Elevator Wiki
Folkparksvägen 93 (4)

Serial number stated on an manufacturer emblem and inspection certificate in Sweden.

A lot of elevators around the world can be identified based on their serial numbers. In this guide, you can find out where to find the serial numbers and how to identify the elevator based on the serial number alone. This can be useful if you stumble across an completely modernized elevator beyond recognition of the original manufacturer. Also included in this guide is the year of manufacturing, and how to find that. Most of elevator manufacturer's serial numbers are stated in chronological order, and that will make it easier to figure out its built/manufactured year if you list all the serial numbers of a certain elevator brand.

Elevator-specific way to find serial numbers and built year[]

Here is a list of elevator brands and models, how an serial number of a certain brand are arranged and where to find the serial numbers and built year within the cab, machine room and elevator shaft.

Asea-Graham[]

Main article: Asea-Graham

On elevators made by ASEA-Graham in Sweden, there are usually no spots were you can find any serial numbers or built year at all within the cab. You have to rely on the inspection cerificate and if the elevator have swing doors, there might be a built year stated in there.

But if you visit the machine room, however, there will be a plate on the main control cabinet's short side showing both built year and serial number (stated as Reference number here)

ASEA-Graham list their numbers in two ways; either 8-number digit with a dot in the middle (XXXX.XXXX), or a 7-number digit starting with letter L (L-XXX.XXXX). The latter serial numbers were even used by KONE in the early 1970s in Sweden as well as KONE Asea-Graham between 1972 and 1974.

Kone[]

Main article: Kone

On Kone elevators, there are numerous ways to identify the serial numbers and built years. Most of the examples shown here are from Finland and Sweden.

KONE list their serial numbers before 2001 with the letter H followed by an number. This also applies on Kone marine elevators in cruise ships and cruise ferries built under the MacGregor brand (these marine elevators often have the words "Manufactured By KONE" listed on the bottom of the panel). After 2001, they used 8-number digits instead.

Note that in Australia, the number listed on the indicator is often known as the Equipment Number. If Kone are or were previously contracted to maintain a non-Kone elevator, the same eight-digit serial number format used for MonoSpace and related Kone models will be assigned to that lift (see below section).

Pre 1960s[]

Serial numbers and built years will be found on an plate with their logotype with it.

1961-1984[]

Serial numbers and built years are shown on the button panels themselves. This applies to Swedish elevators between 1961 and 1971 and in Finland up until 1984.

Novel Elements[]

Kone Novel Elements re-introduced the inclusion of serial numbers and built years on the panels. They can be found below the floor indicators from now on.

Modernized elevators[]

Elevators in Finland modernized by Kone usually stated both the built year, modernization year and the original serial number in the same ways as above. This was used far beyond 1984 as it was used on KONE M-buttons and Evergreen panels on modernized elevators.

Kone MonoSpace, MiniSpace and other models[]

On most post-2000s Kone elevator models such as MonoSpace, MiniSpace, TranSys, MaxiSpace and NanoSpace, the install year is listed on the indicator or a plate beneath it. The number of digits in the serial number was expanded from six to eight digits in around 2004.

Other examples[]

In Sweden, at transit locations such as railway stations, Kone have made a custom design using Dewhurst fixtures. Since 2014, the built year and serial numbers are present on the panel itself.

Otis/Otis Electric/Sigma[]

Main article: Otis

Almost any Otis elevators in Europe states both the serial number and year of installation on the car operating panels. Serial number format varies on different elevator models.

Note that this also applies on European Otis elevator models installed in regions other than Europe (or Asian Otis elevator models manufactured by Otis Electric).

Otis Europa 2000[]

On Otis Europa 2000 elevators, both the serial number and build year can be found under the intercom speaker. The serial number usually starts with number "73" followed by two letters (usually "NK", but some others may use different letters) and four digit numbers (example "73 XX 0000" or "73 NK 0000").

