3rd Party Inspections

1
(No Transcript)
2
TPQEI Inspections
Objectives

• History of Change
• The Big Picture
• Overview of Law and Regulations
• State Responsibilities
• Building Owner Responsibilities
• Third Party Inspector Responsibilities
• What is TPQEI?
• Inspections, Scheduling and Applicable Codes

3
History of Change

• Growth of Vertical Transportation in Maryland
• 1980 3,237
• 1990 11,351
• 2000 16,594
• 2009 21,330
• 900 New Elevator Units Each Year
• 6,112 Overdue Units 29

4
Major Change

• Beginning July 1, 2009, the owner of the
  elevator unit must hire an authorized third party
  qualified elevator inspector (TPQEI).
• State inspectors will no longer perform
  periodic annual inspections on privately owned
  elevator units.

5
The Big Picture
6
DLLR will continue.

• Final Inspections on new and altered elevator
  units
• Investigate accidents and complaints
• Follow-up inspections to confirm corrective
  action
• Comprehensive 5-year inspection
• Periodic annual inspection of publicly owned
  elevator units
• Quality control monitoring of inspections
  performed by third party qualified elevator
  inspectors (TPQEI)

7
Building Owner Responsibilities

• Re-registration of elevator units
• Annually
• 30 days before periodic inspection

DLLR will notify owner 90 days in advance of the
annual periodic inspection.
8
Building Owner Responsibilities

• Maintain their elevator units in accordance with
  the safety code
• Ensure that all required tests are performed by
  qualified persons
• All required test documentation to be kept in the
  elevator machine room (or on the premises)
  available to the TPQEI and

9
Building Owner Responsibilities

• Must hire an authorized TPQEI to perform the
  required inspections (not the elevator company).

10
Importance of Compliance

• Follow-up inspection fee
• 250 up to 4 hrs. (each unit)
• 500 up to 8 hrs. (each unit)
• Citations
• 5,000 (each unit)
• 1,000 per day failure to correct

11
TPQEI Authorization

• All TPQEI must register with the Commissioner.
• Every TPQEI will be issued credentials
  identifying them as an authorized TPQEI and
  their authorization level.
• This authorization is valid only if you maintain
  your QEI certification and insurance coverage and
  must be renewed annually. It is the
  responsibility of the TPQEI to ensure their
  authorization remains valid.
• Inspection reports received from a TPQEI with an
  invalid authorization will be rejected which may
  result in the owner (your customer) being in
  violation and subject to penalty.

12
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 1
• Is authorized to perform pre-final inspections
  and periodic annual inspections

13
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 1
• Must possess and maintain a valid QEI
  certification

14
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 1
• Must be an independent consultant, employed by
  an independent inspection agency or employed by
  the insurer of the elevator unit and

15
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 1
• Possess and maintain insurance as required by
  regulation.

16
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 2
• Is authorized to ONLY perform pre-final
  inspections.
• Must possess and maintain a valid QEI
  certification.

17
TPQEI Authorization Levels

• TPQEI - Level 3
• Is authorized to ONLY perform a pre-final
  inspection on a personnel hoist where the ANSI
  A10.4 Code is applicable.
• Must provide the Commissioner with documentation
  detailing experience, manufacturers training,
  and knowledge of personnel hoists, codes,
  maintenance and testing procedures.

18
Responsibilities of the TPQEI

• Maintain your QEI certification and submit the
  required documentation to the Commissioner on an
  annual basis.
• Notify the Commissioner immediately of any
  change in insurance coverage (Safety Inspection
  Unit to be a certificate holder)

19
Responsibilities of the TPQEI

• Conduct inspections in accordance with the Safety
  Code and ASME A17.2 Guide for Inspections of
  Elevators.
• Witness or verify that the periodic tests as
  required by the safety code were performed and
  conform to the safety code and ASME A17.2.

20
Responsibilities of the TPQEI

• Submit the required inspection reports and
  related documents in accordance with regulation.
• Report serious unsafe conditions
• -Advise the owner to cease operation and
• -Notify the Commissioner immediately.

410-767-2990 Emergency number (after normal
hours) Safe4u_at_dllr.state.md.us 410-767-2350 Phone
410-333-7721 Fax
21
Importance of Compliance

• Authorization Revoked
• If after investigation and quality control
  monitoring it is revealed that a TPQEI is not
  performing inspections in accordance with the law
  and regulations, their TPQEI authorization will
  be revoked and they will no longer be able to
  perform third party inspections in Maryland.

