Enhancing Ontario’s Elevator Safety and Availability

Elevator safety and availability in Ontario will get a boost next summer as the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is working to implement new rules that will see elevator owners report extended elevator outages for public reporting purposes.

There are almost 20,000 passenger elevators across more than 10,000 residential and institutional buildings in Ontario. As the existing stock of elevators ages and the province continues to experience rapid growth in the construction of buildings (including high-rise condominiums), stakeholders across Ontario have raised a variety of issues related to the availability of elevators, according to former Justice Douglas Cunningham’s recommendations in his 2018 report on elevator availability.

As part of the effort to enhance the availability, safety and maintenance of elevators, owners of elevators in residential buildings and long-term care homes will be required to report elevator outages lasting more than 48 hours starting from July 1, 2022. The reporting needs to be completed within 30 days after the day the elevator has returned to service.

The new rules will also give members of the public access to information about elevator outages via TSSA’s website. The information will help the government and TSSA consider whether further changes related to elevator safety and availability will be needed in the future.

To look at how these regulatory changes can help ensure that elevators are well maintained and meet safety requirements, the Ontario government conducted consultations from July 2 to August 4, 2020 and sought input on the proposed regulatory changes under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.

Detailed requirements for elevator-owner reporting will be available next spring.

For more information, please read the Elevating Devices regulation. The regulatory changes address the Auditor General of Ontario’s recommendations on improving elevator safety and some of former Justice Douglas Cunningham’s recommendations in his 2018 report on elevator availability.

About TSSA 

Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement and prosecution activities.