Elevator Music: How a Clever 1920’s Idea Helped Calm Nervous Riders and Created a Whole New Genre

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In the closing minutes of The Blues Brothers, after what is arguably the single most gratuitous (and comically destructive) car chase scene in cinematic history (see reference below), Jake and Elwood Blues are in the final throes of their mission to cover an overdue tax bill for their former home, the St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage. The brothers remain undaunted in their quest, even as they’re pursued by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of military and law enforcement quickly bearing down on the duo by air, water and land.  

And yet their 106-mile car chase to downtown Chicago brilliantly culminates with a perfect scene centered around, of all things, an elevator. Specifically the one that Jake and Elwood take inside the Cook County Building up to the tax assessor’s office on the 11th floor.  

The elevator scene heightens the contrast of the moment because the audience is in on the joke: While there’s an exploding cacophony outside, Jake and Elwood stand there calmy awash in the smooth jazz sounds of, yes, you guessed it, elevator music.  

Few audio references are perhaps as universally recognized or, let’s face it, consistently maligned, as elevator music. The ubiquitous background tunes inside elevators have become an invisible part of many passengers’ vertical transport experience. And yet the origins, purpose, and ongoing evolution reveal a deeper story about psychology, comfort, and how the elevator industry has adapted to human needs over the years. 

But long before the smooth jazz and easy listening defined the elevator experience, riding a lift was a very different, and often uncomfortable, experience. Understanding how elevators evolved from basic mechanical boxes to reach floors built higher and higher helps explain why music became such a powerful design tool, and why it continues to matter today.

Early Passenger Elevators: Functional, Noisy, and Often Unsettling

When passenger elevators began appearing in commercial buildings in the mid-19th century, they represented a revolutionary concept. The safety brake, introduced by Elisha Otis, was first used publicly starting in 1857 at the E.V. Haughwout & Co. department store in New York City. The new installation made vertical travel viable, but early elevators were far from pleasant, compared to modern standards. 

These early elevators had several challenges including: 

  • Noise: They were loud, with audible gears, pulleys, and steam or hydraulic components 
  • Speed: Older elevators were slow, especially by any modern standards 
  • Ambience (or lack thereof): The lifts were often dimly lit and/or poorly ventilated 

For a myriad of riders, the sensation of being lifted vertically inside an enclosed box triggered anxiety. After all, this was an entirely new experience and the idea of trusting one’s life to cables and machinery was unsettling at best to many. 

From a psychological perspective, early elevator rides activated several discomfort factors: 

  • Claustrophobia from being in a confined space 
  • Loss of control, an attendant controlled the operation. 
  • Continued uncertainty about safety, even though the safety brake prevented falls 
  • Awkward social proximity to strangers 

In addition, silence inside the cab amplified these sensations. Every creak, shudder, and mechanical sound reminded passengers of the machinery at work. So, as buildings grew taller and elevator speeds increased, these anxieties often intensified (Scientific American and other magazine reports from the 1890s describe dizziness, nausea, and sensations of organs “rising up” when elevators stopped).  Builders and developers, along with those in the elevator industry, recognized that improving passenger experience required more than mechanical reliability.  

It also required emotional comfort. 

Enter Background Music: The Clever Solution

Introducing music into elevators, among other public settings, was not simply about entertainment. It was an early example of human-centered elevator design. It other words, it was a way to use environmental cues to shape perception in everyday life. 

Music Masks Mechanical Noise 

As anyone with headphones today will tell you, one of music’s most practical benefits is sound masking. In the case of elevators, background music softens or hides operational sounds such as the motor whine, guide rail vibration, or door mechanisms. When passengers hear melody instead of machinery, they subconsciously perceive the ride as smoother and more refined. 

Music Alters One’s Perception of Time 

A mix of psychological studies over the years have shown that music can compress the perceived passage of time. A 30-second ride accompanied by pleasant music can seem much shorter than 30 seconds in silence. For elevators, where wait times and ride times are key performance indicators, this matters. 

Music Reduces Stress and Anxiety  

Moreover, other studies have suggested that certain tempos and tonal structures are associated with lower heart rate and reduced cortisol levels. Soft, slow-tempo music can: 

  • Decrease tension 
  • Promote relaxation 
  • Create a sense of predictability 

For an enclosed environment like an elevator cab, this is especially valuable. 

Music Establishes Emotional Neutrality 

Elevators place strangers in close quarters. Music provides a shared auditory backdrop that reduces social awkwardness. Silence invites self-consciousness; music offers psychological cover. 

Together, these effects made music a simple, cost-effective way to transform elevators from purely mechanical devices into controlled sensory environments. 

Elevator Music, Major General George Owen Squier, and the Birth of Muzak

Music first began appearing in elevators in the late 1920s. That first push came from building owners and building managers of luxury hotels, retail stores and office buildings, not elevator manufacturers themselves. At the time, the elevator industry itself was highly focused on technicians, safety, and speed for obvious reasons. These same owners were already starting to pipe similar music into lobbies, dining rooms, and lounges, so extending background music into elevators was a logical next step, especially given the challenges facing elevator passengers in many instances. 

At the time, it was not yet a distinct genre called elevator music, which came later. Those early elevator tunes drew from existing styles of the day that were already popular in upscale public spaces. Historical references say these first tunes leaned on light classical repertoire and salon-style pieces including: 

  • Short orchestral works 
  • Simplified arrangements of well-known classical melodies 
  • Lush string and piano instrumentation 

But the person most responsible for institutionalizing background music (and giving it the name we would all assign to the entire genre of ambient music later) was Major General George Owen Squier, a U.S. Army officer, inventor, and communications pioneer.  

In 1922, when radio was still a relatively new broadcasting medium and not without its challenges, Squier developed a method for transmitting music over electrical lines, a concept he called “wired radio.” His goal was to deliver centrally controlled music to multiple locations without relying on traditional radio broadcasts. Squier coined what he believed was a modern-sounding name, Muzak, by blending “music” with “Kodak,” a consumer brand he admired for its simplicity and memorability. 

Squier and his Muzak creation did not invent the idea of elevator music. Rather, he professionalized and commercialized it. 

Early Applications: Restaurants, Hotels, Factories, and Eventually Elevators 

Muzak initially targeted hotels, restaurants, factories, and offices for his piped in music. The technology allowed building owners to play relaxing, consistent background music into spaces such as lobbies, waiting areas, and hallways. But it was elevators that quickly became a natural fit to calm the nerves and distract those riding up and down a building’s vertical corridors in a small box.  

Music Beyond Elevators: Shaping Modern Environment

Elevator music did not exist in isolation. It became part of broader movement toward ambient sound design in shared spaces in our personal and professional lives. Consider the following: 

Offices 

Background music has been used to: 

  • Improve focus 
  • Mask conversational noise 
  • Create brand identity 

Today, many offices use curated playlists or soundscapes instead of generic background tracks.  

Retail Environments 

Retailers carefully select music to engage their target demographics and influence the buyer experience, such as: 

  • Shopping pace 
  • Time spent in-store 
  • Brand perception 

Slow-tempo music encourages browsing. Upbeat music promotes faster movement. And of course there are examples like Starbucks, known for their coffee-house soundtracks. They boldly state, “Music has played an essential role in the Starbucks experience for over 40 years. We handpick the artists and songs that are played around the world.”  

On-Hold Phone Systems 

Lastly, “Hold music” serves the same purpose as elevator music:. 

  • Reduces perceived wait time 
  • Lowers caller frustration 
  • Prevents dead silence 

Efficiency at Scale 

The Empire State Building incorporated multiple elevator banks, each one serving a defined vertical zone above. Some elevators ran express to sky lobbies, where passengers transferred to local elevators serving upper floors. This, in fact, was a strategy that foretold modern super-tall design (it was actually a key design element of the World Trade Center twin, 110-story towers in New York prior to 2001). 

Even today, the Empire State Building’s elevator logic is still recognizable to elevator mechanics and industry professionals. The technology has evolved, but the underlying principles remain remarkably consistent. 

What the Future of Elevator Music May Look Like

As buildings become smarter and more personalized, elevator music and other ambient sounds are likely to follow similar trends. And yet, the fundamental psychological benefits and daily utility of background music are more grounded and timeless. As such, the more things change moving forward, the more things may stay the same. Namely that elevator music will continue to: 

  • Act as a mental and emotional tool for comfort 
  • Mask of mechanical noise and sounds 

  • Define commercial and hospitality branded environments 

More Than Background Noise

From the noisy, anxiety-inducing elevator rides of the 19th century, to today’s carefully curated elevator cab environments, music has played a quiet but important role in shaping how people experience vertical transportation. 

