Ontario Elevator Safety Signs — TSSA Requirements for Building Owners

If you own or manage a building with an elevator in Ontario, you're legally required to display specific safety signs. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces these requirements under Ontario's Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 and the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation (O. Reg. 209/01).

Failing to comply can result in fines up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations. Here's everything you need to know about elevator safety signage in Ontario.

What Signs Does the TSSA Require?

Under Ontario's elevator safety regulations, building owners must display:

• Elevator inspection certificate — Must be posted inside the elevator cab or in a visible location near the elevator entrance
• Emergency contact information — Phone number for building management and TSSA
• Capacity signs — Maximum weight and passenger capacity clearly displayed
• Emergency instructions — "In case of fire, do not use elevator" signs at every floor landing
• Accessibility signage — Braille and tactile signs per AODA requirements

TSSA Inspection Requirements

The TSSA conducts periodic inspections of all elevating devices in Ontario. During an inspection, officers check:

• Valid inspection certificate displayed
• All required safety signs present and legible
• Emergency communication equipment functional
• Fire service access switches properly labelled
• Pit, machine room, and hoistway signage

According to the TSSA's Elevating Devices Safety Program, Ontario has over 70,000 elevating devices that require regular inspection.

Fire Safety Signs for Elevators

The Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) requires specific signage related to elevator use during emergencies. As detailed in our Ontario Fire Code Sign Requirements guide, these include:

• "In Case of Fire Do Not Use Elevator" signs at each floor
• Fire service access key switch labels
• Evacuation route signs showing stairwell locations
• Phase I and Phase II firefighter operation signage

Accessibility Requirements for Elevator Signs

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), elevator signs must include:

• Braille and raised characters on all floor identification signs
• Tactile star on the main floor jamb plate
• High contrast between text and background
• Sans-serif fonts in uppercase, minimum 16mm character height
• Non-glare finish on all sign surfaces

For complete AODA signage requirements, see our AODA Signage Requirements Ontario 2026 guide.

Material Requirements for Elevator Signs

Elevator safety signs must meet specific durability standards:

• Non-combustible materials — Required in elevator hoistways and machine rooms
• Fade-resistant — Signs must remain legible for the life of the installation
• Reflective options — Reflective materials recommended for emergency signage
• Photoluminescent — Required in some jurisdictions for evacuation signs

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The TSSA has enforcement authority under Ontario law. Violations can result in:

• Compliance orders requiring immediate corrective action
• Fines up to $50,000 per offence (individuals) or $250,000 (corporations)
• Sealing orders — the TSSA can shut down non-compliant elevators
• Daily penalties for continued non-compliance

How to Order Compliant Elevator Signs

Getting the right signs doesn't have to be complicated. At Niagara Stands Out, we produce TSSA-compliant elevator safety signs that meet all Ontario requirements, including AODA accessibility standards.

Need signs for your building? We serve the entire Niagara Region and Southern Ontario, with same-week production and Canada-wide shipping.

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