Home / Codes / ASME A17.1 / CSA B44
Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
The core code for new elevator, escalator, moving walk, dumbwaiter and material lift installations, and for the maintenance, inspection, testing and alteration of that equipment.
Edition: 2025 edition (published January 2026). Your state may enforce an earlier edition.
Who Uses It
Elevator contractors, technicians and mechanics, inspectors, architects, engineers and building owners.
How It's Organized
| Part 1 | General — scope, purpose and definitions |
|---|---|
| Part 2 | Electric (traction and drum) elevators — hoistways, pits, machine rooms, entrances, car enclosures, safeties, governors, buffers, ropes, operating devices, firefighters' service |
| Part 3 | Hydraulic elevators — jacks, valves, piping, tanks, power units and hydraulic operating devices |
| Part 4 | Elevators with other driving machines — rack-and-pinion and screw-column machines |
| Part 5 | Special application elevators — private residence, limited-use/limited-application (LULA), inclined, rooftop and others |
| Part 6 | Escalators and moving walks |
| Part 7 | Dumbwaiters and material lifts |
| Part 8 | General requirements — maintenance and repair, alterations, acceptance inspections and tests, periodic inspections and tests |
| Part 9 | Reference codes, standards and specifications |
Common Questions This Covers
| Pit ladder / pit access | Part 2 — pits |
| Pit light and pit stop switch | Part 2 — pits |
| Machine room requirements | Part 2 — machinery and control spaces |
| Hoistway door interlocks | Part 2 — hoistway entrances and locking devices |
| Car door / gate switch | Part 2 — car enclosures and door operation |
| Firefighters' service Phase I and II | Part 2 — emergency operation and signaling |
| Safeties and governors | Part 2 — safeties, governors |
| Buffers | Part 2 — buffers |
| Hydraulic cylinder / jack | Part 3 — hydraulic jacks |
| Relief valve and pressure test | Part 3 / Part 8 — valves and tests |
| Private residence elevator | Part 5 — special application elevators |
| LULA elevator | Part 5 — special application elevators |
| Escalator skirt and comb plate | Part 6 — escalators |
| Dumbwaiter | Part 7 |
| Maintenance Control Program (MCP) | Part 8 — maintenance |
| Category 1 / Category 5 tests | Part 8 — periodic inspections and tests |
| Acceptance inspection | Part 8 — acceptance inspections and tests |
Related
Guide for Inspection of Elevators, Escalators, and Moving Walks
The inspector's companion to A17.1: what to look at, how to check it and what to test during acceptance and periodic…
Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators
Minimum safety requirements for elevators and escalators already in service. Used by jurisdictions to bring older…
Guide for Emergency Personnel
How firefighters and emergency crews safely evacuate passengers from stalled elevators and…
Elevator and Escalator Electrical Equipment
Construction, testing and certification requirements for elevator and escalator electrical equipment: controllers,…
Standard for Elevator Suspension, Compensation, and Governor Systems
Requirements for suspension and governor means: steel wire rope, aramid fiber rope and noncircular elastomeric-coated…
Performance-Based Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
An alternative path to A17.1: new designs are approved by proving they meet safety performance targets through risk…
Standard for Wind Turbine Tower Elevators
Requirements for elevators installed inside wind turbine…