Elevator Safety and Licensing Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register with the Department as a QEI elevator inspector?
How do I renew my elevator inspector or elevator contractor registration?
Where can I obtain a Qualified Elevator Inspector certification?
How do I initially register as an elevator contractor?
When are elevator contractor's quarterly reports due?
When is an elevator contractor registration required?
How often are elevators and related equipment required to be inspected?
How do I contact a QEI Inspector?
How can I get a copy of my inspection report?
Who is responsible for obtaining a certificate of compliance for an elevator or related equipment?
How do I obtain a certificate of compliance?
How do I apply for a delay or waiver?
How do I request a delay for Fire Service until September 1, 2012 or Door Restrictors until September 1, 2010?
If I do not receive a reminder notice of inspection due prior to the inspection due date, is the owner still required to get the elevator inspected and file the paperwork on time?
What if I cannot complete the repairs to my elevator or related equipment within 60 days?
How do I obtain a duplicate copy of a Certificate of Compliance?
Where can I find inspection history information of a particular elevator or related equipment?
Do elevator inspectors work for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation?
What fees do I pay, if I apply for a certificate of compliance 91 or more days after the inspection?
How can I get more information or updates related to the regulation of the elevators or related equipment?
If I was on active duty in the National Guard, do I have any additional time to complete continuing education and other requirements related to the renewal of my license?
Can a QEI witness code inspections when an immediate family member such as a son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother, or grandparent is the mechanic responsible for the inspected equipment, OR that person is employed by a company that has responsibility for the equipment?
What is the chronology of the A17.1 codes adopted since the inception of the elevator program?
Who is responsible for the selection of which inspector performs the required annual inspection?
My elevator contractor has told me that they will select the inspector and that I as the owner must not choose the inspector. Is that correct?
If the power to select the elevator inspector is delegated to an elevator contractor and the inspection is performed late, not at all or in a negligent manner, is the owner still responsible?
What is the process to complain about an inspector or elevator contractor?
My license has expired. How do I do to get it back?

1. How do I register with the Department as a QEI elevator inspector?

Provide a copy of your current Qualified Elevator Inspector certification with your completed TDLR application, the applicable fee, and proof of completing an orientation conducted by the Department regarding Department forms and inspection procedures.

2. How do I renew my elevator inspector or elevator contractor registration?

Elevator Inspector:

Copy of your current Qualified Elevator Inspector certification with your completed TDLR application;
Proof of attendance at a TDLR-approved seminar, when required by the Executive Director; and
Payment of the applicable renewal fee:
- On-Time Renewal Fee, $50
- 1-90 Days Late, $75
- 90+ Days Late, $100

Elevator Contractor:

Provide your renewal request; and
Payment of applicable renewal fee:
- On-Time Renewal Fee, $115
- 1-90 Days Late, $172.50
- 90+ Days Late, $230

3. Where can I obtain a Qualified Elevator Inspector certification?

Three organizations provide QEI certification:

Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund
7154 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21046
QEI-1003 Issued 03/05/08, Expires 02/09/11
Certification of Elevator Inspectors and Inspection Supervisors,
Controlled from the above location
Phone: (410) 312-1474
Fax: (410) 312-1473
EIWPFGWK@aol.com

National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International
NAESA International
6957 Littlerock SW, Suite A
Tumwater, Washington 98512
QEI-1001 Issued 08/08/08, Expires 08/27/11
Certification of Elevator Inspectors and Inspection Supervisors,
Controlled from the above location
Phone: (360) 292-4968
Fax: (360) 292-4973
dotty@naesai.org

QEI Services, Inc.
127 Union Avenue, Suite 2
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
QEI-1004 Issued 01/13/2009, Expires 01/13/2012
Certification of Elevator Inspectors and Inspection Supervisors,
Controlled from the above location
Phone: (888) 651-9209
Fax: (732) 302-0399
info@qeiservices.com

4. How do I initially register as an elevator contractor?

Submit a completed application form and payment for the applicable registration fee. In addition you must submit an initial report in a Department approved format, not later than the 60th day following the application date containing:

the street address of each building or location at which you performed installation, repair, alteration, or maintenance of equipment during the previous two years; and
the name and mailing address of the building owner.

