Elevator Industry News 

In our continued, concentrated effort to clarify policy and bring consistency and compliance to the Elevator Section as well as the Elevator Industry in Michigan, below please find the latest topics we have received questions about.

Emergency Permits

The email approval allowing work to begin on an emergency permit does not indicate the permit has been issued or paid for and does not negate the requirement for a final inspection prior to operation as directed per Michigan Elevator Rules-2016. The Section recognizes there is, at times, a business-need to return an elevator to service and will allow inspectors, at their discretion, to approve units to be put back into service prior to a final taking place but only once all below requirements have been met.

• Permit has been paid for
• Permit number has been sent to the Contractor and Inspector
• Submit a letter along with a copy of the completed test form to the Section at elevsafety@michigan.gov stating the following:
  • All required in-scope testing has been completed.
  • Acknowledgement a final inspection must occur within 30 days
  • Acknowledgement that if they do not comply with all requirements, the elevator may be sealed out of service and appropriate fees assessed
• Once the above items have been completed, only then can the Contractor contact the Inspector for permission to return the unit to service prior to the final inspection.

Please note, this does NOT remove the need for a final nor does it guarantee every Inspector will allow every emergency permit to be returned to service prior to a final.

If a Contracting company is found not to be complying with the above, the Department may disallow them from requesting elevators to be returned to service prior to a final.

Alterations leading to a New Install

There have been many questions concerning when alterations, or which alterations, will be considered to become a new unit requiring a new install permit. When an alteration of an elevator includes all three of the below items, the Elevator Section will consider this to be a new installation and therefore, an installation permit will be required and appropriate fees paid. When performing work under this scope, all existing conditions that would warrant a variance, must be noted to the permit application and the variance application submitted and approved prior to the issuance of the permit. 

• Machine/drive system, pumping unit,
• Controller, and
• Platform and/or cab

Alteration Permits Required

AMSE A17.1-2016 1.3, defines an alteration as:

Any change to equipment, including its parts, components, and/or subsystems, other than maintenance, repair, or replacement.

The operating rule of thumb for elevators has always been, if replacing “like for like” and no adjustments or sub-system factors were involved, neither a permit nor inspection were needed. As of May 1, 2026, to ensure consistency, the Section’s policy is being clarified to state if a repair does not involve a manufacturer like for like part, or there is a requirement for adjustment or testing, or programing, it will be considered an alteration, and therefore, a permit shall be pulled and an inspection performed.

Some of the items requiring a permit as of August 1, 2019 will include but not be limited to;

• The installation of a soft start
• The installation/replacement of a Main Control Board (mother board) or a System Software update
• Any component, part or subsystem of a safety device (i.e., rope gripper, rupture valve, emergency brake, safety parts etc.)
• A change in emergency phones or communication means (i.e., phone line to VOIP, etc.)
• The addition of, overall changes to, or system changes associated with the Fire Alarm Initiating Devices (FAID) associated with the elevating device.

Due to questions received regarding to the below section from the most recent Elevator Industry News, please note the following clarifications.

Effective immediately, non-circular elastomeric or polyurethane coated belts being replaced on existing Machine Room Less units should be fire rated at FT-1 or greater unless a letter is sent in by the Contractor, from the Local Fire Marshall or fire suppression AHJ, with the knowledge and acceptance of the hoistway construction without a sprinkler head in the top of the hoistway. Please note, the change in fire rating changes the form of the belt and is no longer a like for like replacement which means a permit, appropriate fees, and an inspection shall be required. Installation permits pulled on or after August 1, 2019, for Machine Room Less traction units utilizing non-circular elastomeric or polyurethane coated belts will be required to be an FT-1 or greater unless the Contractor provides with the permit, a letter from the Local Fire Marshall or fire suppression AHJ with the knowledge and acceptance of the hoistway construction without a sprinkler head in the top of the hoistway.

Hoistway Sprinkler Requirements

For the installation of Machine Room Less traction units that utilize non-circular elastomeric or polyurethane coated belts, NFPA 13 Sec. 8.15.5.7.1 requires there be a sprinkler head in the pit and overhead of the hoistway if the suspension belts fire rating is not an FT-1 or greater. It is not the intent of the Elevator Section to require a sprinkler head in the overhead understanding that shunt trips are not allowed in Michigan, as the introduction of water onto the car with the presence of high voltage presents the possibility of fatal results. In order to adhere to all applicable codes, the Section will require devices installed with these types of suspension means to either have the proper fire rating or a letter submitted with the permit, from the Local Fire Marshall or fire suppression AHJ with the knowledge and acceptance of the hoistway construction, without a sprinkler head in the top of the hoistway. As a reminder, if there is a sprinkler head in the pit, there shall also be the appropriate Fire Alarm Initiating Device (FAID). Heat sensors designed for the environment are preferable.