These days the perceptions around elevator music are more of a cultural punchline, than a critical enhancement for elevator design. And yet, the origin of elevator music stems from key areas that remain critical today, such as human-centered design and behavioral science.  

For professionals in the elevator manufacturing, elevator modernization, and elevator service sectors, this history underscores a larger truth: elevators are not just machines. They are experiences. And sometimes, the smallest design choice, such as the addition of music, can make the biggest difference. A calm in a stormy world outside. Just ask Jake and Elwood.

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[1] When The Blues Brothers film was released in 1980, it held the record at the time for the most vehicles destroyed: 104.  

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The Department Store That Changed City Skylines: The Short, Strange Life of the First Commercial Passenger Elevator in 1857 New York

Haugwout building_IUEC_ElevatorInfo_Elevator News Resource

It might be heresy to some, but Orville and Wilbur Wright did not invent flying in 1903. For centuries others had dabbled with lighter-than-air balloons, and later airplane prototypes were built and tested by an intrepid lot (there’s also the matter of those things called birds). Rather, what the bicycle-maker brothers from Dayton, Ohio invented was a way to control powered flight allowing their planes—and virtually all that followed in the remarkable aviation industry they launched—to take off, change direction, altitude, and then land safely again. Their breakthrough invention in three-axis control not only changed flight, but the entire world around us. 

A similar scenario played out exactly 50 years earlier when a young industrious craftsman and entrepreneur named Elisha Graves Otis tinkered with controlling elevators, finally making them safe for human passengers. Like the Wright Brothers, Otis did not invent the product category: cargo and industrial elevators were prevalent by the 1850s. Even writings from ancient times claim that Greek mathematician Archimedes designed an early elevator in 236 BCE using ropes wound around a drum turned by men. But what Otis created would change city skylines by allowing people to safely and conveniently access vertical spaces for the first time. 

The Problem Before the Elevator: Height Without Safety 

Before the mid-19th century, hoists and crude elevators were used in factories, warehouses, and mines to move goods. Some even transported people, but they were widely regarded as dangerous. The greatest risk was the rope: if it snapped, the platform plunged. This danger made passenger elevators impractical for commercial use, especially in public buildings where liability and reputation mattered. 

As a result, building design and merchandising of products reflected human limitations. Upper floors were less desirable, often reserved for storage, servants, or the poor. Retailers placed their most valuable goods on the ground floor, knowing customers were reluctant to climb. Cities expanded outward rather than upward, constrained not by engineering ambition but by fear. 

This was the environment into which Otis, a master mechanic from Halifax, Vermont, who was already producing a mix of labor-saving devices, developed and introduced a deceptively simple idea: a safety brake that would stop an elevator car if its hoisting rope failed.  

Elisha Otis and the Safety Breakthrough 

As noted, Otis was not the first to think about vertical transport, but he was the first to solve its most critical problem in a way that captured public confidence. His elevator safety brake used spring-loaded pawls that engaged with guide rails when tension on the hoisting rope was lost, instantly halting the car from falling. 

The brilliance of Otis’s innovation lay not only in its mechanics, but in how he proved it worked. At the 1853 World’s Fair in New York (also called the Industry of All Nations), Otis staged one of the most famous demonstrations in industrial history. Standing atop a hoisted platform high above the crowd, Otis boldly ordered the rope cut. The platform dropped only a few inches before the safety brake engaged. 

The demonstration was brilliantly theatrical, and intentionally so. None other than showman P.T. Barnum, the master of selling spectacle at the time, helped promote the event that aimed to transform fear into fascination. After the rope was cut, Otis would declare to the gathered crowd, “All safe, gentlemen. All safe” which echoed far beyond the exhibition hall. For the first time, the public could imagine elevators not as death traps, but as reliable machines to move people in vertical spaces. 

In the wake of this fair and his demonstrations, Otis’s elevator company, regarded as the first ever, would sell eight elevators in 1854 and 15 the following year. But really it was an installation in New York City that would go on to change the world. 

 The Haughwout Store: A Commercial Gamble 

On March 23, 1857, shoppers entering the elegant E.V. Haughwout & Co. department store at the corner of Broadway and Broome Street encountered something entirely new: a steam-powered passenger elevator serving the five-floor building. Haughwout was a luxury retailer catering to New York’s elite, including figures such as Mary Todd Lincoln. The store itself was architecturally ambitious, featuring one of the city’s first cast-iron façades, a symbol of modernity and innovation. The new elevator promised to carry customers effortlessly to the store’s upper floors—safely, smoothly, and without the challenges and exertion of climbing flights of stairs (particularly for women in fancy, bulky clothing).  

The elevator fit perfectly with this image Haughwout wanted to project. Powered by steam and operated by an attendant, it could lift customers to the upper floors, where fine china, glassware, and luxury goods awaited. For the first time, height became an asset rather than a liability in retail design. 

From a commercial perspective, the installation was bold. The elevator was expensive, unproven in daily public use, and required specialized operation and maintenance. Yet its presence distinguished Haughwout’s store from competitors and reinforced its reputation as a destination for cutting-edge luxury.  

A Short Life, But a Long Shadow 

And yet, despite its promise, the Haughwout elevator did not remain in operation for long—likely only until around 1860. Several factors contributed to its short lifespan. Steam-powered elevators were noisy, mechanically complex, and costly to operate. Maintenance demands were high, and the surrounding technology ecosystem, such as standardized components, trained elevator technicians, and regulatory guidance, had yet to develop. 

Equally important, the market itself was still adapting. Customers were intrigued, but elevators had not yet become an expectation. Stairs remained acceptable and the norm, and the economic advantage of vertical retail had not fully materialized. 

From a modern standpoint, it is tempting to see this as a failure. It was a prototype in the truest sense: an early commercial test that proved feasibility, revealed limitations, and set the stage for rapid improvement. 

From Curiosity to Necessity 

In the decades that followed, elevator technology evolved quickly. Hydraulic systems replaced steam for many applications, offering smoother and quieter operation. Electric elevators, introduced toward the end of the 19th century, dramatically improved speed, reliability, and efficiency. 

At the same time, urban pressures intensified. Growing populations, limited land, and rising property values made vertical construction economically attractive. The safe, dependable elevator, a direct legacy of Otis’ invention, became essential infrastructure. Buildings with operating elevators could now grow upward without sacrificing usability or prestige. 

The implications for architecture were profound. Skyscrapers, once an abstract concept, became viable. Entire industries—from structural steel to curtain walls—developed in response. None of this would have been possible without the trust established by Otis’s early safety innovations. 

The Modern Elevator: A Direct Descendant 

Today’s elevators bear little mechanical resemblance to the steam-powered car at Haughwout’s store, yet the core principles remain the same. Safety systems are still the foundation of design, now layered with redundancies, sensors, software, and rigorous codes. 

Modern elevators are faster, quieter, and more efficient than Otis could have imagined. The elevators, and the mechanics who support them, manage complex traffic patterns in supertall buildings, integrate with fire and security systems, and increasingly use data analytics to optimize performance and maintenance. 

Yet every modern passenger elevator carries forward the same promise made in 1857: safe, reliable vertical transportation for the public. That promise began not with perfection, but with a willingness to test, demonstrate, and improve. 

Why This History Matters to the Industry 

For today’s elevator professionals, the story of the Haughwout elevator offers several enduring lessons. First, innovation often enters the market imperfectly. Early systems may be short-lived, but their influence can be permanent. Second, public trust is as critical as technical performance. Otis succeeded not only because his brake worked, but because he convinced people it worked. 

Finally, the elevator industry has always been intertwined with broader economic and social forces. Retail ambition, urban density, architectural vision, and engineering ingenuity converged in 1857—and continue to do so today. 

Like the pioneering airplane from the Wright Brothers, the first commercial passenger elevator from Elisha Otis may have lasted only a few years, but it permanently altered how we build, shop, work, and live. In that sense, the brief rise and fall of the Haughwout elevator marks not an ending, but the true beginning of the vertical age. 

 

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Why Experienced Elevator Mechanics Choose the IUEC

local 50 iuec joining members

Experienced vertical transportation professionals want the industry’s best training, safest jobsites, and benefits they can rely on. The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) delivers this combination through North America’s most respected education programs, a commitment to jobsite safety, and an extensive network of signatory employers that value craftsmanship and skill.

