101.983 Approvals and permits for conveyances required.

(1) Construction, installation, and alteration.

(a) Approval required. No person may construct, install, or alter a conveyance in this state unless an elevator contractor licensed by the department under s. 101.985 (1) has received an approval for the construction, installation, or alteration from the department.

(b) Application. A person applying for an approval under par. (a) shall include, along with the application, copies of specifications and accurately scaled and fully dimensioned plans showing the location of the construction, installation, or alteration in relation to the plans and elevation of the building; the location of the applicable machinery room, if any, and the equipment to be constructed, installed, or altered; and all structural supporting members relevant to the construction, installation, or alteration, including foundations. The specifications and plans shall be sufficiently complete to illustrate all details of design and construction, installation, or alteration. The application shall specify all materials to be used and all loads to be supported or conveyed. The department may authorize a person to include the application and other information required under this paragraph with any submission required under s. 101.12 (1) to avoid duplicative filing of information.

(c) Revocation. The department may revoke an approval issued under this subsection if the department finds any of the following:

1. That information submitted under par. (b) by the person obtaining the approval contains false statements or misrepresentations of material fact.

2. That the approval was issued in error.

3. That the work performed under the approval is not consistent with information submitted under par. (b) by the person obtaining the approval or is in violation of this subchapter or rules promulgated under this subchapter.

(d) Expiration. An approval issued under this subsection expires under any of the following circumstances:

1. If the work authorized under the approval is not commenced within 6 months after the date on which the approval is issued, or within a shorter period of time as specified by the department at the time the approval is issued.

2. If the work authorized under the approval is suspended or abandoned for 60 consecutive days at any time following the commencement of the work, or for a shorter period of time as specified by the department at the time the approval is issued.

(2) Operating permits; inspections.

(a) Operating permit required. No person may allow a conveyance to be operated on property owned by the person unless the person has received a permit under this subsection from the department that authorizes its operation.

(b) Application. For a newly installed conveyance, the elevator contractor that contracted to perform the installation shall apply for the initial permit required under par. (a) on behalf of the owner of the building in which the conveyance is located. Applications for renewal of the permit shall be made by the owner.

(c) Inspections. The department may not issue or renew a permit for a conveyance under this subsection unless the department or an independent inspector has conducted an inspection of the conveyance and has prepared an inspection report certifying that the conveyance complies with this subchapter and any applicable rules promulgated under this subchapter. Any inspection under this subsection or sub. (3) shall be performed by an inspector who is licensed under s. 101.985 (3).

(cm) Instruction on operation. When issuing or renewing a permit under this subsection, the department shall give the owner notice of relevant conveyance safety requirements and shall instruct the owner as to the procedure for obtaining periodic inspections and renewing the permit under which the conveyance is operated.

(d) Term and posting requirements. A permit issued under this subsection has a term of one year. The owner of the building or residence in which a conveyance is located shall display the permit under par. (a) applicable to the conveyance on or in the conveyance or, if applicable, in the machinery room.

(e) Exemption. This subsection does not apply to elevators or dumbwaiters that serve individual residential dwelling units.

(3) Inspections; individual residential dwelling units. If the owner and a prospective buyer of an individual residential dwelling unit that is served by a dumbwaiter or an elevator enter into a contract of sale for the unit that includes a provision requiring that the dumbwaiter or elevator be inspected, the inspection shall be performed by an elevator inspector licensed under s. 101.985 (3).

(4) Municipalities as agents. The department may appoint a city or village as its agent to do any of the following:

(a) Issue approvals under sub. (1) (a).

(b) Issue or renew permits under sub. (2) (a).

(c) Conduct inspections and prepare inspection reports as provided under sub. (2) (c) and sub. (3).

(d) Give notice and provide instruction as required under sub. (2) (cm).

History: 2005 a. 456; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20, 124; 2015 a. 195 s. 82.