What Goes on an Elevator Code Data Plate?
Since the 2000 edition of ASME A17.1, every elevator is required to carry a code data plate — the small plate inspectors check first, because it tells them which code edition the unit must be inspected and tested against.
What the code data plate shows
- The code and edition in effect at installation — the A17.1 edition the elevator was originally built and accepted under.
- The code in effect for each alteration — every time the unit is altered, the plate (or an added alteration plate) must reflect the code edition that governed that alteration.
That's the reason it matters so much: an elevator installed in 1985 and altered in 2015 is not inspected wholesale to today's code — the data plate is the record that tells everyone which requirements apply to what.
Where it lives and how it must be made
The plate must be readable and permanent. A17.1 Section 8.13 requires code-mandated lettering to be engraved, etched, cast, or otherwise applied so it remains permanently legible — a paper sticker or hand-marked label doesn't survive a machine room. That's why replacement plates are typically etched metal; CodePlates laser-etches anodized aluminum so there's no ink to scratch or fade.
Missing or illegible? That's a write-up
A missing, damaged, or unreadable code data plate is one of the most common inspection findings, and it stalls the whole compliance chain: without it, the inspector can't confirm which edition governs. The fix is simply a compliant replacement showing the correct installation and alteration code data — which the building owner or service contractor supplies.
Replacing one
You need the installation code edition (and any alteration history), and a plate made to last. CodePlates Code Data Tags, Installation Code Data Tags, and Multi-Year Code Data Plates are laser-etched to your job's data and ship nationwide from Stevensville, Maryland.
More guides: Elevator Alteration Plates & Section 8.7 · Annual, Cat 1 & Cat 5 Test Tags Explained
This guide is general information for the elevator trade, not code text or legal advice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and code edition — always confirm with the ASME A17.1 edition adopted by your Authority Having Jurisdiction.