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DataRemote

Life-Safety Compliance

Elevator Emergency Communication

Keep elevator emergency phones online and code-compliant as copper POTS lines retire. Cellular-powered connectivity that meets ASME A17.1, IBC, and NFPA requirements.

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ASME A17.1

Code compliant

48 hrs

Battery backup

E-911

Location accuracy

Multi-line

Per appliance

Regulatory Requirements

Elevator emergency phones are required by law.

ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators), IBC (International Building Code), and NFPA 72 all mandate that elevator emergency communication systems remain operational at all times — including during power outages.

As copper POTS lines are retired by carriers, buildings that rely on traditional phone lines for elevator emergency communication face a compliance gap. DataRemote bridges that gap with cellular-powered POTS replacement.

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ASME A17.1

Safety Code for Elevators

Requires operable two-way emergency communication in all elevator cabs

IBC

International Building Code

Mandates emergency communication in all passenger elevators

NFPA 72

National Fire Alarm Code

Governs communication systems for life-safety applications

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act

Requires accessible emergency communication for all building occupants

The Copper Problem

The clock is ticking on copper.

Telecom carriers are actively retiring copper POTS infrastructure. If your elevators still rely on copper phone lines for emergency communication, you need a plan now.

2025–2028

Copper POTS retirement timeline

$10K+

Potential AHJ non-compliance fines

100%

Uptime required by ASME A17.1

How DataRemote Helps

Code-compliant. Always connected.

DataRemote replaces copper POTS lines with cellular connectivity that meets every elevator emergency communication code requirement.

Code-Compliant Emergency Phone Connectivity

48-Hour Battery Backup

E-911 Location Accuracy

Multi-Line / Multi-Elevator Support

Ara Remote Monitoring

Fast, Non-Disruptive Installation

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Hardware

Recommended Appliances

POTS-compatible cellular appliances that meet ASME A17.1 elevator emergency communication requirements.

#1 Recommended
DataRemote 90X5 modular POTS IN A BOX and business gateway platform, angled view 5G RedCap

90X5

Modular POTS IN A BOX® / Business Gateway Platform

Modular PIAB and business gateway platform combining a 1 Gb/s router, 5G RedCap WWAN with LTE fallback, 4-8 FXS voice lines, and swappable power/battery modules — built for telephone line replacement, fixed wireless access, and internet backup.

View specs
DataRemote 90X1 5G POTS replacement appliance, side angle 5G

90X1

5G POTS replacement with automatic internet failover

Enterprise 5G appliance that replaces up to 8 analog POTS lines with an integrated ATA, 48-hour battery backup, UPS power output, and automatic cellular internet failover.

View specs
DataRemote 90X2 LTE POTS replacement router LTE

90X2

LTE POTS replacement with automatic internet failover

The LTE sibling of the 90X1: replaces up to 8 analog POTS lines with an integrated ATA, patented UPS power output, 48-hour battery backup, and automatic cellular failover across North American LTE bands.

View specs

Solutions

Purpose-built for the lines that can't go dark

Our #1 Solution

Most deployed

POTS Line Replacement

Migrate copper voice, fax, alarm and elevator lines to a managed 5G/LTE appliance — preserving every signal your life-safety devices depend on.

Up to 50% savings8 lines per applianceFull E-911
Explore POTS Line Replacement

Solution

Internet Backup & Cellular Failover

24–48 hour battery backup and instant cellular failover — your business never goes dark.

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Solution

Fixed Wireless Access

Primary or failover business internet over 5G/LTE, with automatic failover and battery backup baked in.

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Frequently asked questions

Are elevator emergency phones required by code?
Yes. Building and elevator safety codes (including ASME A17.1 and ADA requirements) mandate two-way emergency communication in elevators that connects occupants to help. These phones have traditionally relied on a dedicated analog POTS line.
What happens to elevator phones when copper is retired?
When the underlying copper line is retired or its rate spikes, the elevator phone must be migrated to an alternative. DataRemote's POTS IN A BOX® preserves the dedicated line behavior — including ring-down and supervision — over managed cellular, keeping the phone compliant and connected.
Does the elevator phone keep working during a power outage?
Yes. POTS IN A BOX® appliances include integrated battery backup (up to 48 hours on the 90X1/90X2) and automatic cellular failover, so the emergency line stays available even when building power or the primary internet circuit is down.
Can multiple elevator phones run on one appliance?
Yes. Appliances such as the 90X1, 90X2 and VAB-1 provide 8 RJ-11 FXS ports, so multiple elevator phones — and other analog endpoints — can share a single managed appliance.

Is your elevator emergency communication system ready for copper retirement?

Talk to a DataRemote specialist about keeping your elevator phones code-compliant with cellular POTS replacement.

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