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Updated May 2026 · LiftComm Code & Compliance Series · 9-minute read
Yes. If your building has a passenger elevator, you almost certainly need a two-way emergency phone in the car. The technical standard is ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, adopted across the U.S. and Canada through the International Building Code and state amendments. Section 2.27.1.1.3 of the 2019 edition requires three things in the car: two-way voice, two-way text messaging for passengers who can't speak or hear, and a video feed so responders can see whoever's stuck. Voice-only phones don't satisfy the 2019 code where it's been adopted.
Whether the 2019 requirements apply to your specific elevator depends on which edition your jurisdiction has adopted, the scope of any work being performed, and how your AHJ treats existing equipment.
Four regulatory frameworks bear on the in-car phone.
ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. The controlling technical standard for elevator equipment in the U.S. and Canada. The 2019 edition was issued December 31, 2019. Harmonized title with Canada is ASME A17.1-2019 / CSA B44-19. ASME has since published 2022 and 2025 editions, but most U.S. states currently enforce 2019.
International Building Code (IBC). IBC Chapter 30 (Elevators and Conveying Systems) incorporates ASME A17.1 by reference. Whichever edition of ASME A17.1 your jurisdiction has adopted, typically through a state-level building code with local amendments, is the legally enforceable standard. IBC 2018 Sections 3001.2 and 3001.3, including Table 3001.3, drove ASME A17.1's 2019 communication updates.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Federal accessibility law expects emergency communication systems to be usable by people with disabilities, including passengers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired. The 2019 ASME edition codified a visual and text-messaging requirement that aligns with ADA expectations.
NFPA 72 sits in the surrounding life-safety framework. It governs fire alarm signaling and Phase I/II elevator recall, not the in-car phone itself, but you'll encounter it on the same project.
The practical takeaway: meeting one framework doesn't automatically mean you meet the others. A modern compliant phone has to satisfy ASME A17.1 in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, plus ADA accessibility.
Section 2.27.1.1.3 is structured as subsections (a) through (f). In plain English:
(a) Accessibility. The communications means complies with applicable accessibility requirements (ICC A117.1, ADAAG, or ADA/ABAAG, depending on the jurisdiction).
(b) Push button. A push button to start the call is provided in or adjacent to the car operating panel. Visible, permanently identified with the "PHONE" symbol. Pressing the button initiates the call.
(c) Acknowledgment message. A message on the same panel as the PHONE button, activated by authorized personnel, confirms that communications are established.
(d) Operating instructions. Operating instructions are placed with or adjacent to the communications means and conform to Section 2.27.7.3.
(e) Two-way text messaging. Messages are displayed that let emergency personnel communicate with, and get responses from, a trapped passenger who can't verbally communicate or hear. This is what drives the need for a screen-equipped phone.
(f) Video for entrapment assessment. A video feed lets emergency personnel observe passengers anywhere on the car floor. One-way video (camera in the car, viewed by the responder), not video calling.
The section also covers three behaviors that matter for system design.
45-second automatic re-routing. If the initial call isn't answered within 45 seconds, the system has to route automatically to an alternate on-site or off-site responder. Single-line ringdown phones with no alternate path fail this requirement.
4-hour backup power for communications, 1-hour for the audible signaling device. The power source has to support communications (per 2.27.1.1.3 and 2.27.1.1.4) for at least 4 hours and the audible signal for at least 1 hour. If the phone is on building power, it has to transfer automatically to auxiliary power when normal power fails.
Cellular service is now an acceptable alternative to a landline. Earlier editions effectively required POTS (analog phone) lines, which carriers are decommissioning. The 2019 edition allows cellular as a compliant alternative if the system has automatic line and service verification, meets the 4-hour backup, and maintains continuous connectivity.
Section 2.27.1.1.4 adds a separate requirement for elevators with a rise of 18 m (60 ft) or more: a communications means inside the building, accessible to emergency personnel, in addition to the in-car system from 2.27.1.1.3. This is typically a building-side intercom or lobby phone with a "help is on-site" message capability and a video feed for emergency personnel responding to the elevator. Single-story or low-rise applications under 60 ft of rise are subject to 2.27.1.1.3 only.
Plan for the 2019 in-car requirements (voice, text, video, 4-hour backup, 45-second re-route) in any of these situations:
• New elevator installation in a jurisdiction enforcing ASME A17.1-2019 or later.
• Major modernization of an existing elevator. New controller, new car operating panel, or any work that crosses your AHJ's "alteration" threshold typically triggers re-compliance.
• Federal projects. Federal construction and modernization specs generally reference the most recent ASME edition. Confirm the specific edition in your project specification.
• Healthcare facilities subject to local elevator code adopted by the state or healthcare AHJ.
