System
Elevator emergency recall
Capex band
$18,000–$45,000
per elevator (controller and recall upgrade)
Requirement basis
Provincial elevator safety codes adopting CSA B44; high-building measures in NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.2.6
Inspection
Monthly recall test; annual full-function test
Observations
1
append-only series
Automatic recall of elevators to the designated level on a fire alarm, plus firefighters' in-car operation. Required wherever elevators serve storeys above or below the recall level; high buildings additionally need a designated firefighters' elevator.
The requirement basis is Provincial elevator safety codes adopting CSA B44; high-building measures in NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.2.6. Provincial editions adopt or amend the model code, so the clause numbering in force is the one published by the province — the edition named on this page is the one Securlor reads.
Costs are modelled as a national baseline per elevator (controller and recall upgrade) — $18,000 to $45,000, with a mid-band of $28,000 — then scaled by the regional labour index. Annual inspection and monitoring runs $1,000 to $2,500.
Maintenance is the other half of ownership: monthly recall test; annual full-function test, under Provincial elevator regulation adopting CSA B44, tested to CSA B44. A system that is installed but not inspected is a compliance failure waiting for an inspector to find it.
This page is a planning reference, not a code compliance opinion. The authority having jurisdiction decides what binds a specific building; confirm the requirement and the edition with a qualified professional.
Cost observation series
2026-08-22 · NAT · modelled
$18,000–$45,000 per elevator
Planning scope — This is a planning scope, not a code compliance opinion. Code interpretation is jurisdictional and enforced by the authority having jurisdiction — a municipal official, not this site. Confirm every requirement against the adopted code edition with a qualified professional before you design, budget or build.
How these figures were produced
- Modelled — Derived arithmetically from observed inputs using the published method; not a market quote.
- Observed — Recorded directly from the cited source series, unadjusted.
When is a elevator emergency recall required?
Required wherever elevators serve storeys above or below the recall level; high buildings additionally need a designated firefighters' elevator. Requirement basis: Provincial elevator safety codes adopting CSA B44; high-building measures in NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.2.6.
What does a elevator emergency recall cost to install?
The modelled national baseline is $18,000–$45,000 per elevator (controller and recall upgrade), region-adjusted on this page. Actual pricing requires a site review by a licensed contractor.
How often must it be inspected?
Monthly recall test; annual full-function test, under Provincial elevator regulation adopting CSA B44, tested to CSA B44.
Is this page a substitute for a code consultant?
No. It is a planning reference built from the published model code. The authority having jurisdiction and a qualified professional confirm what your building must do.
Sources
- [1] Provincial elevator safety codes adopting CSA B44; high-building measures in NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.2.6 — requirement basis
- [2] Provincial elevator regulation adopting CSA B44 — inspection duty, tested to CSA B44
- [3] Securlor cost observation series — append-only; every row dated
Not advice — Securlor is a data publisher. Nothing here is professional, financial, legal, or investment advice, and nothing here is an offer or a quote. Figures are indicative benchmarks for comparison and must be confirmed with a qualified professional before you rely on them. About Securlor