Lifts Directive
Subject area
The Directive applies to lifts whose speed is greater than 0.15m/s which permanently serve buildings and constructions, and specified safety components.
Intention of legislation
To assist industry by harmonising the laws of Member States regarding the safe design, manufacture, installation and placing on the market of lifts and the supply of safety components, while ensuring high levels of protection for health and safety.
It defines the wide choice of procedures by which compliance with the provisions of the Directive must be demonstrated.
Coverage
Lifts for the purposes of the Directive are defined as appliances whose speed is 0.15m/s or greater serving specific levels, having a car moving along guides which are rigid and inclined at an angle of more the 15 degrees to the horizontal and intended for the transport of persons, persons and goods, or goods alone but which persons could enter without difficulty and which have controls which are reachable by persons inside.
It also covers six categories of safety components listed in Annex IV of the Directive.
Specific kinds of lifts and lifting equipment are excluded from the Directive's application in Article 1(3).
Current position
The Lifts Regulations (SI 1997/831) originally came into force in 1999 and were amended by the UK Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1597) which came into force on 29 December 2009.
Notified Bodies
A list of Notified Bodies accredited under the Lifts Directive can be found by following this link to the European Commission's NANDO (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) Information System.
The list can be sorted by country or by Notified Body name by clicking on the column headings. The contact details, accreditation information and information on the Directive modules for which the organisation is notified can be found by clicking on the Notified Body name. Please note that UK based companies are not restricted to using UK Notified Bodies.
CAUTION: The Department is aware of cases where organisations claim (or appear to claim) to be notified bodies authorised to carry out conformity assessment and certification when they actually hold no such appointment. Please see further information in the attached warning note (DOC, 42 Kb) .
Contact
All enquiries relating to the information on this webpage should be sent to Product Regulation .