Education

Apprenticeship Foundation

IUEC elevator constructor apprentices in the United States complete a four-plus year U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). In Canada, IUEC elevator constructors complete their apprenticeship through the Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program (CEIEP).

The model blends classroom instruction with supervised field experience. For elevator technicians who begin their careers working in the non-union sector, part of the value of moving to the IUEC is moving from learning the hard way to enrolling in a structured educational program that is organized, current, safety-focused, and built around long-term careers.

Chris Ramirez, President of IUEC Local 18 in Los Angeles, started his career in the elevator trade working for a non-union company. “Family brought me in as a youngster,” he said. “I didn’t know how to read a tape measure. I came in, started from the ground [up], so I learned the hard way.”

Apprentice elevator technicians who join the IUEC don’t have to figure everything out on their own – they are able to enroll in NEIEP courses that give them a solid theoretical foundation combined with hands-on classroom labs and high-tech virtual training they can use to practice new skills in a safe, controlled environment under the supervision of experienced instructors.

Advanced Training for Experienced Professionals

For experienced elevator constructors, NEIEP and CEIEP’s continuing education (CE) courses provide an opportunity to build on their skill set.

Ken Michalik, Local 18 Business Representative, outlines his first impressions of non-union elevator technicians who make the switch. “I think the biggest thing they notice right away is the education,” he says. “That’s a little bit of a learning experience, but I think that’s the part they appreciate the most.”

Randy Thurston is the President of Thurston Elevator Concepts, an IUEC-affiliated elevator company based in Azusa, CA, that installs, repairs and maintains passenger, freight and custom residential elevators.

He explains, “(NEIEP has) a training facility that’s state of the art. They learn not only on the job, but they also learn in a very high-tech training facility, and I think that gives an edge as a signatory company that you wouldn’t really get in a non-signatory company.”

As one Local 18 member puts it, “Our school’s top notch, you can’t touch us.”

Through the apprenticeship and continuing education curriculum, mechanics and apprentices share the same vocabulary for installation, maintenance, and repair of vertical transportation systems. That shared baseline accelerates troubleshooting, and tightens handoffs between construction, modernization, and service.

Courses That Align with Field Realities

The IUEC structure makes continuing education accessible and targeted. Members can enroll in courses that cover topics including microprocessor logic, hydraulic theory, traction systems, escalators, door operators, meters and measurement, and in the U.S., they can earn a nationally-recognized ANSI/ANAB certified rigging and signaling credential.

Continuing education courses are scheduled for working mechanics and tied to high-level skills that employers recognize. This is focused development that converts into results on jobsites.

Advancing a Culture of Safety Across North America

Safety is the foundation of quality. Crews plan work, review hazards, verify isolation, and halt when conditions change. Communication is constant. Ken Michalik captures this perfectly when speaking to Local 18 members, “You take care of each other, you communicate with each other. You’re a good crew working together, worrying about not only your safety, but the safety of the riding public.”

This culture of safety is reinforced consistently. Chris Ramirez describes the daily goal simply: connect with people, make sure they are learning, make sure they are safe, make sure they get home. “That’s the most important thing to all of us.”

Training on Industry Code Regulations

As part of the NEIEP and CEIEP training, IUEC elevator constructors learn about the regulatory framework that governs elevator construction, modernization, repair, and maintenance. This includes electrical safety, fall protection, rigging and signaling, scaffolds and lifts, confined spaces, and machine room housekeeping. Compliance is taught, practiced, and expected.

Best Practices

Benefits

Pension

In the U.S., IUEC elevator mechanics participate in a defined benefit pension. Service credit adds up over time and yields guaranteed retirement income. This formula gives professionals a clear path to retirement and rewards the years already invested in the trade.

In Canada, the Canadian Elevator Industry Pension Plan (CEIPP) is one of the finest multiemployer pension plans in North America. Retirees enjoy a lifetime guaranteed pension as early as the age of 55.

Health Care

Members consistently point to medical benefits as a top reason for joining. Randy Thurston frames it through the lens of a parent: “The medical benefits are incredible. As a father with four kids and a family, that is one of the biggest takeaways that I’ve gotten out of what the IUEC has to offer.” Comprehensive coverage supports routine care and the unexpected, replacing uncertainty with predictability.

Annuity and 401(k)

In the U.S., benefits include an annuity and a 401(k) alongside the pension. Ken Michalik summarizes the structure and the outcome: “We have everything we need from the IUEC. We have our benefits. They’re saving money for us through our annuity. Really all we have to concentrate on is our job.”

Working Conditions

IUEC elevator mechanics work in the best conditions possible, largely thanks to the collectively-bargained agreements that shape compensation practices, overtime rules, and more. One Local 18 member contrasts this with non-union ceilings: “Non-union you top out at a certain percent. You don’t get your annual raises.” This member’s conclusion is clear: “Everything’s way, way better.”

Safety as a Benefit

Jobsite safety is built into training and reinforced by colleagues, mentors, and leadership. Fewer injuries protect health and earning power, and better planning reduces stress and turnover. This makes it possible for working crews to stay intact, which further improves outcomes for owners, riders, and the workers themselves.

Camaraderie

True Brothers and Sisters

IUEC crews share information, emphasize communication, and succeed together through teamwork. Ken Michalik notes what he admires most about the MTA crew at Local 18 – “It’s about the team.” That mindset is common across IUEC jobsites and is one reason elevator company owners continue to choose to be IUEC-affiliated companies.

Mentorship

Chris Ramirez explains his approach to mentorship and how camaraderie can come in many different forms and from many different directions, “I love being able to mentor a lot of the [new members] that are coming in. I really strive to reach out to them and connect with them and just make sure that they’re learning and make sure that they’re being safe at work every day and they get home to their families.”

Ken Michalik emphasizes the long-term guidance that the IUEC offers. “We always got to be planning ahead for our next generation. That’s what interests me most, having an influence on the young generation and carrying this great union forward.”

Join the IUEC

Joining the IUEC upgrades your career through targeted education, enforceable safety practices, and robust benefits. You gain a wider employer network, portable credentials, and working conditions that respect your time and skill. As Randy Thurston advises, “Learn the business. Learn the trade… If you have the opportunity to get involved with the IUEC… the benefits are second to none.”

Compare your current path to this structure, review the training catalog, confirm the certifications, and talk to members who made the move.

To learn more about the advantages of becoming an IUEC elevator constructor checkout this YouTube video or visit https://www.elevatorinfo.org/elevator-technicians/

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The IUEC Global Safety Summit 2026: Advancing Safety Standards in the Elevator Industry

SAFETY STAND DOWN IUEC

On April 28–29, 2026, the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) will host its first Global Safety Summit in Las Vegas, bringing together elevator constructors, safety professionals, regulators, and industry leaders from around the world.

The event is designed to address one of the most critical priorities in the vertical transportation industry: improving jobsite safety and strengthening safety cultures across regions, trades, and regulatory environments.

As elevator safety standards continue to evolve globally, the IUEC Global Safety Summit aims to create a shared space for education, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices focused on protecting workers and reducing jobsite risk.

A Global Forum for Elevator Safety Leadership

The IUEC Global Safety Summit reflects the growing need for international collaboration around elevator and escalator safety. Over two days, attendees will participate in keynote presentations and CEU-approved educational sessions focused on real-world safety challenges and proven solutions.

Programming will explore international safety standards and regulatory approaches, including hoistway protection requirements, hoarding standards, and examples of how union–employer partnerships have contributed to improved safety outcomes and reduced fatalities in multiple countries.

Who is the Summit Designed For

The summit is open to a broad range of professionals involved in elevator safety and operations, including:

  • Elevator mechanics and technicians
  • Apprentices and inspectors
  • Employers, contractors, and safety managers
  • Global safety experts and industry regulators

An exhibitor hall will also be featured, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage with safety-focused tools, equipment, and innovations relevant to today’s elevator jobsites.

Opportunities for Industry Participation

In addition to educational programming, the Global Safety Summit will include opportunities for organizations that support safety advancement to participate as exhibitors or sponsors. Speakers will also contribute to the broader industry dialogue by sharing expertise and perspectives on improving safety performance worldwide.

Event Details

IUEC Global Safety Summit 2026
Las Vegas
April 28–29, 2026

For questions, contact: gl****************@**ec.org

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Elevator Inspections: Ensuring Safety, Compliance, and Longevity

Elevator inspections

Elevators play a critical role in keeping buildings safe, functional, and accessible. To ensure they continue to operate safely and efficiently, inspections and code testing must be conducted regularly by qualified personnel.

