Powers and duties of counties and municipalities; annual inspections required; acceptance inspection

(a) A county or municipality may hire a private inspector or contract with any person who possesses a West Virginia elevator inspector's certificate of competency issued by the Division. (b) The county or municipality shall ensure that every elevator which has been in use for five years or more is inspected annually. A private inspector may inspect any elevator in the state. A division inspector may inspect any elevator in the state for the purpose of monitoring whether private inspectors are in compliance with the provisions of this article. (c)(1) The county or municipality shall ensure that each newly installed elevator within its jurisdiction is inspected and issued a certificate of acceptance by the Division prior to being placed in service. (2) A certificate of acceptance shall only be issued if the elevator was installed in compliance with the safety standards set forth in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME) A17.1-3, "Safety Code for Elevators" and ASME A18.1, "Safety Code for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts". (3) The acceptance inspection shall be subject to the same procedures and requirements as any other elevator inspection.