Effective March 1, 2008, the City of Danville's Inspection Division has started requiring inspections and tests on existing elevators. The inspection of existing elevators and the enforcement of the Building Code for these elevators shall be in compliance with the regulations adopted by the State Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD).

The Code of Virginia and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code require local governing bodies to inspect and enforce building code requirements for existing elevators. These periodic safety inspections and tests help ensure that a minimum level of safety is maintained in existing elevator installations.

Elevators
In the Code of Virginia and the Building Code, the term "elevator" represents a collection of power-driven conveyances, including:

• Passenger and freight elevators
• Escalators and moving walks
• Dumbwaiters and material lifts
• Wheelchair lifts and stairway chair lifts

Applying Regulations
These regulations will apply to all existing elevators in public or private buildings within the City of Danville except for single-family or two-family homes. Buildings include commercial buildings, schools, institutions, churches, offices, warehouses, industries, motels, and apartments.

Routine inspections are required every six months for most elevators, and periodic tests are required every one, three, or five years, depending upon the type of elevator equipment installed. Building owners are responsible for having an approved elevator inspector perform the required inspections and tests within 30 days of the receipt of a notice letter.

Ask your elevator inspector to fax to (434) 797-8919 or mail a copy of their report to the City of Danville Inspection Division to P.O. Box 330, Danville, Virginia 24543 within 10 days of the inspection. The most current inspection certificate shall be on display at all times within the elevator, attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, or available for public inspection in the office of the building operator.