What “Elevator Door Lock Monitoring” is
- “Door Lock Monitoring” is a safety-system that monitors the status of the elevator car/hoistway doors (or door locks / contact circuits), and prevents the elevator from operating if the doors are not properly locked or if there is a fault in the door-contact circuitry, such as jumpers or shorts.
- In practice, this means sensors or logic in the elevator’s control system will detect “door open / unlocked / fault” states, and inhibit elevator movement (Preventing the car from traveling).
- These systems may be built-in in newer elevators, or added via retrofit/upgrade for older elevators.
📜 What Michigan Law / Code Says
- The relevant regulation is Michigan Administrative Code R. 408.7030, titled “Elevator and escalator monitoring.” Under this rule: remote-monitoring of elevator control is allowed — but such a monitoring device cannot have the capability to adjust or reset any of the elevator’s safety or control devices (except from authorized physical locations: car, hoistway, machine room, lobby panel, or fire command center).
- The monitoring means may be used to pass information (status, calls) — and also can be used for “initiating car and hall landing calls or to secure floors from access.”
- Critically: the remote-monitoring system must not bypass or reset any protective device. In other words: safety integrity must be preserved — the DLM system is to observe, not override, safety.
- The latest update: the state adopted ASME A17.3-2015 (the standard that includes a “System to Monitor and Prevent Automatic Operation of the Elevator with Faulty Door Contact Circuits”) on June 27, 2023.
- The adoption made door-lock monitoring a retroactive safety requirement — meaning existing elevators (not just new installs) are subject to compliance.
🕓 Compliance Deadlines & What’s Expected
- The retroactive DLM Door Lock Monitoring requirement must be met by elevators statewide. According to elevator-service providers, elevators without compliant door-lock monitoring must be upgraded by January 1, 2028.
- Note: compliance might involve a simple software/parameter Change if the DLM hardware is present but disabled, or a more involved retrofit/upgrade (adding sensors, controller Modules, and extra wiring, such as traveling cords) for older elevators.
- Because of this change, inspectors from the Elevator Safety Division could start issuing Violations “correction orders” if DLM is missing or non-functional after the deadline.
🏢 Who & What Types of Elevators Are Affected
- The requirement applies to all existing automatic, passenger, service, and freight elevators
- It also covers elevators that were previously installed without DLM, as well as older elevators that may have DLM hardware but haven’t had it activated/verified for compliance.
- For elevators undergoing “alterations” or modernizations: the altered system “shall conform to the requirements” of Michigan elevator law and relevant code (which now includes DLM). Legal Information Institute+1
📋 What Building Owners / Managers Should Do
If you manage a building (or are responsible for elevator compliance) in Michigan:
- Check your elevator records — find the make/model, installation or modernization date. If it’s older (especially pre-2000), there’s a significant chance DLM is missing or disabled.
- Schedule an inspection or “survey” with a licensed elevator contractor — many providers (incl. major ones) now offer DLM compliance surveys.
- If DLM is absent or not operational, plan upgrades — which may require hardware retrofit, or simpler activation depending on existing equipment.
- Make sure documentation is filed — permits, inspection/upgrade records, and certification as required under the elevator code regime. Michigan+2Michigan+2
- Prepare for inspections by the state inspector (or local authority) — after the compliance deadline, missing DLM could be flagged as a code violation.