The Caracas Fire Department (Bomberos de Caracas) is requiring building administrators to provide technical reports from Sencamer-registered companies before reactivating elevators following recent mechanical failures. According to reports from Finanzas Digital and Radio América, these safety requirements aim to prevent accidents and ensure that all lift systems meet national safety standards before returning to public service.
Officials from the fire department stated they are not currently issuing fines for the use of elevators, but they have urged residents and building managers to exercise extreme caution due to the risk of mechanical failure. This directive follows a series of technical contingencies that have left many residents in high-rise buildings without reliable vertical transport.
The current safety protocol mandates that any elevator activation must be backed by a formal inspection report. This report must be issued by a technical firm officially registered with the Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Normalización, Calidad, Control y Certificación (Sencamer), the body responsible for overseeing quality and safety standards in Venezuela.
Why the Caracas Fire Department is restricting elevator reactivation
The push for stricter oversight comes as a response to an increase in mechanical malfunctions across the capital's residential and commercial sectors. According to Globovisión, the fire department's primary objective is risk mitigation.
_A.jpg/960px-Ilhan_Omar%2C_official_portrait%2C_116th_Congress_(cropped)_A.jpg "Why the Caracas Fire Department is restricting elevator reactivation")
The requirement is not a blanket ban but a safety prerequisite.
How the Baruta municipality plans to implement safety protocols
In the Baruta municipality, local representative Omar Villalba has proposed a specific protocol to streamline the reactivation of elevators following technical inspections. According to Contrapunto.com, Villalba’s proposal focuses on creating a structured pathway for buildings to move from a state of “contingency” to “active service” through verified technical audits.
The role of Sencamer and international safety standards
The insistence on Sencamer registration is central to the current safety drive. Sencamer is the national authority that certifies that products and services meet the "Normas Venezolanas" (Venezuelan Standards).
However, some stakeholders are calling for a broader modernization of these rules. According to Descifrado, there are active requests to clarify the regulations regarding elevator use during contingencies and to adapt current Venezuelan norms to align with international safety standards.
Summary of elevator reactivation requirements
For building administrators and residents in Caracas, the process for safely returning elevators to service involves the following verified steps:
- Technical Inspection: A full mechanical and electrical audit of the elevator system.
- Certified Reporting: The inspection must be performed by a company officially registered with Sencamer.
- Documentation: A formal report must be produced and kept on file to justify the reactivation of the service.
- Risk Assessment: Adherence to the warnings issued by the Bomberos de Caracas regarding potential mechanical failures.
The next step for building managers is to identify and contract Sencamer-certified technicians to conduct the necessary audits. Residents are encouraged to report any irregular elevator behavior to their building boards and the local fire authorities to prevent accidents.
We invite readers to share their experiences with building maintenance in Caracas or provide updates on municipal safety protocols in the comments section below.