State Administration for Market Regulation: Vigorously Support the Renewal and Modernization of Old Elevators

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently issued the Three-Year Action Plan for Consolidating the Foundation of Elevator Safety (2023–2025). It requires establishing a hierarchical accountability mechanism for safety responsibilities, urging and guiding elevator manufacturers to appoint quality and safety directors and safety officers, and requiring elevator users to assign elevator safety directors and safety officers, so as to delegate safety responsibilities down to the smallest operational units. A sound working mechanism of daily control, weekly inspection and monthly coordination shall be put in place, and safety risk control lists formulated to identify and eliminate hidden risks in a timely manner. Pilot programs will be launched to explore new professional management models for elevators in residential buildings. Operators providing full-package services covering elevator usage management, maintenance and self-inspection will be fostered to advance professional, large-scale and long-term operation. This will help resolve the short-term gaming dilemma in the residential elevator management and maintenance market, and effectively implement the primary responsibility for elevator safety management.

By the end of August 2023, each province shall build an elevator emergency response service platform such as the 96333 platform in at least one prefecture-level city (or district of municipalities directly under the Central Government) to perform emergency coordination and command functions and provide fallback safeguards. By the end of December 2023, passenger elevator emergency response service platforms shall achieve full coverage in medium-sized and larger cities across all provinces. By the end of December 2024, public services will be further enhanced to realize full coverage of passenger elevator emergency response service platforms within each province.

For “three-no elevators” in unmanaged residential compounds that carry severe potential accident hazards and have no property management, no maintenance contractors and no maintenance funds, the local grassroots governments shall be promptly notified in accordance with relevant provisions to designate responsible users for each elevator and avoid undefined accountability. Meanwhile, efforts will be made to incorporate old residential elevators into government livelihood guarantee programs. Combined with local urban old residential community renovation projects, greater support will be provided for the renewal and modernization of old residential elevators to ensure safe and convenient travel for residents.

(Report by Li Jingjing, CCTV)