5. When are elevator contractor's quarterly reports due?

After making an initial registration and report, elevator contractors must submit a quarterly report containing:

the street address of each building or location at which you performed installation, repair, alteration, or maintenance of equipment not reported in your initial report or previous quarterly report; and
the name and mailing address of the building owner,
and jobs not previously reported.

Quarterly reports are due each year in accordance with the following schedule:
Q1 (January 1 - March 31) due April 30
Q2 (April 1 - June 30) due July 31
Q3 (July 1 - September 30) due October 31
Q4 (October 1 - December 31) due January 31

6. When is an elevator contractor registration required?

As of January 1, 2004, any person that performs installation, repair, alteration, or maintenance of an elevator or related equipment is required to be registered with the Department.

7. How often are elevators and related equipment required to be inspected?

The owner of the elevator or related equipment must obtain an inspection every 12 months and submit the inspection report along with all required documents and applicable fees to the Department in order to obtain a certificate of compliance.

8. How do I contact a QEI Inspector?

To find a QEI Inspector that is registered with the department, you may search the Licensing Database through the Department's website or contact the Licensing Division at 800-803-9202 (Texas only) or 512-463-6599.

9. How can I get a copy of my inspection report?

Contact the QEI Inspector that performed the inspection on your elevator or related equipment.

10. Who is responsible for obtaining a certificate of compliance for an elevator or related equipment?

The owner of the building is responsible for obtaining a certificate of compliance for each unit of equipment in the building. This certificate is good for one year and must be applied for annually.

11. How do I obtain a certificate of compliance?

For each piece of equipment, the building owner must submit the following within 60 days of the inspection:

a copy of the inspection report;
the applicable fee; and
documentation that any violations found during the inspection are corrected or under contract to be corrected not later than the next inspection due date, and an application for delay or waiver, if necessary. If submitting an application for delay or waiver you must also submit an additional $50 for each violation requested to be delayed or waived.

12. How do I apply for a delay or waiver?

Submit a completed application for delay or waiver with a fee of $50 for each violation requested to be delayed or waived. For each waiver request, please include a picture, drawing, or any other information to support your request to waive the code standard.

13. How do I request a delay for Fire Service until September 1, 2012 or Door Restrictors until September 1, 2010?

Submit a Department delay application form with the following:

verification that the building owner has notified all tenants in the building that the elevators do not comply with the door restrictor or fire service requirements in the ASME A17.3- 2002 Code and has made available to tenants upon request the building owner plan of compliance before the dates noted above.
the building owner's plan of compliance before the dates noted above; and
compliance completion date

14. If I do not receive a reminder notice of inspection due prior to the inspection due date, is the owner still required to get the elevator inspected and file the paperwork on time?

Yes, the department sends a reminder of inspection due to the owner of the building as a courtesy, but it is the owner's responsibility to obtain an inspection every 12 months and to file the required paperwork on time to obtain a certificate.

15. What if I cannot complete the repairs to my elevator or related equipment within 60 days?

You may provide proof that you have entered into a contract to have the repairs done prior to the next inspection due date or request a delay.

16. How do I obtain a duplicate copy of a Certificate of Compliance?

Submit a written request with a fee of $25 to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation at P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711.

17. Where can I find inspection history information of a particular elevator or related equipment?

You may search the elevator and related equipment database or contact the Licensing Division at 800-803-9202 (Texas only) or 512-463-6599.

18. Do elevator inspectors work for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation?

No, QEI elevator inspectors are required to register with the Department but they are not employees of the Department. To find a QEI Inspector that is registered with the Department, you may search the Licensing Database through the Department's website or contact the Department at 800-803-9202 (Texas only) or 512-463-6599.

19. What fees do I pay, if I apply for a certificate of compliance 91 or more days after the inspection?

You must submit all the required paper work along with the appropriate filing fee(s) plus a late fee of $10 per piece of equipment for every 30 day period it is late after 90 days from the date of inspection.

