Ontario Elevator Code Changes in 2022
The Code changes coming into effect this year are designed to improve elevator reliability, reduce elevator downtime and to publicize elevator reliability. Ultimately, these changes will result in increased reliability and responsibilities for building Owners.
There will be significant changes to the way building Owners and elevator contractors manage existing vertical transportation systems in Ontario. It is the responsibility of both parties to be well informed and comply with these changes and laws. Here are a summary of these coming changes along with some basic information to assist you. We encourage all building Owner’s to review the full details of the requirements in the links provided at the end of this article.
Building Owner requirements starting July 1st, 2022, as per the Act:
Report all elevator outages in residential buildings or long-term care homes lasting 48 hours or longer on the TSSA web portal (important note: this may be extended to include all buildings with elevators in the future). Link to the reporting website here: https://ea.tssa.org/
File report within 30 days of elevator returning to service.
This report must include building details, elevator details, elevator upgrade history, date and time of outage and cause of outage.
The outage data will be publicly available on the TSSA website to assist consumers in deciding where to rent or buy.
TSSA Compliance standards (in effect November 1st, 2022):
The TSSA has announced that they are transforming into an outcome-based regulator; as such, compliance standards will play a key role in developing consistency among inspectors and clarifying risk conditions for Owners.
Compliance Standards are lists of non-compliances associated with various devices, rated low to high in terms of risk to public.
Low to medium risk directives will be noted on an inspection report with Owners or License Holders required to ensure that they are resolved. (It’s unknown if a “Declaration of Compliance” will be requested from the Owner at this time). TSSA will reassess during the next periodic inspection and will also audit at random select devices to ensure safety tasks are being resolved.
High-risk directives may result in a unit being shut down or a directive being issued for resolution either immediately or within 14 days depending on Inspector judgment of severity. TSSA will plan a follow-up inspection to confirm resolution. If the resolution is not adequate, then the unit may be shut down.
Note that the list of non-compliances in the high-risk category are extensive.
Changes to the Ontario Fire Code (in effect since July 1st, 2019)
Owner is to notify the local Fire Department and building occupants when a Firefighters’ Elevator is out of service for over 24 hours.
Elevator fire recall testing is required every 3 months as opposed to annually. This includes testing of Phase I fire recall switches, all Phase II in car operating switches and buttons and testing of door detector operation during Phase I and II.
Changes to Elevator and Escalator Code in Ontario (CSA B44 & CAD 295/22) (coming into effect August 1, 2022 & January 1, 2023)
Increased information required in the Maintenance Control Program (MCP).
Additional maintenance requirements and altered procedures in the MCP for all types of devices.
*Two-way message display in the cab for hearing and/or speech impaired.
*A means for authorized personnel to view video of passengers anywhere in the cab during an emergency.
*Door detectors must be able to detect an approaching object and not just an obstruction.
*required for new elevators and will likely be required for modernizations.