27 Oct Is Your Building’s Elevator Up to Code? A Guide for Miami-Dade Property Managers

As a property manager in South Florida, you juggle a dozen daily challenges. But few carry the financial and legal weight of a failed elevator inspection.

For buildings, especially those built 30 to 40 years ago, that annual inspection is a source of major anxiety. You see the certificate in the cab, you know the date is approaching, and you’re hoping it passes. But hope isn’t a strategy.

If your building’s elevator fails its inspection, you don’t just get a warning. You can face fines, suspended operation, and even denied building permits for other renovation projects.

In Miami-Dade and Broward, code compliance isn’t just about safety—it’s a critical business issue. Here’s what you need to know about why older elevators fail and what you can do about it.

The “Big 3” Reasons Older Elevators Fail Code Inspections

If your building still runs on an original Otis or Schindler system from the 80s or 90s, it’s not a question of if it will fail inspection, but when. Here’s why:

1. Failed Firefighter’s Service (La “Prueba de Bomberos”)

This is the number one reason for a failed inspection. Modern elevator code requires a sophisticated, two-phase emergency recall system (often called “Firefighter’s Service”).

Phase I (Automatic Recall): When a smoke detector is triggered, the elevator must automatically return to the main lobby, open its doors, and shut down, preventing it from stopping on a floor filled with smoke.

Phase II (Manual Operation): Arriving firefighters must then be able to use a special key to take manual control of the elevator, allowing them to safely move equipment and personnel.

The Problem: Many older elevators with their original “intelligence” (the controller) simply cannot perform these functions reliably. Their doors are not fire-rated, and their systems can’t integrate with modern fire alarm panels. This is an automatic and critical failure.

2. Outdated Control Systems

The “brain” of your elevator is its controller. Older systems used “relay logic,” a complex web of mechanical switches and relays that was state-of-the-art in 1985. Today, it’s a massive liability. These systems are slow, energy-guzzling, and prone to “ghost” issues that are nearly impossible to diagnose. When parts fail—and they will—they are often obsolete and astronomically expensive to find.

3. Non-Compliance with ADA and Safety Codes

Beyond fire safety, codes have evolved significantly:

ADA Compliance: Are the buttons in Braille? Are the floor chimes and visual indicators working? Does the door stay open long enough for all users?

Emergency Communication: Does the elevator have a modern, two-way communication system that works, or is it an old, crackly phone that no one is sure is connected?

Unlevel Stopping: Does the elevator stop perfectly level with the floor, or does it create a dangerous trip hazard for tenants?

Why “Maintenance” Isn’t Enough for an Old Elevator

Many property managers are stuck in a cycle of expensive repairs. You pay for a monthly maintenance contract, and then you still pay for costly emergency calls every few months.

Here’s the hard truth: You cannot maintain an obsolete system into compliance.

Simply replacing a few relays or switches on a 40-year-old controller is a bad investment. You are putting a band-aid on a problem that requires surgery. The real solution—and the one that ultimately saves you money and eliminates inspection anxiety—is modernization.

The Solution: Full Elevator Modernization

Modernization isn’t just a “repair.” It’s a complete replacement of your elevator’s core components.

At Chaca Elevator, this is our specialty. We take out the old, failing Otis or Schindler controller and replace it with a modern, microprocessor-based system (like Smart Ride or Control Pixel).

A typical upgrade package includes:

A New “Smart” Controller: A digital brain that is fast, reliable, and energy-efficient.

New Fire Service Integration: Guarantees you pass the “prueba de bomberos” every time.

Modern Cab Controls & Hall Stations: New, ADA-compliant buttons that are clean and reliable.

A New Pumping Unit: For hydraulic elevators, this means a quieter, smoother ride and no more oil leaks.

The result isn’t just a pass on your inspection. It’s a faster, safer, more reliable elevator that increases your property value and ends the constant stream of repair bills.

Don’t Wait for a Failed Inspection

As a smaller, family-owned company with 35 years of experience, Chaca Elevator provides the same high-level expertise as the big manufacturers but at a more competitive cost. We are your local partners in ensuring your building is safe, compliant, and modern.

If your elevator is over 30 years old, don’t risk the fines and headaches.

Contact Chaca Elevator today for a free, no-obligation code compliance and modernization assessment for your building.