Understanding the Certified Elevator Inspection Industry
Elevator inspection and testing is a heavily regulated field governed by ASME A17.1/CSA B44 safety codes and enforced by Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs) across every US state and Canadian province. Building owners are legally required to have their elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other vertical conveyances inspected at regular intervals by qualified professionals.
What QEI Certification Means
The Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) credential, defined by ASME QEI-1, is the industry gold standard. Two primary organizations administer QEI certification:
- NAESA International
- Has certified thousands of inspectors over 30+ years. Their QEI exam covers ASME A17.1 safety code, A17.2 inspection guide, and A17.3 existing elevator safety code.
- NAEC (National Association of Elevator Contractors)
- Founded in 1948, NAEC offers its own QEI certification endorsed by its Certification Board, along with Certified Elevator Technician (CET) credentials.
Types of Inspections
Certified companies typically perform several categories of inspection work:
- Acceptance inspections — required before new or modernized equipment enters service
- Periodic inspections — annual or semi-annual code compliance checks
- Witness testing — independent observation of safety device tests (governors, buffers, fire service)
- Category 1 & Category 5 testing — periodic load and safety tests at defined intervals (1-year and 5-year cycles)
Market Landscape
The US elevator inspection market includes both large national firms and specialized regional operators. ATIS, founded in 2012 and now backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners, conducts over 100,000 inspections annually with 185+ QEI-certified inspectors. Bureau Veritas operates its National Elevator Inspection Services (NEIS) division as one of the country's largest third-party providers. Meanwhile, hundreds of smaller firms serve specific states or metro areas where they hold jurisdictional accreditations.
Each state sets its own requirements: some mandate third-party inspections, others allow self-inspection by licensed mechanics, and a few have no elevator code at all. This patchwork creates demand for companies that understand the specific regulatory landscape in each jurisdiction.