For commercial property owners and facility managers across the Las Vegas Valley, a reliable elevator isn’t a luxury — it’s core infrastructure. If your building’s elevators have been running for 20+ years, chances are they’re operating on outdated controllers, aging drives, and cab finishes that no longer meet modern standards.

While structural steel and guide rails can last for decades, slow response times, higher utility bills, and increasing difficulty in sourcing replacement parts are now caused by the electronic and mechanical systems installed in the 1990s and early 2000s. Once replacement components become scarce the problem will not be solved by cosmetic upgrades. Modernization becomes a financial, operational, and safety necessity.

For building owners from the Strip to Henderson and Summerlin, the real challenge isn’t recognizing the need to modernize; it’s choosing a contractor who can deliver the project without budget overruns, code delays, or incomplete work disguised as a full modernization.

Here’s how AR Elevator USA approaches modernization differently across Southern Nevada.
1. A Custom Modernization Package, not a One Size Fits All Template
No two elevators in Las Vegas operate under the same conditions. A low rise hydraulic elevator in a Henderson medical office faces different heat exposure, duty cycles, and wear patterns than a high speed traction system in a Strip resort tower.

We don’t hand out generic modernization checklists. Instead, we evaluate:
• The age and condition of your existing equipment
• Which components are truly worn out
• Which parts still have a meaningful service life
• How your elevator is actually used day to day
Preserving solid components, guide rails, landing doors, cab shells, and spring buffers, prevents unnecessary spending and allows your budget to go toward the upgrades that actually improve performance:
• Solid state microprocessor controllers replacing relay logic or early digital boards
• VVVF drives for traction elevators or efficient pumping units for hydraulic systems
• Heavy duty microprocessor controlled door operators
• State-of-the-art new fixture,including: car station with emergency call,which includes accessibility features like text-based and video communication for hearing/speech-impaired occupants
• New traveling cable and hoistway wiring sized for modern safety signals
Material and finish choices are tailored to your building:
• Freight/service elevators: durable, impact resistant, easy to clean finishes
• Luxury hotel passenger elevators: high end finishes that match the property’s design standard while meeting fire safety certifications
• Residential/condo elevators: cost conscious, reliability focused designs

2. We Work Inside ASME A17.1 and A17.3 Every Day
ASME A17.1 is followed for new elevator construction, while ASME A17.3, the Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, is used to govern modernization. The relevant A17.1 provisions referenced by A17.3 must still be met by any new component installed.
In Nevada, the Mechanical Compliance Section (MCS) requires a permit for any elevator alteration, not just new installations. This includes:

• Filing plans and drawings
• Submitting a Maintenance Control Program
• Filing at least 10 business days before work begins
All documentation and permitting are handled directly to ensure that the project remains compliant and unnecessary delays are avoided.

3. Cab Materials That Pass Nevada Inspection the First Time
Many modernization projects stall because the cab finishes don’t meet fire safety certification requirements.
Nevada requires:

• Wall and ceiling materials with a flame spread rating of 0–75 and smoke development rating of 0–450 (ASTM E84 or UL 723)
• Flooring materials — including covering, underlayment, and adhesive — that pass ASTM E648 critical radiant flux testing
All documentation must be submitted with the permit. If a property owner chooses finishes without proper certification, the state sends the paperwork back and the project stalls.
We build fire safety compliance into material selection from day one, ensuring your cab passes inspection the first time.

4. We Inspect the Machine Room, Pit, and Hoistway — Not Just the Elevator
An elevator’s performance depends on the spaces around it. We audit and correct all three before installing any new components.
Machine Room Requirements
• Proper ventilation (typically 50–90°F)
• Adequate lighting
• Self closing, self locking access doors

Pit Requirements
• Correct depth and buffer clearance
• Waterproofing
• Code compliant sump pump
• Compliant ladder and pit stop switch
• Oil separator for hydraulic pits (unless an approved oil sensing alarm is used)

Hoistway Requirements
• Structurally sound
• Free of unrelated conduit or plumbing
• Fire rated at floor penetrations
• Properly lit

All work is performed by licensed elevator contractors and certified elevator mechanics, as required by Nevada law. General maintenance staff are not legally permitted to perform elevator construction or alteration work — and we never allow it.

5. We Only Use USA Manufactured Components
Every modernization component we install is manufactured in the United States. This ensures:

• Faster replacement part availability
• More predictable supply chains
• Compliance with future Buy American requirements
• Long term reliability and serviceability

6. Free Project Management Across All Trades
This is where most modernization contractors fall short — and where projects often run over budget.
Modernization frequently requires upgrades to:

• Fire alarm systems (Phase I and Phase II recall)
• Electrical service in the pit and machine room
• Plumbing tied to sump and drainage systems

Most contractors leave this coordination to the building owner or general contractor. We manage all required trades at no additional cost, including licensed electricians, fire alarm technicians, and plumbers.
You get one point of contact — not three subcontractors on three different schedules.

What Modernization Actually Delivers
An elevator is not modernized just by new finishes. It delivers measurable improvements:

• Lower electrical consumption
• Fewer breakdowns
• Fewer emergency service calls
• Faster floor to floor travel
• Better tenant satisfaction
• Equipment that can actually be serviced with available parts
Modernization is one of the most cost effective upgrades a Las Vegas building can make.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does a service elevator need the same modernization approach as a passenger elevator?
>>No. Service elevators require durable, easy to clean finishes. Luxury hotel cabs need design matched finishes with proper fire certifications. Cost efficiency and reliability are typically prioritized in residential elevators.

Does modernization require upgrading the fire alarm system?
>>Often, yes. Phase I and Phase II fire recall functions typically must be brought up to current code.

Does modernization in Nevada require a permit?
>>Yes. Any elevator alteration requires an MCS permit filed at least 10 business days before work begins. AR Elevator USA handles all filing.

Which code applies to modernizing an older elevator?
>>ASME A17.3 governs modernization of existing elevators, while new components must meet applicable A17.1 provisions.

Can any contractor legally perform modernization work in Nevada?
>>No. This work can only be performed by a licensed elevator contractor with certified elevator mechanics.

Ready to Discuss Your Elevator Modernization?
Don’t let an aging elevator impact tenant satisfaction or drive up operating costs. AR Elevator USA is a family owned, licensed elevator contractor serving the entire Las Vegas Valley. Our consultations are free and obligation free — we’ll walk your building, review your equipment, and build a modernization plan tailored to your elevator and your budget.

Call AR Elevator USA:
702 810 2757
702 463 6430
info@arelevatorusa.com
4345 Corporate Center Drive, 203 Suites, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Written by Eng. Houssam Zammam