Lifts [EU]
Ensuring lift safety
European Union (EU) law on the sale and putting into service of lifts and safety components for lifts has two key aims: i) to allow lifts and their safety components to be sold throughout the EU market; and ii) to ensure a high level of safety for lift users and maintenance staff.
Directive 2014/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts and safety components for lifts
European Union (EU) law on the sale and putting into service of lifts and safety components for lifts has two key aims: i) to allow lifts and their safety components to be sold throughout the EU market; and ii) to ensure a high level of safety for lift users and maintenance staff.
Key Points
The directive lays down uniform rules on the sale and putting into service of lifts and safety components for lifts. It applies to lifts that permanently serve buildings and constructions and that are intended for the transport of persons and goods. It does not apply to funicular railways, hoists and escalators or walkways.
The directive defines the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors in the context of the sale of lifts and safety components for lifts:
all lifts and safety components on sale in the EU must bear the CE conformity marking to show that they meet all the essential safety requirements of EU legislation;
before obtaining the CE marking, the manufacturer must conduct a safety and conformity assessment and establish technical documentation for its lifts and components;
importers must check whether manufacturers have carried out conformity assessments correctly and inform the authority monitoring the safety if they consider that the lifts or components do not conform with the essential safety requirements;
all necessary documentation must be recorded and kept for 10 years;
documentation and safety information must be written in a language easily understood by end -users;
manufacturers and importers must indicate their postal address on their safety components and lifts;
manufacturers may use electronic means to demonstrate conformity.
In addition, the directive specifies how national authorities who monitor safety must identify and prevent the import of dangerous safety components or lifts from non-EU countries.
Application & Background
This directive applies from 18 April 2014. It repeals Directive 95/16/EC with effect from 20 April 2016.
The directive updates EU rules for the sale of lifts and safety components for lifts. This is part of the effort to modernise European law in a wide variety of industrial sectors, which aims to simplify the rules, reduce administrative burdens and establish clearer and more consistent rules.
References
Act
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Directive 2014/33/EU