Oregon & SW Washington’s Trusted Commercial Elevator Testing, Repair & Modernization Experts
Category 1 & 5 safety testing, smoke testing standby, repair and modernization for building owners and property managers across Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
Welcome to PDX Elevator Safety
At PDX Elevator Safety, we’re dedicated to providing reliable commercial elevator testing and maintenance services across Oregon and SW Washington.
Our mission is simple: keep your elevators operating safely, up to code, and worry-free. With a certified and experienced team, we work with building owners, property managers, and facility managers to ensure every elevator passes the state inspection and performs at its best.
As an independent, union elevator company, we are not a branch or dealer of Otis, KONE, Schindler or TK. We’re not trying to move your building onto a proprietary platform, and we have no reason to recommend work your equipment doesn’t need. For modernization work we represent Smartrise, GAL and Innovation, and we disclose that when we recommend equipment.
Comprehensive Elevator Safety Services
Elevator Consulting Services
We offer complimentary advisory services to help building owners better understand their elevator systems, compliance requirements, and upcoming decisions regarding safety, modernization, and long-term reliability.
Category 1 & 5 Safety Testing
Annual and 5-year tests to ensure compliance and reliability, documented on the state forms your inspector expects.
Elevator Smoke Testing
Certified standby for smoke and fire recall system testing, including Phase I recall and Phase II firefighters’ operation.
Elevator Repair
Prompt, professional repair to keep your elevators operating safely.
Elevator Modernization
Upgrade aging systems for improved performance and energy efficiency, with permitting and acceptance inspection managed.
Pit and Hoistway Access
Safe and efficient inspections in hard to reach areas, performed by qualified elevator personnel.
Elevator Maintenance
Regular service plans to reduce down time and costly repairs, including the Maintenance Control Program documentation the code requires on site.
Elevator Cab Cleaning
Cab interiors, hoistways, pits and equipment, especially after construction or remodeling, when dust in door tracks becomes next quarter’s service calls.
Elevator Cab Interior Upgrades
Panels, flooring, lighting and fixtures, with the weight and code consequences worked out before anything is ordered.
Two States, Two Compliance Calendars
If you manage property on both sides of the Columbia, you’re running two different regulatory schedules, and most owners don’t realize it until something lapses.
Oregon
Two-year operating permit interval
- The Building Codes Division runs the state Elevator Safety Program under ORS Chapter 460 and OAR Chapter 918, Division 400.
- Operating permits are issued on a two-year inspection interval, and BCD schedules the general safety inspection.
- The permit or a copy must be posted in clear view in the elevator.
- BCD may refuse to issue a permit if inspections aren’t satisfactorily completed or fees are outstanding.
- The Oregon Elevator Specialty Code is made up of seven ASME codes, including ASME A17.1 for new elevators and ASME A17.3 for existing elevators.
Washington
Annual operating permit cycle
- Labor & Industries is the authority having jurisdiction under RCW Chapter 70.87 and Chapter 296-96 WAC, except in Seattle and Spokane, which run their own inspections. See the Seattle elevator code guide.
- Operating permits are issued annually, a materially shorter cycle than Oregon’s.
- Category 1 and 5 results are recorded on the L&I state form, not contractor paperwork.
- Maintenance Control Program documentation is required on site, records retained five years.
- Quarterly firefighters’ emergency operation key switch verification is required.
- Washington does not permit alternative Category 5 test methodologies.
Washington service pages: elevator testing in Seattle, modernization in Seattle, repair in Vancouver and modernization in Vancouver.
Same portfolio, different calendars. A property manager who has internalized the Oregon rhythm will run a Washington building out of permit. We track both, and if you send us your last state inspection report, we’ll tell you exactly what’s due and when, at no charge.
Elevator testing in Portland, Oregon · Elevator testing in Vancouver, Washington
Why Choose Us?
- Certified and experienced elevator professionals
- Serving all of Oregon and Washington
- Fast response and flexible scheduling
- Competitive, transparent pricing
- Dedicated to safety and compliance
- Locally owned and operated
- Independent and union, not a branch of Otis, KONE, Schindler or TK
- Licensed, bonded and insured, CCB# 254296, EM27
“Priscilla and her team were wonderful to work with. They are professional, knowledgeable, and personable. We will be working with them again in the future. Highly recommend.”
Where We Work
Based in Portland, serving commercial buildings across the metro, statewide Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Portland Metro
Downtown Portland, the Pearl District, Old Town, Goose Hollow, South Waterfront, Lloyd District, Central Eastside, and all of NW, NE, SW and SE Portland, plus Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Clackamas, Happy Valley, Gresham and Wilsonville.
Southwest Washington
Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver, Uptown Village, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Felida, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing, Orchards, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center, minutes across the river from our Portland base.
Statewide Oregon
Buildings throughout the state, including Salem, Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Albany, Bend, Medford, Grants Pass, Hood River and Astoria.
Commercial office, multifamily and apartment communities, condominium and HOA properties, hotels, medical office and clinics, senior living, schools and universities, retail and mixed use, parking structures, industrial and warehouse, and municipal buildings.
Elevator compliance by building type
Different buildings carry genuinely different elevator realities, duty cycle, accessibility stakes, and when you can realistically take a car out of service. We work to yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Oregon require elevator inspections?
Oregon operating permits are issued on a two-year inspection interval, and the Building Codes Division schedules the general safety inspection. Your Category 1 annual and Category 5 five-year tests are separate, they’re the owner’s responsibility and are performed by a licensed elevator contractor, not the state inspector.
How often does Washington require elevator operating permits?
Annually, through the Department of Labor & Industries. That’s a shorter cycle than Oregon’s two-year interval, which is the single most common compliance gap we find in two-state portfolios.
What’s the difference between a Category 1 and a Category 5 elevator test?
Category 1 is the annual no-load test. Category 5 runs every five years and, on traction equipment, is a full-load, full-speed test of the car safeties, governor and brake. On hydraulic equipment the Category 5 includes a system pressure test. Full details on Category 1 and Category 5 testing.
Do I have to use the manufacturer that installed my elevator?
No. Building owners may contract maintenance with any licensed elevator contractor. The practical constraints are contract terms, notice periods, renewal windows, proprietary tooling access, which are worth reviewing before you assume you’re locked in. We’ll read your agreement at no charge.
My elevator permit is expired. What happens now?
Nothing happens the day it lapses. What happens is the next state inspection produces a correction notice with a deadline, and if corrections aren’t satisfactorily completed the state can decline to issue the operating permit. It’s fixable, call us before the inspector’s next visit rather than after.
Do you serve Vancouver, Washington and Clark County?
We serve Oregon and Southwest Washington, including Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground and Ridgefield. See elevator testing in Vancouver, Washington.
Request a Quote
Send us your building details and what you need. We’ll come back with a scope and a number.
Tell us the building, the equipment and what you need. Call and we’ll answer, or send an email and we’ll come back with a scope and a number.
Email opens a pre-filled draft to schedule@pdxelevatorsafety.com. Attach your inspection report, contract or quote directly to that email if you have one, we review documents at no charge.
Monday, Friday, 8:00 AM, 6:00 PM