Your elevator just failed its annual inspection. The reason: "No two-way video communication as required by ASME A17.1-2019."
You call your service company for the repair quote. The number: $8,500 per elevator. You have four elevators. That's $34,000 you didn't budget for, and you have 30 days to fix it before the state pulls your certificate of operation.
This is happening to building owners across 41 states. The ASME A17.1-2019 code added a two-way video communication requirement for elevators with 60 feet or more of rise, and most property managers have never heard of it until the inspection citation arrives.
Here's what the requirement is, which buildings are affected, what it costs, and how to comply without getting blindsided.
The ASME 2019 Video Communication Requirement
ASME A17.1-2019, Section 2.27.1.1.6, introduced a requirement that elevators with a rise of 18 meters (approximately 60 feet, or 5 floors) must have "means for two-way video communication between the car and authorized personnel."
This is not optional. It is not a recommendation. In jurisdictions that have adopted ASME 2019 or later, it is code.
What "Two-Way Video" Actually Means
The requirement specifies:
A camera in the elevator car. The camera must provide a clear view of the elevator interior, typically mounted in a corner or ceiling position where it can capture the full cab.
Video display at the monitoring station. Whoever receives emergency calls, whether that's an in-house security desk or a third-party monitoring service, must be able to see live video from the elevator.
Live video feed, not recorded-only. Recording is not sufficient. The monitoring station must receive real-time video during emergency communications.
Audio AND video required. The existing emergency phone (required since 2002) handles audio. The 2019 code adds video on top of the existing voice requirement. Both must function simultaneously.
Why This Requirement Exists
The rationale is practical: emergency responders can assess trapped passengers visually before arrival. Is someone having a medical emergency? Is the passenger mobile or injured? Is there an immediate safety threat? Video answers questions that voice alone cannot.
For elevators with lower rise (under 60 feet), the logic is that emergency crews can reach trapped passengers quickly enough that video adds marginal value. For high-rise buildings, response times are longer, and visual assessment becomes more critical.
Which Elevators Are Affected
Not every elevator requires video communication. The code applies based on rise, not building height or elevator type.
Rise Calculation
Rise is the vertical distance from the bottom landing to the top landing, measured floor-to-floor. It is not the building height; it is specifically the distance the elevator travels.
60 feet equals approximately 5 to 6 stories, depending on floor-to-floor height. A typical commercial building with 11-foot floor-to-floor heights hits 60 feet at the 6th floor. A residential building with 9-foot heights reaches 60 feet at about the 7th floor.
How to check your elevator's rise:
- Count the floors served (not total building floors, just the floors the elevator stops at)
- Measure or estimate floor-to-floor height
- Multiply: floors minus 1, times floor height
- If the result is 60 feet or more, the video requirement applies
Buildings Typically Affected
Multi-story commercial buildings. Most office buildings over 5 stories will hit the threshold. The standard passenger elevator serving a 6-story office building almost certainly requires video communication.
High-rise residential. Apartments and condominiums with 6 or more floors are typically affected. This includes most urban residential high-rises and many suburban mid-rises.
Hotels. Guest elevators in hotels over 5 stories are affected. Service elevators may or may not be, depending on their rise.
Hospitals. Medical facilities often face additional requirements beyond ASME 2019, but the video communication mandate applies to any hospital elevator meeting the rise threshold.
Buildings NOT typically affected. Most 2-4 story buildings, including low-rise retail, small offices, and walk-up apartments with single elevators, fall below the 60-foot threshold. If your building has 4 floors or fewer, you likely have no video communication requirement.
Existing Elevator Exception
New elevator installations after the 2019 code adoption must include video communication from day one. The equipment is specified before installation, and the cost is built into the modernization or new construction budget.
Existing elevators, those installed before the jurisdiction adopted ASME 2019, face a different enforcement path. Most states do not require immediate retrofit of all existing equipment. Instead, the requirement typically kicks in at the next major alteration, modernization, or when an inspector flags it as a condition for certificate renewal.
The problem: building owners often learn about this requirement for the first time during an inspection. By then, the timeline is short and the negotiating position is weak.
State Adoption Status: The 41-State Map
ASME A17.1 is a model code. States adopt it on their own schedules, with their own amendments. As of 2026, 41 states have adopted ASME 2019 or later, meaning the video communication requirement is active in those jurisdictions.
States with ASME 2019+ (Video Required)
The following states have adopted ASME A17.1-2019 or a later edition. Elevators meeting the rise threshold in these states must comply with the video communication requirement:
Northeast: Connecticut (2020), Massachusetts (2019), New York (2020), New Jersey (2021), Pennsylvania (2020), Rhode Island (2020), Vermont (2021), New Hampshire (2021), Maine (2020)
Mid-Atlantic: Delaware (2020), Maryland (2021), Virginia (2021), West Virginia (2021)
Southeast: Florida (2021), Georgia (2020), North Carolina (2020), South Carolina (2021), Tennessee (2020), Alabama (2021), Kentucky (2020)
Midwest: Illinois (2020), Ohio (2020), Michigan (2020), Indiana (2021), Wisconsin (2020), Minnesota (2021), Iowa (2020), Missouri (2021)
Southwest: Texas (2020), Arizona (2021), New Mexico (2021), Oklahoma (2021)
West: Colorado (2020), Utah (2021), Nevada (2020), Washington (2020), Oregon (2021), Idaho (2021), Montana (2021)
Other: Hawaii (2020), Alaska (2021)
States with Pre-2019 Codes (Video Not Required)
A small number of states remain on ASME A17.1-2016 or earlier, where the video communication requirement does not exist:
California: Still on ASME A17.1-2004 with state amendments. No video requirement.
Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota: Limited elevator codes; requirements vary by local jurisdiction.
Local Variations
Some cities apply stricter requirements than state code. New York City, for example, has additional elevator regulations through Local Law 111 and Building Code Chapter 30. If you operate in a major city, check both state and local requirements before assuming compliance.
Retrofit Cost Breakdown: The $5,000 to $10,000 Reality
When the inspection citation arrives, the first question is always: what will this cost? The answer depends on your existing infrastructure, the system you choose, and who does the work.
Equipment Costs
Camera system: $500 to $1,500 per car. This includes an elevator-rated camera (designed for the vibration and temperature extremes of an elevator cab), mounting hardware, and cabling to the controller.
Video display/monitoring: $1,000 to $2,500 total. This is the receiving end, either an in-building display at your security desk or integration with a third-party monitoring service's systems.
Cellular/network connectivity: $1,000 to $2,000 installation. The video feed needs to reach the monitoring station. Options include dedicated cellular (like the existing emergency phone), building ethernet, or integration with existing security camera networks.
Labor Costs
Installation labor: $1,500 to $3,000 per car. This covers the mechanic time to mount cameras, run cables, and integrate with the emergency communication system.
Wiring: $500 to $2,000 per car. If your elevator already has data cabling to the cab (some modern installations do), wiring costs are minimal. If the mechanic needs to pull new cable from the machine room to the cab, costs increase significantly. Older buildings with limited conduit capacity are on the high end.
Integration with existing emergency phone: $500 to $1,000. The video system must work alongside the existing two-way voice communication. Integration complexity varies by emergency phone manufacturer.
Total Cost Per Elevator
Low end: $5,000. Simple installation in a modern elevator with existing data infrastructure and easy cable routing.
High end: $10,000. Complex installation requiring new wiring, older equipment with limited integration options, or premium monitoring requirements.
Average: $7,500 per car. This is the number to budget when planning for compliance.
Ongoing Costs
Monitoring fees: $30 to $100 per month per building (not per elevator). This covers the monitoring service receiving and storing video feeds. Buildings with in-house security desks may avoid this cost but need to budget for their own equipment and staff training.
Maintenance: Video equipment is typically NOT included in standard elevator maintenance contracts. Budget separately for camera maintenance, software updates, and equipment replacement.
Who Pays for the Retrofit?
When the inspector hands you the citation, the immediate question is whether your elevator service contract covers this work. In most cases, it does not.
What Your Contract Probably Says
Full-maintenance contracts typically include language excluding code-mandated upgrades. Look for clauses like:
- "Owner responsible for code compliance modifications"
- "Regulatory compliance upgrades excluded from scope"
- "Acts of God and regulatory changes are owner responsibility"
- "Exclusions for equipment upgrades required by new codes"
The video communication retrofit almost always falls into these exclusions. Your service company will quote the work separately from your maintenance agreement.
Negotiation Points
Request multiple quotes. Your service company will quote the work, but so will independent installers. The OEM quote is often 30-50% higher than independent options.
Bundle with other work. If you have upcoming modernization or major repairs, bundling the video communication upgrade can reduce total labor costs.
Spread across a multi-year plan. Some building owners negotiate compliance timelines with inspectors, spreading retrofit costs across budget cycles. This works best when you demonstrate good faith planning, not when you're already past deadline.
Review contract language for next renewal. The ASME 2019 requirement won't be the last code change. When your service contract renews, negotiate language that provides clarity on future code compliance responsibility.
Compliance Timeline Checklist
Use this checklist to plan your compliance before the inspector forces the issue:
Step 1: Determine your state's code adoption. Check the list above or contact your state elevator safety agency. If your state has adopted ASME 2019 or later, the video requirement is active.
Step 2: Measure your elevator rise. Count floors served, multiply by floor height, and determine if you meet the 60-foot threshold. Buildings with 5+ floors should assume they're affected.
Step 3: Check your next inspection date. Your annual inspection checklist should include verification of video communication compliance. Know when the inspector will ask.
Step 4: Get quotes from 2-3 vendors. Your current service provider, one independent elevator company, and one specialized security/video integration company. Compare not just price but scope and warranty.
Step 5: Review your service contract for exclusions. Use our Contract Scanner to identify language that shifts code compliance costs to you. Knowing what's excluded helps you budget accurately.
Step 6: Budget for retrofit before inspection. Retrofit after citation is expensive and rushed. Retrofit on your schedule is planned and negotiated.
Step 7: Document compliance after installation. Keep commissioning records, equipment specifications, and monitoring service agreements. Your inspector will want proof, and your next service provider will need the documentation.
Protect Yourself Before the Citation Arrives
The ASME 2019 video communication mandate is catching building owners off guard because it's buried in technical code language that most property managers never read. By the time the inspector explains it, you're already in violation.
The state code compliance guide and code compliance by state resources can help you understand what codes apply to your building. The fire service elevator requirements article covers related life-safety equipment mandates.
For contract analysis, our Contract Scanner identifies code compliance exclusions and other clauses that shift unexpected costs to building owners. When your service company says "that's not covered," you'll already know whether they're right.
The $8,000 retrofit is coming for affected buildings. The question is whether you budget for it on your terms or pay for it on the inspector's.