The purpose of elevator inspections and testing is to extend the life, functionality, and compliance of the equipment, and most importantly, to protect both the workers who maintain it and the riding public. Routine testing also verifies that systems perform in accordance with the ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, ensuring that equipment remains operationally sound throughout its service life.

All testing and maintenance are conducted under a Maintenance Control Program (MCP), in compliance with the applicable code edition enforced by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). These inspections ensure that elevators meet all safety and performance standards established at the time of installation or alteration, as required by ASME A17.1.

Regular Code Compliance Testing

Code compliance testing verifies that an elevator continues to meet safety and performance standards after installation. These tests check critical systems and confirm that the elevator functions safely under normal and emergency conditions.

ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators outlines the required periodic testing schedules, which include the Category 1 Annual Test for both electric and hydraulic elevators. ASME A17.2 Guide for Inspection of Elevators, Escalators, and Moving Walks describes the proper procedures to perform the tests on the applicable components.

It is important to note that these codes are updated periodically, and you can also read about the differences between the two latest versions of ASME A17.1 here.

Actions described in the following sections are taken from the A17.2-2020 guide for inspection of elevators, escalators, and moving walks.

Category One Testing of Electric Elevators (Every 12 Months)

Category 1 testing is required every 12 months; below are the periodic tests of electric elevators (ASME A17.1 Safety Codes for Elevators and Escalators, Section 8.11.2 Periodic Inspections and Witnessing of Tests). 8.11.2.1 stipulates that applicable components shall be inspected in these areas: Inside the Car, Machine Rooms, Machinery Spaces and Control Rooms/Spaces, Top of Car, Outside Hoistway, Pit, Firefighters Emergency, and the Braking System.

Periodic tests include, but are not limited to:

  • Car lighting and receptacles / car emergency signals
  • Driving machine brakes
  • Door closing speeds
  • Detection means of objects in the door path: mechanical reopening device, electronic reopening, and photoelectric reopening
  • Standby power operation
  • Spring-return buffers
  • Gas spring-return buffers
  • Governor test, overspeed switch, and seal testing
  • Car and counterweight safeties
  • Slack-rope devices on winding drum machines
  • Test of normal terminal stopping device
  • Final and emergency terminal stopping device
  • Test of firefighters’ emergency operation
  • Test of broken rope, tape, or chain switch
  • Test of static controls
  • Test of emergency brake, ascending car overspeed protection, and unintended car movement
  • Test of AC drives from a DC source
  • Test of emergency communications
  • Means to restrict hoistway or car door opening
  • Test of gears, bearings, and flexible couplings
  • Earthquake operation

Category One Testing of Hydraulic Elevators (Every 12 Months)

Category 1 testing is required every 12 months; below are the periodic tests of hydraulic elevators (ASME A17.1 Safety Codes for Elevators and Escalators, Section 8.11.2 Periodic Inspections and Witnessing of Tests).  8.11.2.1 stipulates that applicable components shall be inspected in these areas: Inside the Car, Machine Rooms, Machinery Spaces and Control Rooms/Spaces, Top of Car, Outside Hoistway, Pit, Firefighters Emergency, and the Braking System.

Periodic testing includes but is not limited to:

  • Test of hydraulic cylinders
  • Test of standby power
  • Test of emergency terminal speed limiting device and emergency terminal stopping device
  • Test of flexible hydraulic hose and fitting assemblies
  • Test of pressure switch
  • Test of governor, overspeed switch, and seal
  • Test of safeties
  • Test of door closing force
  • Test of power operation of door system
  • Test means to restrict hoistway or car door opening
  • Test of emergency communications
  • Test of oil buffers
  • Test of firefighters’ emergency operation
  • Test of power operation of door systems
  • Test of low oil protection
  • Test of slack-rope device
  • Test of earthquake operation

These tests, performed under the MCP, ensure that all safety devices continue to function as designed, maintaining compliance with the most recently adopted edition of ASME A17.1.

Long-Term Safety Testing

In addition to annual testing, more comprehensive inspections occur on a multi-year schedule to verify the full operational integrity of elevator systems.

Category Five Testing of Electric Elevators (Every 5 Years)

Code requires Category 5 testing be performed by qualified elevator personnel and witnessed by a Qualified Elevator Inspector every five years. These tests are more intensive and include all of the component testing for Category 1 tests plus:

  • Full Load testing with weights
  • Car and Counterweight Safeties
  • Governors
  • Oil Buffers
  • Driving Machine Brake(s)
  • Emergency Terminal Stopping and Speed Limiting Devices
  • Power Opening of Doors
  • Leveling Zone and Leveling Speed
  • Inner Landing Zone
  • Braking System, Traction, and Traction Limits
  • Emergency Brake
  • Drive Sheaves with Nonmetallic Groove Surfaces and Steel Wire Ropes (if applicable)

Category Three Testing of Hydraulic Elevators (Every 3 Years)

Conducted every three years, these tests evaluate:

  • Unexposed portions of pistons
  • Pressure vessels
  • Roped or water hydraulic systems

Category Five Testing of Hydraulic Elevators (Every 5 Years)

Performed every five years, these include all of the components of the Category One tests plus:

  • Full load and static tests with weights
  • Governor tests
  • Safety tests for roped hydraulic systems
  • Coated rope flux testing
  • Wire rope fastening tests
  • Plunger gripper testing
  • Overspeed valve testing
  • Class 2 load tests
  • Test of power-opening of doors and gates

These comprehensive evaluations confirm that all safety components continue to perform under rated load and emergency conditions, ensuring the elevator’s ongoing compliance and reliability.

Who Performs Elevator Inspections

All testing should be performed by qualified elevator personnel and witnessed by Qualified Elevator Inspectors. Check with the AHJ in your area regarding their requirements.

Inspectors are also governed by the QEI-1 (Qualified Elevator Inspector) Standard, which outlines job duties, reporting requirements, and competency expectations under ASME A17.1.

Equipment Age

Code dictates that all tests have to be done in compliance with the code requirements at the time of installation or alteration. That is to say, the time that the equipment was installed determines what edition of the code must be applied during the inspection.

For example, if an elevator was installed in 1984, it would be required to comply with the version of the ASME A17.1 standard adopted by that local AHJ in 1984. If that elevator has never been altered or modernized since its installation in 1984, it only needs to meet the requirements established by its local AHJ in 1984, and would be tested according to those guidelines.

This is not the case for elevators that have been altered modernized since their installation – these elevators must be tested under the code adopted by the AHJ at the time of the alteration (modernization).

Door restrictors are one such example of something not required in older versions of the code but that are addressed in later editions. Ultimately, compliance depends on how the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has implemented and enforced the standards within its regulatory framework. This can vary across the country, but safety features such as door restrictors are generally recognized as life-saving devices for the riding public.

Final Thoughts

Elevator inspections are more than a regulatory requirement – they are the foundation of safe, reliable transportation within every building. By following the Maintenance Control Program (MCP) and adhering to all relevant ASME A17.1 and A17.2 standards, building owners can help ensure that their systems remain in full compliance, reduce costly downtime, and extend equipment life.

When performed by IUEC-trained and licensed elevator mechanics, inspections are completed with precision, care, and a deep understanding of code compliance. Routine inspections safeguard lives, preserve investment, and keep the riding public moving with confidence.

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Rising on Union Craft: Honoring American Veterans at the National Medal of Honor Museum

The Medal of Honor is not simply earned – it is bestowed upon those whose courage transcends the instinct for self-preservation. It represents the truest measure of valor, and those who wear it do so on behalf of every American who has ever answered the call to serve. They are not winners – they are recipients, and their sacrifice is sacred.

On National Medal of Honor Day, the new Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, officially opened to the public. The entire opening weekend was designed to do two things simultaneously: honor the recipients, and ensure that Americans can learn what service and sacrifice are about.  The result was a museum launch that combined ceremony, spectacle, and exceptional craftsmanship – most notably in the two unique glass elevators that anchor the building’s core.

Architecturally, the museum’s main exhibition area appears to float above the ground, supported by five columns representing the five branches of the U.S. military. This design creates sightlines surrounding a space in the center, which houses a pair of glass elevators that are visible from almost every angle. In a building meant to elevate stories, this unique elevator system is an exhibit in movement and meaning, transporting visitors into the galleries.

