Inspections; service maintenance contracts; correction of deficiencies.

(1)(a) All elevators or other conveyances subject to this chapter must be annually inspected by a certified elevator inspector or by a municipality or county under contract with the division pursuant to s. 399.13. If the elevator is not an escalator or a dumbwaiter, serves only two adjacent floors, and is covered by a service maintenance contract, an inspection is not required so long as the service contract remains in effect.

(b) A statement verifying the existence and performance of each service maintenance contract must be filed at least annually with the division and as prescribed by rule. Cancellation of a service maintenance contract must be reported to the division as prescribed by rule.

(2) The division may employ state elevator inspectors to inspect an elevator whenever necessary to ensure its safe operation. The division may also employ state elevator inspectors to conduct any inspections required by this chapter and may charge a fee for each inspection in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of that inspection, as provided by rule, when a private certified elevator inspector is not available. Each state elevator inspector shall be properly qualified as a certified elevator inspector.

(3) Whenever the division determines from the results of any inspection that, in the interest of the public safety, an elevator is in an unsafe condition, the division may seal the elevator or order the discontinuance of the use of the elevator until the division determines by inspection that such elevator has been satisfactorily repaired or replaced so that the elevator may be operated in a safe manner.

(4) When the division determines that an elevator is in violation of this chapter or the Florida Building Code, the division may issue an order to the elevator owner requiring correction of the violation and reinspection of the elevator evidencing the correction.

(5) A certified elevator inspector or registered elevator company shall, upon the written request of the department, provide a written response that explains the inspection procedures and applications used to prepare an inspection report that was found by the department to contain errors or omissions of code violations or tests.