If you manage property in NYC, consider this your friendly countdown: Jan 1, 2027.
Let’s get you up to code on time and on budget. Jan 1, 2027, is closer than it looks!
Background
The ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) A17.3 – 2002 Code requires existing traction elevators to either have a rope gripper installed or have single plunger assemblies converted to dual plunger types by January 1 st, 2027, in New York City.
The dual plunger assembly creates friction against the guide rails, bringing the elevator to a controlled stop. Rope grippers engage with the hoisting ropes, preventing falling or ascending too quickly when the elevator experiences unintended movement.
Both methods require modifications to the braking mechanisms and guide rails of the elevator although the rope gripper is, in most cases, a more cost effective and easily engineered solution. Subject to engineering approvals, materials procurement, DOB permit issuance and available labor, installations can be completed 14 weeks from date of order.
If your traction elevator still uses a single-plunger brake, it will be non-compliant on January 1, 2027, unless you upgrade to a dual-plunger brake or install a compliant Unintended Car Movement (UCM) protection system (rope-gripper).
Why Act Now (not in 2026)?
- Material & lead-times: Brakes, rope-grippers, machines, and related parts will face surge demand as early as Q4 2026
- Manpower availability: This change affects thousands of elevator cars. Providers work with a finite pool of qualified mechanics and inspectors. In the past, customers who have waited too late to act on the Code changes have experienced longer lead times and increased costs as works must be scheduled out of regular working hours.
- Rising costs: Compressed schedules drive overtime labor and expedited shipping.
- Permit & testing bottlenecks: It’s not enough to have parts on order. NYC requires the work finished and acceptance tested by DOB before the deadline.
- Bundle for smarter CapEx: Pairing brake/UCM work with targeted modernization can reduce total downtime and mobilization while improving performance and reliability.
How Champion Elevator can assist:
- Survey and verify each car’s brake/UCM status.
- Engineer the best-fit path (dual-plunger vs. UCM/rope-gripper vs. machine replacement).
- Lock in parts & labor windows now, before the rush.
- Manage permits, NYC DOB inspections, and final acceptance to the finish line.
If you have questions or want to discuss how Champion Elevator can help, please email r.guarino@champion-elevator.com