20. How can I get more information or updates related to the regulation of the elevators or related equipment?

Sign up on the TDLR E-mail Subscriber Notification Lists on our website to receive automated notification of new and changing information about elevators and related equipment or any of the businesses regulated by the Department. In addition you may email questions regarding elevators and related equipment to elevators.escalators@license.state.tx.us.

21. If I was on active duty in the National Guard, do I have any additional time to complete continuing education and other requirements related to the renewal of my license?

Yes. If you were a member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, such as the National Guard, and you were ordered to active duty on or after September 1, 2004, you have additional time equal to the total number of years or parts of years that the you served on active duty. When you apply to renew your license you must provide documentation of the date your active duty began and the date it ended.

If you did not renew this license in a timely manner, you are exempt from paying a late renewal fee if you furnish the Department with military documentation indicating you were on active duty during the time that your license expired. This documentation would show the date your active duty began and the date it ended.

22. Can a QEI witness code inspections when an immediate family member such as a son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother, or grandparent is the mechanic responsible for the inspected equipment, OR that person is employed by a company that has responsibility for the equipment?

No. Rule 74.60 (d), 16 Texas Administrative Code §74.60, provides that a QEI is obligated to avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest. A conflict exists when an inspector performs inspections in a building in which he has any financial interest or if the inspector’s judgment would be affected by family, business, property, or other interests. For purposes of the rule, witnessing an inspection is performing an inspection. When a direct family member is the mechanic responsible for equipment to be inspected there may be a direct conflict, and there certainly is the appearance of a conflict and a QEI should not witness inspections on such equipment. When a direct family member works for the company that is responsible for the equipment there may be a direct conflict and there may be the appearance of a conflict. The higher the degree of responsibility the family member has with the responsible company, or the closer to direct responsibility for the equipment the family member is, the greater the likelihood that a conflict, or the appearance of a conflict, exists. If there is any possibility that a QEI would find his judgment affected by those situations, or if it were likely that a disinterested observer would have reason to believe they would affect the QEI’s judgment, the QEI should not perform the inspection.

23. What is the chronology of the A17.1 codes adopted since the inception of the elevator program?

In order to establish a baseline of the applicable code requirements, below you will find the history of the lawfully adopted codes in the State of Texas:

ASME A17.1a-1994 for new equipment and alterations for which a contract was executed after 9-1-1993 and before 9-1-2003.

ASME A17.1-2000 for new equipment and alterations for which a contract was executed after 9-1-2003 and before 12-1-2003.

ASME A17.1b-2003 for new equipment and alterations for which a contract was executed after 12-1-2003 and before 9-1-2008.

ASME A17.1-2007 for new equipment and alterations for which a contract was executed after 9-1-2008 through today.

24. Who is responsible for the selection of which inspector performs the required annual inspection?

The building owner or the owner’s agent is responsible for selecting an inspector.

25. My elevator contractor has told me that they will select the inspector and that I as the owner must not choose the inspector. Is that correct?

No, the owner has the sole right to select the inspector who enters upon the property. An owner may delegate that power to the elevator contractor but may withdraw that power at any time. The owner has the sole power to determine who enters into their building, including which inspector and elevator contractor. Unauthorized entry onto property may be considered trespassing.

26. If the power to select the elevator inspector is delegated to an elevator contractor and the inspection is performed late, not at all or in a negligent manner, is the owner still responsible?

Yes, an owner may not lawfully delegate the responsibility for safely maintaining the building and equipment or for compliance with the applicable statute(s)to another party.

27. What is the process to complain about an inspector or elevator contractor?

Any citizen may complain about any owner, elevator inspector or elevator contractor by filing an online complaint at the Department’s website or by downloading the complaint form, filling it out and mailing it in to the Department at PO Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711.

28. My license has expired. How do I do to get it back?

If your license has been expired for more than 18 months but less than three years, you may submit a “Request to Executive Director for Expired License Renewal” form with the required renewal fee.

If your license has been expired for more than three years you may not renew your license. You must apply for a new license.

You may be subject to enforcement actions, including administrative penalties and sanctions, for operating with an expired license (expired less than 18 months) or operating without a license (expired 18 months or more).

If your renewal application is postmarked before your expiration date, it is considered a timely renewal.

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