Commercial Property Services
Elevators and other lifting devices in Ontario are regulated under the Technical Standards and Safety Act (TSSA). Property owners are responsible for ensuring equipment is registered, inspected, and maintained as required.
Annual inspections by TSSA-licensed inspectors are mandatory. Inspection certificates must be displayed in the elevator cab. Operating an elevator without a valid certificate can result in significant fines.
Industry Best Practices
Maintenance contracts with licensed elevator service companies are standard practice and required for regulatory compliance. Contracts should specify routine maintenance intervals, emergency call response times, and parts coverage.
Elevator entrapments and breakdowns require immediate response. Property managers should have the maintenance company's 24/7 emergency number available and a protocol for communicating with tenants during incidents.
How D&D Commercial Services Can Help
Accessible lifts and platform lifts serving properties covered by AODA have specific maintenance requirements. Non-functional accessible lifts create both compliance and human rights issues.
Elevator modernization — cab renovation, control upgrades, and safety system updates — is often deferred but has significant tenant satisfaction and property value implications. Aging elevators with frequent failures cost more to maintain than modernized systems.
Documentation of all inspections, maintenance visits, and repairs is essential for compliance and property management records. These records support insurance claims, tenant disputes, and regulatory audits.