Otis 2000 and European GeN2[]

On Otis 2000 and European Gen2 elevators, both the serial number and build year are listed along with the capacity just under the floor indicator. These elevators use 8 digit serial number, usually starts with two digit numbers (which represent a country code (and the company of installation), for example, 31 for Otis Australia, C3 for PT. Citas Otis Elevator, and 51 for Otis Elevator Co. (HK) Ltd.) followed by two letter and then four digit numbers (example: "00XX0000"), although some other elevators may have either of the following different formats:

  • The first two digit consist of a letter and a number, followed by three digit letters and three digit numbers at the end (example: "X0XXX000")
  • Same as above, but the first two digit only consist of numbers (example: "00XXX000")
  • The first two digit consist of numbers, followed by three digit letters and three digit numbers at the end (example: "00XXX000")

For Otis GeN2 elevators with large LCD displays in Spain, both the serial number and build year are listed on the display, usually near the bottom left corner of the screen.

Most Australian Otis Gen2s maintained by Otis display their serial number as the Machine Number. There are known examples of Kone maintaining Gen2s and using it as their registration number for maintenance.

Other examples[]

Certain older European Otis elevator models have slightly different serial number format. For example, there are some older Otis elevators with serial numbers that starts with two digit numbers followed by three letters and then a three digit numbers (example "00 XXX 000").

On the Otis XO21NP and XO-508 escalators, the nameplate is located on the lowest landing beside the handrail and it clearly shown the manufacture date and its serial number. However, the another serial number can be assigned by the local Otis office.

On the Otis elevators that using the controller manufactured by Otis Electric (Gen2-Regen, Gen3, Arise, SkyRise), the nameplate is located on the controller and it clearly shown the manufacture date and its serial number. However, the another serial number can be assigned by the local Otis office.

Country/Inspection-specific way to find serial numbers & built years[]

Here is a guide of how to read and figuring out serial numbers and built years from an inspection certificate. Some countries have them visible inside the cab of the elevator where an inspection certificate will show an valid inspection, when it expires, and depending of country and inspection company/authority, it will show additional information, such as manufacturer, serial numbers, built years, address, internal building info, capacity, etc. (may vary from country to country and company/authority that issued the certificate).

Australia[]

Some maintenance companies may place an elevator's registration number, contract number and install year on the maintenance sticker. However, this is inconsistent, even across a single company.

For modernized elevators, Schindler sometimes place the modernisation year on the sticker. This is done on the Toowong Tower elevators.

Sweden[]

In Sweden, inspection duties are carried out by inspecting companies. Companies that issue inspection certificates as of today are Dekra, Kiwa, Hissbesiktningar i Sverige AB (HSAB) and among others. The most common things present on these stickers are:

  • Type of object
  • Registry number (internal for the inspection company), Serial number (Internal for the elevator manufacturer)
  • Location
  • Identifier to separate this elevator apart from others in the same location (internal for the landlord)
  • Capacity
  • Expiration date of a valid inspection

The certificate is required to be present inside the elevator car and inspections are carried out yearly, as well as after some major alterations has been done (such as modernization). An inspection that has been done after an installation of new elevator or a major modernization done on an older elevator is valid in two years instead of one and it is the landlord's responsibility to make sure the elevator is safe and have a valid certificate.

Dekra[]

Dekra have a rectangular green certificate. It used an white grayish squared design in the past. It was formelly known as ÅF-Kontroll.

Kiwa Inspecta[]

Kiwa Inspecta (known as KIWA nowadays, and Inspecta in the past) have a rectangular white sticker with their logo at the top and a blue or red contact information field at the bottom. The arrangement is similar to Dekra. Both Dekra and Kiwa Inspecta uses registry numbers starting with letter L.

Hissbesiktningar i Sverige AB[]

HSAB had a yellow blue sticker. The major difference here is that the rows are arranged from up to down. HSAB's registry number is used in bold text and doesn't begin with an L. it is arranged from top to bottom; Object, Registry number, Serial number, Location, Separate identifier, Capacity per kg & per persons. It also uses a rounded sticker for yearly inspection.

HSAB have introduced a new black sticker and re-arranged the order the information is present from top to bottom; Registry number, Object, Location, Separate identifier, Serial number, and below the blank space it shows the capacity per person and per Kg.

Unusual spots[]

Elevator technicians can write the serial numbers on unusual spots, so there are key locations to look after them for. This happens usually on places were several elevators installs in the same time and parts needs to be separate.

For the assembly of the escalators, the manufacturing plant usually painted the serial numbers on the escalator truss[1].

Notes and references[]