The main goals behind EU rules and standards on lifts are safety and free trade across the EU single market. By making buildings – old and new – more accessible, lifts promote inclusivity. Installing lifts supports the social integration of people with special needs and reduced mobility.
Latest: Evaluation of the Lifts Directive
In 2024/25, the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU will be evaluated. This evaluation will assess whether the Directive is still fit for purpose according to those developing, producing, importing, distributing, installing, assessing for conformity, maintaining, modernising, repairing, recycling, owning, or using lifts and safety components for lifts, or supervising or coordinating such activities. Based on the conclusions of this evaluation, the Commission will decide whether the Directive needs to be revised to meet its objectives.
The corresponding ‘Have Your Say’ page informs about the public consultations and progress of this evaluation.
EU legislation and lifts
The Lifts Directive allows lifts and their safety components to be traded freely within the EU single market while ensuring higher safety for lift users and maintenance staff.
The Directive
- governs the design, manufacture and installation of lifts
- is mainly relevant for lift installers and components manufacturers but also has important implications for the owners and users of lifts
- aligns with the New Legislative Framework, which established a common legal framework for industrial products, such as lifts, to regulate market surveillance, conformity assessment, CE marking, etc.
- entered into force on 20 April 2016, replacing the previous Directive on this issue, Directive 95/16/EC
The Lifts Directive covers lifts that are (or can be) used to transport people and travel at a speed of less than 0.15 m/s.
All other lifts and lifting devices are covered by the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (to be replaced by the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on 20 January 2027) or Regulation on cableway installations (EU) 2016/424.
EU legislation does not cover the maintenance and modernisation of lifts. That is the responsibility of the national authorities in EU countries. However, the Lifts Directive does apply to lifts that were substantially modified.
Other EU legislation, such as the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2004/108/EC or the upcoming Cyber Resilience Act, also applies to lifts.
Guidance on applying the Directive
The Guide to Applying the Lifts Directive (3 MB) contains an article-by-article explanation of the Lifts Directive.
A German version of the guide – Anwendungsleitfaden zur Aufzugsrichtlinie – is also available (unofficial translation provided by the German authorities - 3 MB)
Guidance on specific subjects
- New lifts in existing wells (14 KB)
- Testing of lift landing doors – Information note (13 KB)
- EMC standards on emission and immunity (208 KB)
- Common approach on UMPC devices (97 KB)
- LCD screens to display information (285 KB)
Disabled access
EU countries are encouraged to take national measures to ensure that all levels in new and, where possible, existing buildings are accessible to people with disabilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs.
We recommend all new buildings have at least one lift accessible to people with disabilities. Furthermore, the lift must meet the relevant requirements in the Lifts Directive (see sections 1.2 and 1.6.1 in Annex I).
Standardisation
The use of harmonised standards in this field is voluntary.
If the EU Official Journal publishes a reference to a harmonised standard in support of the Lifts Directive and a manufacturer applies this standard to a lift or a lift safety component, that product then complies with the corresponding requirements in the legislation (presumption of conformity).
Alternatively, manufacturers are free to choose another technical solution, provided it complies with the mandatory legal requirements.
European harmonised standards for Directive 2014/33/EU are produced by the European Committee for Standardization - CEN (Technical Committee CEN/TC 10). Their references are published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Notified bodies for lifts
A notified body is an organisation designated by an EU country to assess the conformity of certain products, for example, lifts and lift components, before being placed on the market. The European Commission publishes a list of such notified bodies.
- List of bodies notified under Directive 2014/33/EU (NANDO information system)
- Coordination Group of Notified Bodies for Lifts (NB-L)
- NB-L Chairperson: Mr Stoermer – stephan [dot] stoermer
tuv [dot] at (Email) - NB-L technical secretariat: Ms Balzano – sarababertech [dot] it (Email)
- NB-L Chairperson: Mr Stoermer – stephan [dot] stoermer
Market surveillance authorities for lifts
Market surveillance is coordinated at EU level and carried out by national authorities.
- List of market surveillance authorities for lifts in EU countries
- Administrative Cooperation Group (AdCo)
- Adco Chairperson: Mr Achillides – sachillidesdli [dot] mlsi [dot] gov [dot] cy (Email)
- Adco Chairperson: Mr Achillides – sachillides
‘Recommendation for use’ (RfU) sheets
These ‘technical sheets for coordination’ reflect the common position of the notified bodies in the lifts sector, as approved by the Coordination Group for Notified Bodies for Lifts (NB-L) and endorsed by the Commission expert group for lifts.
- Valid RfUs – Lifts Directive (2 MB), endorsed by the Commission expert group on lifts
Further information
- Report to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation and functioning of Directive 2014/33/EU (2019)
- Evaluation of Directive 2014/33/EU (2019)
- Evaluation of Directive 95/16/EC
- Minutes of the meetings of the lifts working group 2002-2017 (3 MB)
- Agenda and minutes of meetings of the Commission expert group on lifts from 2021 onwards
Important notices
Warning about unregulated certificates
Unregulated certificates, often called ‘voluntary certificates’ besides other names, are regularly issued for some products covered by EU harmonisation legislation by certification bodies not acting in their capacity as notified bodies under EU law. These practices are misleading since only notified bodies may issue certificates of compliance for harmonised products and only in the area for which they are notified. For example, if a body is notified to issue certificates for machinery, it should not issue certificates (voluntary or other) for non-machinery products (such as personal protective equipment – masks).
Please note that, under EU law, voluntary or other additional certificates are not a recognised means to prove compliance. Consequently, they have no value in the case of checks by market surveillance authorities or customs. However, an exception arises in instances where voluntary certification is outlined in specific legislation. In such cases, while the certificate is not obligatory, it must adhere to explicit requirements if chosen to be acquired.
Voluntary certificates may create the impression that a product conforms with applicable EU harmonisation legislation, although such certificates are not issued by an authorised body.
Voluntary certificates must not be confused with third-party conformity assessment certification by notified bodies within the area of competence for which they are notified due to the use of terms such as ‘certification’ or ‘independent third party’ or the presence of the CE marking on the certificate.
CE marking can only be affixed after testing the product and performing the conformity assessment procedure prescribed by the applicable EU harmonisation legislation. It is not acceptable for voluntary certificates to bear a CE marking.
The SPEAC project provides information and several kinds of training on CE marking, conformity assessment etc. in Chinese.
Brexit notice
The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, the Single Market and the Customs Union created barriers to trade and cross-border exchanges that did not exist before 1 January 2021.
Consequences for public administrations, businesses and citizens were unavoidable, broad and far-reaching, even with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place.
To assist, the Commission prepared over 100 sector-specific stakeholder preparedness notices during the Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom. They contain detailed information on what administrations, businesses and citizens must do to prepare for the changes.