• Public housing, transit, K-12, and higher education facilities subject to the state or local AHJ.
If any of these applies, plan on a screen-equipped phone with bidirectional text capability and a camera path for entrapment assessment.
A voice-only phone can still be compliant in a few scenarios:
• Pre-2019 installations with no triggering scope of work. Most AHJs let legacy elevators operate under the code in effect when they were installed, until a modernization or alteration triggers re-compliance.
• Jurisdictions still enforcing earlier ASME editions. Adoption status varies by state and locality.
• Private freight elevators and certain limited-use, limited-application (LULA) cars, which fall under different sections of the code.
Even where voice-only is technically compliant, ADA accessibility expectations apply on their own. A voice-only system gives a deaf or speech-impaired passenger no way to summon help, and that's accessibility exposure no matter which ASME edition is in force.
A code-compliant in-car device under ASME A17.1-2019 generally needs the following hardware and behavior:
• A speaker and microphone that support full-duplex, hands-free voice. No handset; passengers may have limited mobility.
• A visible display that can show outgoing acknowledgment and "help is on the way" messages, plus a way for the passenger to respond visually.
• A push-to-call control on or adjacent to the car operating panel, marked with the PHONE symbol and meeting ADA reach, tactile, and Braille labeling.
• A camera and video path so emergency personnel can observe passengers for entrapment assessment.
• Automatic re-routing to a secondary answering location if the first responder doesn't pick up within 45 seconds.
• A power and network path that survives a building power event for at least 4 hours of communications and 1 hour of audible signal.
• A line or service path that supports compliant verification: POTS, cellular, or VoIP that meets the verification and continuity requirements.
Most older voice-only devices can't be upgraded to meet this list, which is why most modernization projects replace the in-car device entirely.
If your jurisdiction enforces the 2019 edition, yes. Section 2.27.1.1.3(e) requires the in-car display to support a two-way text exchange so passengers who can't speak or hear can summon help and confirm a response. Voice-only phones don't satisfy the 2019 edition for new and modernized installations.
If your jurisdiction is still on an earlier edition, voice-only may still be permitted. But ADA accessibility applies regardless, and the 2019 edition is going to land in your jurisdiction during the equipment's service life. For owners specifying or replacing equipment in 2026, installing a talk-and-text phone now is the safer call.
Once you've decided you need a talk-and-text phone, the next question is where the call routing lives. Most buyers miss how big this decision is.
Cloud-hosted elevator phones route calls through a vendor's external infrastructure. The recurring monitoring fee is typically bundled with hosting. They install quickly and are common in commercial office buildings.
On-premises elevator phones route calls through a PBX inside the building's own network. No external dependency, no recurring monitoring contract by default, and the system can integrate with the security platforms the building already operates.
For many regulated environments, the cloud option isn't actually an option. Federal cybersecurity frameworks (FedRAMP, FISMA), healthcare network policies, transit-authority IT standards, CJIS for public safety, and DHS critical-infrastructure designations all push back against unvetted external systems carrying live operational traffic. A cloud-hosted elevator phone introduces an external connection that the IT or security review may not approve.
LiftComm is a fully on-premises elevator emergency communication platform built for environments where cloud hosting isn't approved. The system satisfies ASME A17.1-2019 Section 2.27.1.1.3 (a) through (f) using hardware that mounts inside the elevator car operating panel and a PBX that runs inside the building's own network.
LC-EAV Series in-car phone. A 7-inch capacitive touchscreen elevator phone with full-duplex HD audio, three alarm input ports, PoE power, and Secure Boot with TLS and SRTP encryption. Satisfies the in-car voice and text-messaging requirements (2.27.1.1.3 (b), (c), and (e)). When idle, the screen can display building-approved static images.
LC-C-CAM ceiling/corner camera. An IP camera that pairs with the in-car phone to satisfy the video-for-entrapment-assessment requirement (2.27.1.1.3(f)). Optional COP-mounted camera available where ceiling mounting isn't preferred.
LC-UCM1400 on-premises PBX. An enterprise-grade IP PBX that lives in the building's data room. Handles all call routing, the 45-second auto re-route, conferencing to 911 or in-house security, and integration with existing physical security platforms. No external cloud service required.
LC-SC1300 Security Desk Phone. A high-end IP video phone for the building's security desk or lobby answering location. 8-inch 1280×800 capacitive touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera with privacy shutter, 16 SIP lines, 7-way HD audio and 3-way 1080p HD video conferencing, dual Gigabit Ethernet with PoE/PoE+, Bluetooth, HDMI in/out, and an Android-based platform with API/SDK for custom integrations. Integrates with Genetec via WebSDK to pull the right CCTV feed automatically when a call comes in from a specific elevator, so the operator sees the call, the cab, and the surrounding area in one view.
