanic’s License Required

Effective Immediately, Fairfax County is requiring the responsible mechanic to provide their name, Virginia State license number, and expiration date to the inspector prior to commencing the inspection.

It is the requirement of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, that all mechanics possess a current/valid license in order to perform maintenance and testing on elevators and/or escalators in the State of Virginia.

Article 4. Certification of Elevator Mechanics
§ 54.1-1140. Definitions.

"Elevator mechanic" means an individual who is certified by the Board in accordance with this article to engage in erecting, constructing, installing, altering, servicing, repairing, testing or maintaining elevators, escalators, or related conveyances in accordance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nicholas Kavanagh, Fairfax County Elevator Program Manager, via email.

 

Hoist going up a building under construction
chair lift moving up a flight of stairs
moving walk
dumbwaiter on wall
Elevator
Escalator
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Vertical transportation, not only vertical but also horizontal, is a means of travel, transporting people and or freight in and outside of buildings. There are approximately 7,000 vertical transportation equipment in Fairfax County. This equipment refers to elevators, lifts, escalators, dumbwaiters, hoists, and moving walks.

 

Permits

Do I need a permit?

  • Per ASME A17.1, elevator work classified as an alteration shall require a permit and inspection; this includes work to install, repair, modernize, replace, remove, decommission and recommission.
  • Per ASME A17.1-8.6 OR 8.10, elevator work necessitating a test to be performed to put the unit/device into service and where the testing is not classified as part of the repair or replacement per A17.1-8.6 shall require a permit and inspection.
  • Change of equipment information for elevators, escalators, conveyors, lifts, and dumbwaiters. This includes but is not limited to address, capacity, landings etc.

All work is subject to the current edition of the Virginia Construction Code and referenced standard ASME A17.1 and an inspection will be required.

What to Submit for Permit Application

A valid Virginia State Contractor's License with an EEC or other appropriate designations from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation is needed for all scopes of work.

  • Fairfax County Business License
  • Building layout (identifying equipment location)
  • Elevator drawings
  • Building name and address on each page of drawings
  • Drawing minimum scale 1/8 inch = 1 foot

Electrical wiring diagrams not needed for review shall be at the jobsite for inspections.

All the above are required for construction personnel hoists; in addition, a signed/sealed letter from the building design professional is required. Hoists are permitted for a duration of 90 days.

Permit Application and Inspection Process

STEP 1) Permit application submitted online, allow 10 business days for processing.

STEP 2) Check status online while plans are under review.

STEP 3) Upon Apporval, permit fees will be assessed and added to the permit number. It is the responsibility of the applicant to track the progress of their permit and pay the fees once assessed to limit the delay in permit issuance. Upon payment, the applicant can email county staff to ensure notification and prompt issuance of the permit and plans.

STEP 4) Applicant shall print the permit/approved plans and have them onsite prior to work commencing, failure to have permits and plans onsite shall result in fines and/or failed inspections.

STEP 5) Following commencement of work performed, the owner/owner agent/maintenance representative shall call ATIS to schedule inspection. Equipment returned to service prior to inspection shall result in fines and/or legal consequences. Performed work shall be “Inspection Ready” at the time of inspection; if not, the result will be failed and re-inspection fees will apply.

STEP 6) All inspection results are sent electronically to the Owner Agent’s email on file and the Owner’s physical address via USPS within one business day. Inspection results can be requested by emailing or calling 703-631-5101.

Fast Tracked Permit Review Process

Most permit applications are processed within a 10-15 day review period. However, certain select scopes of work may qualify for a faster review process which can be done within 48 hours*.

  • Escalator Handrail Replacement
  • Electric Drive Replacement
  • Door Reopening Device Replacement
  • Hydraulic Valve Replacement
  • Suspension Means Replacement
  • Governor Rope Replacement
  • Cartop Handrails
  • Buffer Replacement
  • Step replacement
  • Drive Chain Replacement
  • Escalator Brake Replacement
  • Skirt Obstruction Device Replacement
  • Comb-Impact Switch Replacement
  • Demolition
  • Decommission
  • Temporary Construction Use

*48 Hours is subject to staffing and workloads, as well as completeness of submission package.

Inspections

Overview

New and existing vertical transportation equipment are subject to annual and or periodic inspections as described below.

Periodic Inspections

Six months from the equipment’s diary month, Fairfax County will conduct a visual periodic inspection.

  • Should any life safety violations be witnessed, the inspection will result in a failed status and the owner shall correct the violations as stated on the Inspection Report, and any applicable reinspection fees shall be paid prior to scheduling the reinspection.
  • If only non-life safety violations are found, the inspector will note them on the inspection report. The owner shall correct those violations prior to their Annual Inspection. Should the noted non-life safety violations not be corrected, the Annual Inspection will fail re-inspection fees and require a re-inspection within 30 days.

Annual Inspections

Prior to the expiration date of the Certificate of Inspections, an annual inspection with ATIS at 703-543-9966, TTY 711, or via email. The owner’s agent or property manager must be present during inspection.

  • If passed, a new Certificate of Inspections will be issued to you after all outstanding inspection fees have been paid.  You can find your updated certificate by address or equipment ID.
  • If failed, the violations listed on the inspection report must be corrected; see Violations below.

Failure to schedule an inspection will result in fines and/or a mandatory removal of service for the elevator.

Accidents/Entrapment

When an accident occurs, the affected elevator must be removed from service immediately.  Contact the county at 855-511-2847, TTY 711 and fill out the Notification of Elevator Accident form to report the time, date and description of accident; address and elevator number and contact information. A county inspection will be performed at which time the affected equipment can go back into service if no violations are found.

Notification of Elevator Accident

Violations

Any violations noted in your periodic (six-month) inspection will show in your annual inspection.  If the items are still unaddressed at that time, your system will not pass the annual inspection and will require a re-inspection with associated fees.

Change of Owner/Agent

It is the responsibility of the current property owner to inform the county of a change in ownership or designated agent (responsible party). Failure to update this information can result in fines.   Submit owner/agent changes.

Failure to Comply

Elevator The Virginia Maintenance Code requires all vertical transportation to have a valid/current certificate posted at all times per county policy. Elevator inspections are documented by an inspection report which fulfills the requirement of the Virginia Maintenance Code. Fairfax County has the authority to issue a Notice of Violation and remove the equipment from service for the safety of Fairfax County residents and visitors.

ATIS Elevator Inspections, LLC

Elevator Plan Review and Inspections for new and existing elevators are conducted by ATIS Elevator Inspections, LLC, on behalf of Fairfax County.

Schedule an inspection online.  All inspections are scheduled electronically to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

For questions regarding inspection or plan review results, call 703-543-9966, TTY 711, or email.

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