22
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspections
• All elevator units are required to have an annual
  inspection. TPQEI can witness or verify required
  tests.
• Tests required by the safety code should be
  verified through review of test reports which are
  required to be completed by the qualified
  mechanic performing the tests. The tests can also
  be witnessed at the discretion of the TPQEI.

23
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspections
• Escalator inspections must be performed with the
  aid of a qualified mechanic therefore, the tests
  should be witnessed by the TPQEI.

24
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspection process
• Perform annual inspection
• Verify or witness required tests
• Document inspection on State inspection form

25
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspection process
• Identify and document any alleged violations on
  the State violation notice.
• Reference the applicable code year and rule
  number and
• The violation item number.
• Provide the owner with opportunity to correct any
  alleged violations.

26
Violation Categories
27
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspection process
• TPQEI must submit inspection report and
  associated documentation to the Commissioner
  within 30 days of the inspection.
• TPQEI report indicates no alleged violations a
  certificate will be issued by the Commissioner.

28
Inspections

• Periodic annual inspection process
• Serious safety issues
• Notify the Commissioner immediately.
• Advise the owner to cease operation.

29
Clearing Alleged Violations

• Follow-up inspection by TPQEI within the 30 day
  window of inspection due date.
• Follow-up inspection by TPQEI after report
  submission but before State follow-up inspection
  or

30
Clearing alleged violations

• Follow-up inspection by State inspector.
• Alleged violations were corrected
• re-inspection fee assessed to owner and
  certificate issued.
• Alleged violations not corrected
• re-inspection fee assessed to owner and
• a citation issued to owner.
• Violations remain pending after final order
• additional penalties will be assessed.

31
Scheduling 5-Year Inspections With Commissioner

• 5-year comprehensive inspections are required on
  elevator units that are suspended by wire ropes,
  belts, chains or a similar suspension means, or
  elevator units with rack and pinion drive.
• State inspectors will witness the 5-year periodic
  (full load) test and perform the comprehensive
  5-year inspection.
• The owner must coordinate with the Commissioner
  the date and time of the 5-year comprehensive
  inspection 60 days in advance of inspection date.

32
Scheduling Final Acceptance Inspections

• Register the elevator unit at least 60 days
  before its planned completion

33
Scheduling Final Acceptance Inspections

• Provide the Commissioner with at least 60 days
  notice of a requested inspection and
• Submit the pre-final inspection report 15 days
  before a scheduled inspection.

34
Scheduling Final Acceptance Inspections

• Inspection requests received with less than the
  required notice will be scheduled at the earliest
  date contingent upon the availability of State
  resources.

35
Personnel Hoists (WH)

• Pre-Final inspection performed by TPQEI (any
  level authorization with necessary knowledge of
  ANSI A10.4).
• Final inspection will be performed by State.
• 90-day inspection performed by State inspector,
  tests performed by qualified person and witnessed
  by State inspector.
• Floor jump and alteration inspections must be
  performed by State inspector tests performed by
  qualified person and witnessed by State inspector.

36
Other Lifts

• Vertical, inclined and stairway chair lifts are
  considered elevator units, so the law and
  regulations apply to this equipment in the same
  manner.

37
Applicable Code

• Beginning July 1, 2009 State inspectors will
  enforce the most recently adopted version of the
  Safety Code when conducting final acceptance
  inspections on new and altered elevator units.

38
Applicable Code

• The date an elevator contract is signed can no
  longer determine the applicable safety code.
• Safety Codes are published prior to State
  adoption. This should provide sufficient time for
  elevator installers to review and adjust to any
  code changes.

39
Applicable Code

• The Commissioner may grant exceptions from the
  safety code or regulations.
• The owner of the elevator unit must make the
  request in writing and provide
• evidence that the exception is necessary and
• that safety can be assured.
• It is the policy of the Commissioner to respond
  to exception requests within 30 working days
  however, depending on the complexity of the
  request this response time may be extended.

40
Applicable Code

• Existing elevator units must comply with the
  applicable safety code in effect at the time of
  their final acceptance inspection. Unless the
  unit was altered or modified.

41
(No Transcript)