Annual elevator inspection deficiencies in Nevada are explained in this plain-language guide, including what is actually meant by each one and how they can be quickly fixed by building owners in Las Vegas.
A list of deficiencies can feel alarming when it is received after your building’s annual elevator inspection, especially if the report is filled with code section numbers that have never been seen before. Far less dramatic than they may sound, most deficiencies are considered to be routine and correctable. Results in the elevator being taken out of service is what makes a deficiency a bigger problem, so understanding what each one actually means and having it fixed beforehand is important.

What a Deficiency Actually Is

In Nevada, every annual inspection or periodic test performed on your elevator has to be documented in a written report, which must be filed with the Mechanical Compliance Section within 10 business days of the test. That report lists any condition that is found to be noncompliant with the requirements of NAC 455C.400 through 455C.530 or the ASME and ICC codes that have been adopted by Nevada by reference. Current code requirements are not met by something on your elevator when it is identified as a deficiency by the inspector, whether it is a piece of equipment that is not functioning correctly, missing signage, or an overdue test.
The same weight is not carried by every deficiency. Some are life safety issues that require immediate attention, such as a malfunctioning door reopening device. Others are administrative, such as an outdated placard, and can typically be resolved through a quick fix or phone call. The difference can be understood so that each item can be prioritized appropriately instead of every item on the list being treated as an emergency.

The Deficiencies We See Most Often

Door and door lock issues. Doors account for the large majority of elevator problems industry wide, and inspection deficiencies reflect that. Common findings include a door restrictor that is missing or not functioning, a door reopening device by which an immediate reversal is not provided when an obstruction is detected, and photo-eye sensors that are found to be dirty or out of calibration. Since January 2026, Nevada also requires every existing elevator to have a working door lock monitoring system, so if your building has not completed that upgrade yet, this is very likely to show up as a deficiency at your next test.

Emergency communication and lighting. Two-way voice communication in the car is required by ASME A17.1 and must be automatically connected to a monitored location within 45 seconds if the first attempt fails, along with backup power that is required to keep it running for at least four hours. Inspectors regularly find phones that are dead, disconnected, or routed to a number that no longer answers. Emergency cab lighting that fails to activate during a power interruption is another frequent finding.

Fire service operation. This category actually covers two separate protocols that a lot of building teams blend together, and inspectors are strict about keeping them straight.

The first is the Phase I and Phase II operational test, which checks that the elevator’s fire recall and firefighters’ in-car controls actually function at the cab level. An elevator mechanic performs this alongside the elevator inspector during the regular inspection. As part of that visit, the inspector also confirms that a valid Fire Recall System Report is physically available in the machine room. That report has to be current, and both the elevator mechanic’s signature and the fire alarm contractor’s signature have to be included on it. If the report is missing, expired, or incomplete, it becomes a deficiency even when the elevator itself responds correctly during the test.

The second protocol is the fire recall system test itself, which verifies the connection between the building’s fire detection system and the elevator’s emergency operation. An elevator mechanic performs this one in coordination with a fire alarm system technician, and it needs to happen ahead of the annual inspection so the resulting report is already on file when the inspector arrives. Once testing is complete, the mechanic and the technician sign the same fire recall compliance form together. Skipping this test, or showing up to inspection with an unsigned or outdated form, is one of the more common reasons a Phase I and Phase II item ends up flagged.

Machine room and pit housekeeping: This is one of the most avoidable categories. Storing paint cans, tools, or unrelated equipment in the machine room, missing GFCI outlets, inadequate lighting, or a pit that has not been cleaned and lacks a proper sump pump cover are all common citations. None of these require specialized elevator knowledge to fix, they just require someone to actually walk the space before the inspector does.

Missing or outdated signage: This includes capacity placards, the certificate of inspection that must be posted inside the car, and accessibility signage such as raised and Braille markings at hoistway jambs required under Nevada’s adoption of ICC A117.1. These are easy to overlook because how the elevator operates day to day is rarely affected, but they are still required by the code just as much as the mechanical items.

Overdue governor and buffer tests: Governor rope tests and buffer functional tests run on a multiyear cycle rather than annually. Buildings that do not track these dates closely are the ones most likely to show up with an overdue test as a deficiency, even though the equipment itself may be working fine.
How Nevada Handles a Deficiency Once It Is Found

Nevada does not publish one blanket countdown clock the way some cities do. Instead, the state ties your elevator’s continued operation to the code requirement actually being met. Your special inspector documents the deficiency in the written report, and it stays open until a licensed elevator contractor performs the correction and the fix is verified, either at a follow up visit or at the next required test. If a deficiency involves an alteration, such as adding a door lock monitoring system, that work also needs its own permit filed with the Mechanical Compliance Section before it begins. The practical takeaway is simple: the sooner you correct the item and get it documented, the sooner it is off your record, and the less likely it is to affect your operating permit renewal.

How to Stay Ahead of Your Next Inspection

The buildings that sail through their annual inspection are almost always the ones that treat maintenance as an ongoing job rather than something to think about once a year. A few habits make a real difference. Keep your maintenance control program current and make sure your contractor is filing test reports on schedule. Walk the machine room and pit yourself between service visits and clear out anything that does not belong. Track governor and buffer test dates on a calendar rather than relying on memory. And if your building has not yet addressed the door lock monitoring requirement or is not sure where it stands on upcoming code deadlines, get that answered now rather than at inspection time.

Partner With AR Elevator USA
A pre-inspection walkthrough from an experienced team can catch most deficiencies before the official test ever happens, saving you time, avoiding permit delays, and keeping your building’s elevators running the way they should. AR Elevator USA works with property owners and managers across the Greater Las Vegas Area to prepare for annual inspections and resolve deficiencies quickly when they come up.
Ready to get ahead of your building’s next annual elevator inspection?

A professional pre-inspection assessment and detailed proposal can be obtained by contacting AR Elevator USA today.

Email: info@arelevatorusa.com
Website: https://www.arelevatorusa.com
Written By Eng. Houssam Zammam
An Elevator Portfolio Manager