elevator regulation at a glance
- Regulator
- Iowa Division of Labor (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing), Elevator Safety
- Statute
- Iowa Code Chapter 89A; rules at 875 IAC Chapters 71–72
- Who inspects
- State inspectors or owner-hired special inspectors authorized under 875-71.12; a special inspector may not hold a maintenance, installation or alteration contract on the unit
- Frequency
- Annual periodic inspection; construction elevators and personnel hoists at least quarterly
- Corrections
- Up to 30 days to correct unsafe conditions, with petitions for up to 60 more; written proof required before the operating permit is issued or renewed
- Permits
- Installation and alteration permit applications due at least 8 weeks before work; equipment may not be used until a state inspector passes it; operating permit posted in the unit
How elevator compliance works in Iowa
Iowa’s conveyance safety program is run by the Division of Labor under Iowa Code Chapter 89A and the rules at 875 IAC Chapters 71 and 72. Every conveyance needs a current operating permit posted in the unit, and periodic inspections are annual, performed either by a state inspector or by a special inspector authorized under rule 875-71.12 and hired by the owner. Construction elevators and personnel hoists are inspected quarterly.
The rule has a conflict-of-interest clause that matters: a special inspector’s report does not count as the annual inspection if the inspector or the inspector’s employer holds a maintenance, installation or alteration contract on that conveyance. The contractor cannot inspect its own work. Once an inspection finds unsafe conditions, the owner generally has up to 30 days to correct them, can petition for up to 60 more, and must send written proof of correction before the operating permit is issued or renewed. Installations and alterations need a permit applied for at least eight weeks ahead, and the equipment cannot be used until a state inspector passes it.
What we do for Iowa owners
Elevator Compliance Group is an independent, QEI-licensed inspection and consulting firm. We do not sell maintenance, repairs or modernization, so our work in Iowa is only for the owner: inspections and inspection witnessing, review of inspection reports and violations, deficiency tracking to verified correction, maintenance contract review, modernization planning and owner representation when the contractor and the inspector disagree.
- Annual special inspections by QEI-licensed inspectors with no maintenance contract on your equipment
- Correction tracking against the 30-day window, with extension petitions when needed
- Alteration permit timing and acceptance inspection coordination
- Maintenance contract review and modernization planning
- Portfolio permit tracking for campuses, healthcare systems and multi-building owners
Where we work in Iowa
Des Moines and West Des Moines, with their insurance and financial office towers, the state Capitol complex and the UnityPoint and MercyOne hospital campuses, anchor our Iowa work. We also serve Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the University of Iowa, Davenport and the Quad Cities, and Ames.
Regulatory summary based on the agency sources below; requirements change, so confirm current rules with the agency or with us before relying on them.