“When you think about a building and what goes into it, especially one like this, you know it’s going to be spectacular, you know it’s going to be extraordinary, and for those people to trust our IUEC members to put the elevators in here is just phenomenal,” said International Union of Elevator Constructors Veterans Assistance Program (IUEC VAP) National Chairman Jason Gray.

The elevator was engineered, designed, and built by IUEC signatory company TK Elevator (TKE). Mechanic in Charge Mike Holcomb and his apprentice, Alex Trasante, who installed the custom-designed elevator system, called it the most unique project of their careers. The exhibition level hangs about 40 feet above ground, offering a 360-degree view, which meant everything had to be perfect the first time: structure, tolerances, ride quality, aesthetics, building code compliance, and safety.

TK Elevator’s field installation and service workforce are members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 21 in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The IUEC’s national agreements with signatory elevator companies like TK Elevator guarantee a trained, safety-first team that can handle complex projects like this, on strict deadlines that leave no room for error. If museum guests felt a smooth boarding on opening weekend, it’s because an IUEC crew put in the hours, followed the book, and nailed the hand-off. That’s not hype; that’s how the work gets done.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, 32 Medal of Honor recipients, along with civic, military, and cultural leaders, stood shoulder to shoulder. Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush were present. Texas Governor Greg Abbott attended, along with U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie helped host the celebration, Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA,” actor Gary Sinise paid tribute as a long-time Veterans’ advocate, and Dallas Cowboys stars, including Dak Prescott, joined in. Leadership from the IUEC VAP, representatives from IUEC Locals 21 (Dallas-Fort Worth) and 31 (Houston), and the ElevatorInfo media team also attended the event.

The weekend’s program strongly reflected the museum’s mission: celebrating courage, teaching values, and connecting them to the next generation. The city of Arlington promoted the public festivities as the “Mission to Inspire” celebration – a mix of concerts, drone shows, and community gatherings that spotlighted the recipients and reminded everyone who the building is for. If this place is going to earn repeat visits from locals and become part of travel itineraries, it will be because the experience is immersive without feeling slick, and respectful without being stiff. The opening achieved that balance.

For the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), the museum’s most visible mechanical system also served as a storytelling bridge. EIWPF’s media team was one of the few invited inside to film the grand opening from the museum floor. That access was valuable for another reason: it enabled an interview with Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Lee Davis, “the real-life Forrest Gump,” inside the space built to honor him and his peers. Davis’s presence reinforced the Museum’s core idea: these stories aren’t abstract; they’re carried by real Americans who stepped up, did the impossible, and kept moving forward.

In most museums, vertical transportation is just a functional element, a box hidden behind walls to move visitors from point A to point B. Here, the car’s glass walls and central position intentionally encourage visitors to shift perspective as they ascend. Everyone – families, Veterans, students, recipients – shares the same carriage, looking into the same space. Architects and builders treated vertical transportation here as an experience, and TK Elevator and the elevator constructor mechanics and apprentices of the IUEC Local 21 crew made that vision real.

Consider the challenges in an installation like this: a floating exhibition block, transparent shaft lines, acoustic and vibration controls to protect artifacts and audio-visuals, and a ride that must be smooth with no margin for error. You need precise placement, disciplined coordination of the hoistway, and a team capable of translating one-of-a-kind shop drawings into a ride that looks and feels perfect. “Union-built” on this project meant trained professionals with enough experience and standards to deliver under pressure.

Standing at the opening of the Medal of Honor Museum, you realize that courage and craft are not separate stories. Veterans who join the elevator trade carry both with them – service to country and service to community. The elevators built in this museum are more than machinery; they are a daily reminder that Veterans continue to lift this nation in ways both symbolic and concrete.

This wasn’t just another ribbon-cutting for union leaders – it was a moment for Veteran elevator constructors and their families to take part in ceremonies that honored their community. It proved that the skilled trades are not on the sidelines of American civic life – they build the spaces where history is remembered and lessons are taught.

For EIWPF’s media team, filming the opening weekend was both a privilege and a duty. Capturing the elevators and the galleries surrounding them on video revealed a spatial design that photos can’t. Viewers see the five supporting pillars outside, the hovering mass, and then ride with a Medal of Honor recipient’s family or a JROTC group to the story floor. Paired with the interview with Sammy Lee Davis, that footage encapsulates a core message of courage, craft, and continuity.

If there’s a takeaway, it’s this: the National Medal of Honor Museum doesn’t just talk about lifting up American heroes; it shows you what it looks like through a transparent elevator built by union hands, designed to be seen, not hidden.

Credit where it’s due: Arlington staged a celebration that blended pageantry with purpose; the museum’s leadership, donors, and partners provided the institutional strength; and the recipients gave the soul. But it was the builders – TK Elevator and the IUEC mechanics and apprentices they rely on to do top-quality work – who made it all possible.

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Safe, Reliable, Efficient: The IUEC Approach to Moving Walkways

Moving walkways banner

An essential system of daily transportation, the moving walkway escorts millions of passengers to their destinations every year. As a functional, efficient and expedient way for individuals to manage the often overwhelming landscapes of major airports – as well as other pedestrian-congested hubs throughout the world – these efficient people movers provide their users with the reliable and safe passage they demand and deserve.

But what is involved in keeping these critical systems running safely and efficiently? And how best to ensure moving walks are maintained with the highest standards?

What Are Moving Walkways?

Moving walkways are passenger-carrying devices on which individuals stand or walk: the surface of which remains parallel to its direction of motion in an uninterrupted manner. These systems are specifically designed for horizontal transportation over short to medium distances, making them ideal for airports, transit terminals, or other high-traffic facilities.

Moving walkways have a rather lengthy history, first debuting most notably, at special demonstration exhibitions of the Chicago and Paris Expositions in 1893 and 1900. A testament to their longevity and enduring value, fast forward well over a century, and today, they are commonly found in supermarkets and shopping malls, airports and train stations all over the world.

Developed originally as a way to simply reduce heavy foot traffic, moving walkways have expanded their reach into additional areas of benefit:

Increased Mobility Access: According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 27 million people with disabilities traveled by air in 2019.¹ With these increasing and important accessibility considerations, moving walkways provide much needed assistance for individuals with mobility barriers, including: those with disabilities, the elderly, travelers with heavy luggage, or anyone who may have difficulty walking long distances. Ultimately, these systems allow for more inclusive and user-friendly access for all passengers.

Improved Passenger Experience: Moving walkways facilitate orderly travel. Pedestrians are afforded the chance to move with consistency and ease without the inherent challenges of navigating a completely open landscape: i.e., travelers walking at different speeds, or in congested areas. The result is a smoother, more predictable flow through busy terminals.

Technical Specifications: Moving Walks Built for Performance

Modern moving walkways are designed to take into account the unique environment and needs of their particular use. Below are two leading IUEC manufacturers, Otis and Schindler, and the associated specifications as a point of reference for their respective systems:

Otis Elevator Company²

  • Maximum length: 262 feet
  • Inclination: 0 to 3 degrees (10 and 12 degrees available on special request)
  • Pallet widths (where people stand): 32 inches and 40 inches
  • Speed: 100 feet per minute (higher speeds available on special request)

Schindler Elevator Company³

  • Maximum length: 328 feet
  • Angle of inclination: 0 to 3 degrees
  • Balustrade height: 36 inches to 39 ⅜ inches
  • Width(s): 40 inches, 48 inches, and 56 inches

Kone and Mitsubishi are also suppliers of moving walkways with their own specifications. The bottom line: these systems are engineered to meet the facility requirements and passenger capacity needs.

The Importance of Professional Maintenance

It will come as no surprise that moving walkways require specialized maintenance. The safety and reliability of these transportation devices depends on the expertise of the professionals who maintain them – it’s that very expertise that ultimately influences and impacts both system performance as well as passenger safety.

IUEC Training on Moving Walkway Systems

The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) provides specialized training to IUEC elevator constructors through course 830. This specific course, which is part of the required curriculum for all IUEC apprentices, covers moving walkway systems in detail. It is also available to IUEC mechanics.

IUEC members are trained by NEIEP to install, maintain, and repair these complex systems. This specialized education covers:

  • System-specific maintenance protocols for different moving walkway technologies
  • Advanced safety procedures specific to horizontal transportation systems
  • Regulatory compliance requirements and inspection protocols
  • Emergency response procedures for passenger safety situations

Maintenance Control Program (MCP) Compliance

Moving walkway maintenance should always be performed in accordance with a Maintenance Control Program (MCP), following ASME code requirements in your jurisdiction, and as enforced by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). These latter regulatory requirements ensure passenger safety and system reliability.