Integration with what you already operate. LiftComm plugs into Genetec, access control, CCTV, and SOC platforms already deployed. Elevator events flow into the same monitoring environment where operators are already looking.
LiftComm is currently deployed across the MTA's elevator fleet and is in active use in healthcare, federal, and municipal environments.
For consultants and AHJs writing or reviewing modernization specs, the following language captures the 2019 in-car requirements and aligns with LiftComm's product line. Adapt it to your project-specific code references and AHJ requirements.
Furnish and install an in-car elevator emergency communication system compliant with ASME A17.1 (in the edition adopted by the AHJ; reference 2019 Section 2.27.1.1.3 (a) through (f) where applicable) and applicable ADA accessibility requirements. System shall provide two-way live voice, two-way text-based messaging on a panel-mounted display, and a video means for emergency personnel to observe passengers for entrapment assessment. System shall provide automatic re-routing to a secondary answering location if the primary call is unanswered within 45 seconds. Communications power source shall provide a minimum of 4 hours of backup capacity; audible signaling shall be backed for 1 hour. System shall route calls through an on-premises PBX hosted within the owner's network with no external cloud dependency. System shall support integration with existing access control, CCTV, and physical security platforms.
Spec sheets and submittal documentation are available on request. Contact us for project-specific submittal materials.
Is an elevator phone required by law?
For passenger elevators, yes. ASME A17.1 / CSA B44 Section 2.27.1.1.3 requires a two-way emergency communication means in the car. The standard is adopted into law in most U.S. states and Canadian provinces through the International Building Code and state amendments. The 2019 edition added a text-messaging requirement and a video requirement for entrapment assessment.
What is the 45-second rule for elevator phones?
ASME A17.1-2019 requires the system to route the call automatically to a secondary on-site or off-site location if the first responder doesn't pick up within 45 seconds.
Does my existing elevator have to be upgraded to the 2019 code?
Not automatically. Most AHJs let legacy elevators operate under the code in effect when they were installed, until a modernization or alteration triggers re-compliance. Confirm scope-of-work triggers with your local AHJ.
Is a two-way talk and text elevator phone the same as a video phone?
Not exactly. The 2019 code requires three things in the car: two-way voice, two-way text-based messaging, and a one-way video means so emergency personnel can observe passengers for entrapment assessment. The text requirement is for messaging with the passenger; the video requirement is for observation, not video calling.
Who is allowed to answer the elevator emergency call?
ASME A17.1-2019 expects the responder location to be staffed by authorized personnel trained to handle the call. Depending on the project, this can be in-house security, a property management call center, a dedicated answering service, or a direct conference to emergency services.
Does the 2019 code allow cellular instead of a landline?
Yes. The 2019 edition allows cellular service as a compliant alternative to POTS, as long as the system includes automatic verification of the line or service, meets the 4-hour communications backup-power requirement, and maintains continuous connectivity.
Is video required in every elevator under the 2019 code?
Section 2.27.1.1.3(f) requires a video feed so emergency personnel can observe passengers for entrapment assessment, as part of the in-car communication requirements. Section 2.27.1.1.4 adds a separate building-side communications means for elevators with a rise of 60 ft (18 m) or more.
Why does on-premises hosting matter for an elevator phone?
Cloud-hosted elevator phones route emergency traffic through external vendor infrastructure. In federal, transit, healthcare, military, correctional, and other regulated environments, IT security reviews often reject unvetted external systems on principle. An on-premises elevator phone keeps the call inside the building's own network and integrates with the security platforms the facility already operates.
Does LiftComm satisfy ADA accessibility?
The LC-EAV Series provides text-based two-way messaging alongside two-way voice, which addresses the ADA expectation that emergency communication be usable by deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired passengers. Final ADA compliance for the installation also depends on push-button height, signage, tactile and Braille labeling, and the responder's ability to handle text-based exchanges.
What is the typical lead time and installation effort?
LiftComm devices ship pre-configured. The field team mounts the in-car device in the COP, plugs in the PoE cable, and the PBX provisions the device automatically. Most single-elevator installs are done in under a day per car.
If you're specifying or replacing an elevator phone for a federal, healthcare, transit, government, military, or other security-conscious project, schedule a 30-minute technical walkthrough with our integration engineers. We'll review your network and security requirements, confirm code applicability with reference to your AHJ, and provide a quote.
Request a technical walkthrough · (212) 732-4658 · info@liftcomm.com
Disclaimer
This article is general information about elevator emergency communication codes and is not legal advice or a substitute for review by the project AHJ. Code adoption status and enforcement vary by jurisdiction. Confirm specific requirements for your project before purchasing, specifying, or installing equipment.
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