IUEC elevator constructors understand these complex regulatory requirements – they maintain the compliance standards necessary to keep your systems operating reliably and safely.

The IUEC Elevator Constructor Advantage

While there are numerous advantages to having moving walkway systems maintained by IUEC elevator constructors, let’s take a look at four specifically:

Comprehensive Training

As previously noted, specialization is critical when engaging with these passenger-carrying devices. To that end, IUEC elevator constructors’ extensive training through NEIEP’s Course 830 ensures they have a mastery of the following:

  • Specific moving walkway technologies and components
  • Maintenance requirements
  • Advanced troubleshooting techniques
  • Regulatory compliance processes

Uncompromising Safety Standards

Safety isn’t negotiable. And with the countless number of passengers using these systems daily, it must be at the forefront of concern and consideration. For IUEC elevator constructors, safety protocols – developed and maintained through decades of industry experience – are the very backbone of how they operate. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Rigorous safety inspection procedures
  • Hazard identification and mitigation
  • Emergency response protocols
  • Conformance to all applicable safety codes and regulations

Continuing Education

The ever-changing landscape of technology demands an equally up-to-date workforce. As new technologies continue to develop, those that apply to moving walkways must continue to evolve alongside them. To that end, IUEC elevator constructors participate in continuing education programs that keep them current with:

  • Emerging technologies and corresponding maintenance techniques
  • Updated safety codes and regulations
  • Advanced diagnostic and repair procedures
  • Industry-best practices and innovations

Business Case for Professional Care

Above we highlighted several reasons why choosing IUEC elevator constructors for maintenance and repair is the smart choice. For airport managers and facility operators alike, all of these add up to directly impacting three foundational aspects of business: operations, financials, and safety.

Operational Reliability

  • Reduced downtime: Expert maintenance helps prevent system failures, including most critically during peak periods of travel
  • Predictable performance: Consistent scheduling of professional maintenance reduces and can eliminate unexpected disruptions
  • Extended life: These systems are substantial investments: proper maintenance protects and prolongs their lifespan

Financial Impact

  • Reduced long-term costs: Preventive maintenance eliminates expensive emergency repairs
  • Energy efficiency: Well-maintained systems operate more consistently and efficiently, reducing overall operational costs
  • Liability protection: Professional maintenance and its associated documentation protects against potential legal ramifications

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

  • Code adherence: Professional maintenance ensures compliance with ASME codes and local AHJ requirements
  • Inspection readiness: Proper documentation and maintenance records support regulatory inspections
  • Risk management: Professional expertise minimizes safety-related incidents and associated liability

Moving Walkway Industry Growth and Challenges

Driven by new technology, rising urbanization and associated infrastructure development – by way of both private and government agencies – growth is on the horizon for this industry. In 2024 alone, the global market was estimated at $4.2 billion; it is predicted to grow at ~5% annually to reach $6.8 billion by 2034.⁴ This trajectory clearly reflects the recognition of moving walkways as essential infrastructure: whether in airports, transit systems, or other types of commercial facilities worldwide.

Growing pains are sure to follow, however, as this aging industry isn’t without its fair share of challenges. Several evolving realities will require continued professional knowledge and intervention:

Aging Infrastructure: Many systems installed in the 1990s and 2000s require creative maintenance strategies to extend operational life while adhering to safety standards.

Increased Volume: Growing air travel and general facility usage require systems that can manage higher capacity loads than originally intended, ultimately necessitating expert maintenance to ensure continued safe operation.

Enhanced Safety Requirements: Evolving safety codes and accessibility standards require ongoing professional development to ensure compliance.

Making the Right Choice for Your Facility

Moving walkways constitute vital transportation infrastructure, connecting travelers to their destinations. Whether you’re managing an airport, commercial facility, or some other transit complex, professional maintenance and service is a must – it directly impacts passenger safety, system reliability, financial investments, and ultimately your facility’s reputation.

As we’ve outlined above, when evaluating conveyance system maintenance providers, it’s important to prioritize:

  • Specialized NEIEP training in moving walkway technology
  • Proven safety protocols and comprehensive, accompanying documentation
  • MCP compliance expertise and regulatory knowledge
  • 24/7 emergency response capabilities for critical transportation facilities
  • Ongoing professional development to stay current with evolving technologies

For the millions of travelers globally who depend on transportation systems, moving walkways and the specialized IUEC elevator constructors that service them ensure that at least a part of their journey continues smoothly, unencumbered, safe, and stress free.

 

References:
1U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Passengers with Disabilities: Barriers to Accessible Air Travel Remain.” Available at: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106358
2Otis. “Escalators and Moving Walkways.” https://www.otis.com/en/us/products-services/products/escalators-and-moving-walks
3Schindler. “Horizontal Walk for Moving Transit.” https://www.schindler.com/en/escalators-moving-walks/moving-walk/schindler-9500-horizontal.html
4Global Market Insights. “Moving Walkways Market Size & Share, Statistics Report-2032.” Available at: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/moving-walkways-market

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Houston’s IUEC Local 31 Showcases Upgraded Training Center and a New Mobile Welding Facility

International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 31 (Houston, TX) recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of their newly modernized training facility and a state-of-the-art mobile welding unit that will be used to train and certify elevator constructors across Texas.

Elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics, along with officers from the Local, IUEC leadership, Texas building trades organizations, and Harris County government officials gathered to tour the facility and learn more about how the IUEC’s National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program that trains new apprentices in the fundamentals of conveyance industry work and provides Continuing Education and industry certifications for mechanics, is at the forefront of the vertical transportation industry’s most advanced training.

“As mayor, I could be at a hundred places right now, but this is where I want to be – and this is where I need to be,” said John Whitmire, Mayor of Houston, TX, who visited Local 31’s union hall to tour the NEIEP classrooms and speak to those who had gathered for the event.

IUEC Local 31 Business Representative Jonathan Balderas led us through a tour of the building, beginning with the museum area set up in the lobby. In the museum area, there are displays featuring plaques and awards the Local has received for their work in the community along with a variety of historical elevator equipment. (It’s a similar setup to what one would find in the Elevator History Museum at the NEIEP Instructor Training Center in Warwick, RI). “This has been a dream of ours for the last decade,” Jonathan said.

IUEC Local 31’s training facility houses several NEIEP classrooms in which apprentices attend weekly hands-on training sessions that teach them the fundamentals of elevator construction, service, repair, and modernization, and journeyman mechanics participate in continuing education courses to sharpen their skills and earn the industry certifications they need.

As part of a national ‘Classroom 2.0’ initiative led by NEIEP Executive Director David Morgan, NEIEP classrooms across the United States are being upgraded to create an improved learning experience for students that is standardized in all NEIEP classrooms. From better tables and chairs for learners, to smartboards instructors use to facilitate interactive virtual training activities, to hands-on practical lab activities tailored for each semester’s curriculum, these new and improved classrooms provide an ideal setting for elevator constructor apprentices to learn the basics of the trade and mechanics seeking to expand their skill sets.

Ryan Schuett, Business Manager for IUEC Local 31, was proud to bring Classroom 2.0 to Houston. “Wherever you go throughout the nation,” he said, “this is what a NEIEP classroom is going to look like.”

Along with NEIEP Assistant Executive Director John Caughey, NEIEP Director David Morgan traveled from the program’s headquarters in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts, to Houston to attend the opening ceremony. He demonstrated for us one of NEIEP’s classroom labs that students use to practice basic wiring techniques elevator constructors use in the field.  “We really like the way that local 31 has taken these labs where the students can actually come on and wire this lab up, get to the back, make sure that they’ve done everything right,” he said.

Assistant Director Caughey showed us the Virtual Hydraulic Lab (VHCL) Simulator, a popular lab used in a continuing education course for mechanics. Adjusting the valve systems in a hydraulic elevator requires an advanced level of skill, and attempting to perform this work on operational equipment in the field can be a daunting task for those who are new to the trade. Having the opportunity to practice on real elevator valve equipment in a safe, controlled environment allows them to get a feel for the work before attempting to make adjustments in the field for the first time.  “The beauty of having the valve simulator here – it’s a comfortable environment for the instructor and the students to adjust the valve without having to affect a running elevator,” he said.

Jonathan then took us through the NEIEP classrooms, where IUEC elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics attend courses. “So this is a standard classroom setup, lockout (tagout) stations, safety posters with the Nine Safety Absolutes,” he said.

He explained how instructors incorporate NEIEP’s hands-on practical labs into their regular learning activities, and demonstrated the use of a new Motor Starter Lab for the curriculum of Semester 400, where apprentices learn how AC motors work.  “We use this station for our motor starter lab,” he said, “so our apprentices will be able to have the availability to wire different configurations (including wye, delta, and wye-delta) of motors.”

In addition to the hands-on labs, NEIEP Executive Director David Morgan introduced some of the program’s new virtual training tools, such as the Virtual Hydraulic Controller Lab, which was developed as an advanced version of a troubleshooting tool based on an existing hydraulic elevator control lab. NEIEP’s Virtual Hydraulic Controller Lab course teaches troubleshooting methods through numerous fault scenarios, each representing a separate trouble call that requires demonstration of a logical procedure for finding the fault.

“This virtual environment will allow an apprentice and /or a mechanic to go in and actually troubleshoot an elevator and all its components,” said David Morgan.

NEIEP Instructional Designer Emily Carter demonstrated another virtual training tool, the Virtual Traction Elevator. “What I’ve got up on the board right now is our Virtual Traction Elevator environment set up to mimic what you would see in a real environment, in a safe way that they can interact with,” she said.

Beyond using VR technology in the classroom, NEIEP uses VR tools into its outreach and recruitment efforts, too. Lester White, Head of Development at NEIEP, showed us NEIEP’s VR recruitment tools. David Morgan explained how helpful this is at events like the recent Skills USA conference, where the most talented vocational high school students from across the U.S. gather to compete in construction and technology challenges. NEIEP attends Skills USA every year to recruit the best and brightest young people into the trade.

“That virtual is priceless,” he said. “We’re able to show the general public what it is to be an elevator constructor.”

The highlight of the event was the opening of IUEC Local 31’s brand new mobile welding facility. Funded entirely by the Harris County (TX) Commissioner’s Court in partnership with the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the mobile welding unit will provide a ten-week training and welding certification course not just for the 645 members of IUEC Local 31 in Houston, but for IUEC elevator constructors in other parts of Texas as well. “It’s the first of its kind in the United States,” he said.

NEIEP’s CE0019 Welder Training Course helps apprentices and mechanics acquire the skills to pass the 3G/4G welding certification (in accordance with AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Code), focusing on AWS SMAW certification procedure specifications.

“Bottom line is this mobile welding facility puts Local 31 at the front of the pack, not just in Houston, not just in Texas, but nationally,” said Newton Blanchard, an IUEC Regional Director who covers Texas and the southeast.

NEIEP Manager of Educational Resources Doug Cullington took us through the welding trailer and told us about the setup and purpose of the equipment within it – including four welding stations with fume extraction, vent hoods, fans, air conditioning, and heat.  “In this situation, they’re set up for an overhead weld – this would be a flat vertical, welding straight up,” he explained.

Doug told us the mobility of the welding facility was going to be a huge asset to elevator constructors in Houston and beyond. “The idea that this is mobile, we can move it from different location to different location,” he said. “Instead of having the individual – the students – traveling long distances, we can run this to them, get as certifications that possible open it to Texas…. you want to get as many certifications we can out on the street and this is the way to do it,” he said.

Jonathan Balderas thanked some of the organizations that made this possible – Harris County Texas Commissioner’s Court, the AFL-CIO, Gulf Coast, NABTU, Local 31’s apprentices and mechanics, the Elevator Industry, Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), and NEIEP. ElevatorInfo even got a shout-out for helping to publicize the opening and share information about the training center with the elevator industry.

Christian D. Menefee, Harris Conty Attorney, spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Today is what it looks like when you take federal dollars here with organized labor, and pair that with local government. When we work together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”

Houston Mayor John Whitmire was optimistic about the future of the program. “We have a great city and great people and certainly organized labor has contributed to our greatness, and with a program such as this, the best is yet to come.”

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How Training and Support Are Transforming Elevator Careers in Canada

“It was a learning experience when I look back. I didn’t know any better at the time, but if I was given the opportunity, I wouldn’t go back. There’s no question in my mind,” said Jim Miller, Business Manager at International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 50 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Jim started his career in the elevator industry in the non-union sector, where he worked for an elevator company for about a year and a half before joining the IUEC. One of the biggest differences he found in working for an IUEC-affiliated elevator company was that he gained access to Canada’s largest, most respected trainer of apprentices across the country, the Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program (CEIEP).

“The training I received in the non-union sector was very minimal, and it was all on-the-job,” he said. “There was no theoretical training whatsoever.”

Having worked with a number of elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics who made the switch from working at non-union elevator companies to companies affiliated with the IUEC, Mike Lacy, a Business Representative at IUEC Local 50, said the comprehensive benefits package offered by the IUEC is a major advantage to experienced elevator technicians who join the union.

“I think some of the benefits are one of the greatest assets that we’ve experienced when organizing the non-union (apprentices and mechanics),” he said. “They’re actually our best salespeople, and they’re out there spreading the word to say that you know what, these guys are here to work for us, they offer protection, we offer a book of rules, we’re here to represent, we’re here to educate, we’re here to help them move their careers forward.”

Drew Marks, a Business Representative at IUEC Local 50, agreed. “We have lots to provide and lots to offer, whether it comes to education, benefits, wages – the whole package.”

Drew also emphasized the superiority of CEIEP’s training over other elevator training programs in Canada. “We’ve had many (of) non-union individuals that have gone through the community colleges’ (elevator training) programs, and they have unequivocally told us that our education system is far superior (to) what they’ve received there. We’ve got lots to offer here. We’ve got great instructors. We have the ability to put them through the CEIEP Mechanics Exam and the TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) examination.”

There are different requirements for elevator apprenticeship training in each of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories, so CEIEP has its own national apprenticeship requirements above what all of them require to ensure that apprentices are on track with what is required in the area where they live and work (Ontario, for example, requires 720 classroom hours  – so CEIEP teaches 775 in-class hours to ensure that apprentices qualify). Once apprentices have completed their coursework, supervised work hours, and passed the capstone CEIEP Mechanic Exam, they go on to challenge the licensing exam for their region – and CEIEP is also there to support them as they prepare.

While students are required to take eight weeks off from work to complete their apprenticeship training in other Canadian trades’ apprenticeship programs, CEIEP elevator constructor apprentices work, earn money, and go to school simultaneously. They typically attend classes at night and on occasional weekend days. Because the cost associated with the program is covered by CEIEP students’ IUEC education benefit, there are no out of pocket expenses for them to attend. More information about the CEIEP curriculum can be found by clicking here.

Mike Lacy, who is also a classroom instructor in CEIEP’s apprenticeship program, talked about his experience teaching new elevator constructor apprentices in their first year in the classroom.

“I’ve been lucky enough to teach year one over the past several years, and I really enjoyed dealing with the students coming in new with very limited experience and putting them in front of the screen and putting some of the practical applications they’ve learned on the job site to show them, you know, this is where we came from,” he said.

“Our instructors are really incredible people that are always there to help our apprentices. Whether it be during the classroom or on a Saturday night if one of our apprentices has a question, they’re always glad to pick up the phone and help and that makes a big difference.”

Hands-on training is a big part of the curriculum for CEIEP as well as CEIEP’s U.S. counterpart, the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), which provides apprenticeship and continuing education courses for IUEC members. In NEIEP as well as CEIEP’s, the hands-on physical and virtual educational labs make a big difference for students who are just starting out. (For a list of FAQs for new CEIEP students, click here.)

“The theoretical portion, that hands-on portion needs to be there,” said Drew Marks. “One of the greatest advances that CEIEP has right now is by bringing in the virtual reality headsets where now every individual gets the opportunity to put the virtual reality (gear) on and interact – not be the person standing off to the side and just watching someone else do it… it gives them also an opportunity to see parts of the industry that they might not see. They could be on a construction site where all they’re doing is installing rails and door frames. Now we’re going to put them into an operational machine room or an operational pit or an operational elevating device hoistway.”

CEIEP recently launched a new 24-hour Virtual Reality Safety course, which is required for all apprentices to complete before they obtain their provincial elevator mechanics’ license. According to CEIEP Program Director Chris McIntyre, this VR training is innovative because “it allows all new hires to the industry to access the machine room, car top, an elevator pit in a safe and controlled manner before their first day of employment,” he said.

The 24-hour Virtual Reality Safety course is the first integration of a technology intended to be used in future educational modules across the national apprenticeship curriculum in Canada. “CEIEP has embraced technology. We are working with some of the companies at the forefront of VR development,” Chris told us when we interviewed him for a profile piece last year.

Safety is a big priority for the IUEC. Ben McIntyre, an International Union of Elevator Constructors International Organizer in Canada, echoed that focus on safety. “I think at the end of the day we need everybody to go home safely, so we want to make sure that they’re properly trained in safety as well. We put a lot of money into the training and safety – as we should.”

In addition to his work as an organizer, Ben is a member of the IUEC Safety Committee, an initiative developed by IUEC General President Frank Christensen that brings together union officials, industry experts, active and retired elevator inspectors, and building inspectors from across the United States and Canada to develop strategies to reduce fatalities and injuries in the elevator industry.

“We’re always trying to do our best to make sure that our members are looked after properly. It’s exciting, it changes every day. Every day we get up, there’s always a new challenge in front of us,” said Mike Lacy.

Looking to hire the best-trained elevator constructor professionals in Canada to install, maintain, service, repair, or inspect the elevators, escalators, moving walks, or other vertical transportation equipment in your building? Check out ElevatorInfo’s contractor map, where you can search for IUEC-affiliated companies by location.

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ElevatorInfo and the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) Presenting at 2025 BOMA International Conference and Expo in Boston, MA

“We want to help them get the best service they can get – and have safe elevators for the riding public – so we’re trying to spread the word about the (International Union of Elevator Constructors) IUEC, about ElevatorInfo, and about safe conveyances across the country,” said James Demmel, Assistant National Director for the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), speaking at in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He continued, “Here at (the) BOMA (International Conference and Expo), you have everything from skyscraper building owners to three to four story condominium owners… whether you have a billion dollar building or a couple hundred thousand dollar multifamily building with an elevator, you can get premium service, you can have the safest conveyance in the world, and we can make sure that you’re happy with your contractor and happy with your experience riding elevators”

Established in 1907, BOMA is an organization that was set up to support commercial building owners, managers, and other professionals in the field by providing opportunities for connection, education, and advocacy. Their annual International Conference and Expo is held at a different major city in the United States each year. This year, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference & Expo will take place from June 28 to July 1, 2025, at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center (located at 415 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210).

BOMA’s International Conference and Expo is a venue for building owners and building management representatives to come together to talk about current trends in the industry, see the latest technologies in real estate markets, and learn ways to better maintain their investments. The theme for this year’s BOMA International Conference and Expo is “Reset, Refresh, Reinvent”.

As BOMA partners, representatives from ElevatorInfo and EIWPF will be in attendance at this year’s conference in Boston. You’ll be able to find them at booth #937 as well as on the floor of the conference, connecting with building owners and managers to share information and answer questions about maintenance and service for elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other conveyance equipment in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. The 2025 conference will be the eighth time ElevatorInfo / EIWPF has participated in BOMA’s International Conference and Expo, and the first time that the group will be hosting a live presentation.

During the information / Q&A session on Monday, June 30th, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM, building owners, managers, and other real estate professionals will have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of elevator Maintenance Control Programs (MCPs) for their elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other vertical transportation equipment.

ElevatorInfo recently published a blog post on The Importance of Elevator Maintenance Control Programs (MCPs) for Building Owners and Managers. The article begins with the basics – what an MCP is, how an MCP is developed, and why these proactive maintenance plans are important for all building owners and managers to set up with their elevator service companies.

“A Maintenance Control Program (MCP) is exactly what it sounds like: a plan to ensure that an elevator, escalator, or other conveyance equipment is maintained correctly throughout its life. It contains specific written information that indicates what maintenance should be performed, how that maintenance should be performed, when it should be performed, and how often it should be performed.” – The Importance of Elevator Maintenance Control Programs (MCPs) for Building Owners and Managers, January, 2024.

“Every elevator comes from the manufacturer has recommended maintenance – and the maintenance control program is a contract you’ll sign with your elevator provider to do all of the necessary maintenance, all of the inspections, and all the upkeep to make sure that the unit that you bought is still running in 10, 15, 20 years,” said James Demmel.

“When we buy a car, we change the oil every three or five thousand miles. When you buy an elevator, what do you do? Maintenance Control Programs (MCPs) are something we can help a building owner or manager understand. The MCP tells them what they need to have done on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis to their elevators or escalators, and to make sure they are getting that coverage through their contractor. This the elevator manufactures telling you how to get the most out of their equipment.”

Topics covered during the 2025 ElevatorInfo / EIWPF Elevating Elevator Maintenance presentation will include:

  • What maintenance should be performed on your elevators, escalators, and other conveyance equipment
  • How often your conveyances should be serviced
  • Why it is important to have a building access plan
  • How a Maintenance Control Program can improve satisfaction with your elevator and escalator service
  • How you can set up a Maintenance Control Program for the conveyance equipment in your building

Maintenance control programs can be tailored to be flexible to meet the needs of your particular building, your equipment, and your schedule.

“If you’re in an apartment building or a condo,” explained James Demmel, “you’re going to be busier on the weekends. Nine to five during the week, you’re not going to have a lot of traffic – (it’s a) great time to do your maintenance. In an office building, Saturday and Sunday is a great time to do your maintenance. You can build these into your maintenance control program and that will help you get the maximum effect and maximum use time out of your elevator,” he said.

“We are here to partner with you. You will get premium service by the best IUEC-trained and qualified elevator mechanics, apprentices, and service providers to make sure your elevators, escalators, moving walks, or wheelchairs lifts are the safest they can be – with the highest standards and latest technologies – so that they experience minimal downtime, adding value to their investment.”

During and after the presentation, staff from the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) and ElevatorInfo will be at booth #937 on the floor chatting with building owners and managers about how to connect with a service-forward, reliable elevator company experienced in setting up and implementing maintenance control programs for conveyance equipment in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings.

Along with representatives from EIWPF and ElevatorInfo, some of the industry’s major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and largest elevator companies, such as Otis, Schindler, TK Elevator, KONE, Fujitec, and Mitsubishi – plus a number of IUEC-affiliated independent elevator companies, will be in attendance at the conference. They will have information booths set up on the conference floor, and will be participating in panel discussions on topics of interest for people who work in real estate and in the commercial, residential, and industrial building sector.

By working with IUEC-affiliated elevator companies, building owners and managers have access to the best-trained maintenance and service professionals in the industry. During their apprenticeship, they are enrolled in the industry’s highly respected National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), a four-plus year USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program where they complete eight semesters of college-level learning and work 8,000 supervised hours under the direction of an experienced mechanic. Once they’ve completed their coursework and earned their hours, they sit for a capstone validated Mechanic Exam they must pass to earn journeyman mechanic status.

Their education and training doesn’t end with apprenticeship – NEIEP also offers dozens of classroom-based and online continuing education courses for mechanics, where they can become certified in forklift operation, American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/First Aid/AED, OSHA 10 and 30 Construction and General Industry, SAIA Scaffolding, an ANSI-accredited Signaling and Rigging program, and more.

And a number of colleges and universities recognize the work completed as a student in the NEIEP apprenticeship program as equivalent to up to 45 college transfer credits. The Community College of Baltimore County, Ivy Tech Community College, Roger Williams University, Rowan University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Thomas Edison State University, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha are just some of the schools that have partnered with NEIEP.

Many IUEC elevator mechanics continue their education further by becoming elevator inspectors through the Qualified Elevator Inspector Training Fund’s ANSI-accredited Certified Elevator Inspector program. By meeting a series of prerequisites based on their experience in the elevator industry, completing an intensive training program that teaches them how to navigate and interpret ASME, NEC, and other building and safety codes, and passing the industry’s most rigorous certification exam, these elevator code experts earn a certification that qualifies them to inspect elevator and escalator equipment throughout the United States and Canada. While some open their own businesses or become state or provincial inspectors, others continue on in their work as elevator mechanics who bring an additional layer of expertise to the work they do for their companies and their customers.

If you’re in Boston at the end of June, be sure to stop by booth #937 – and, if you’re at the conference on Monday, June 30th, attend our Elevating Elevator Maintenance information / Q&A session from 2:00 – 3:00 PM to see how working with an IUEC-affiliated elevator maintenance and service company to implement a Maintenance Control Program for your elevator, escalator, and other vertical transportation equipment can improve your elevator service and reduce unplanned downtime for your building.

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