Lifts provide an essential means of comfortable and safe access to different floors in buildings. The installation of lifts in new or existing buildings has an increasingly important role to play in an ageing society. It supports the social integration of people with special needs and offers freedom of access to people with reduced mobility.
EU legislation and lifts
The Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU permits the free circulation of lifts and safety components for lifts within the internal EU market and ensures a high level of safety for lift users and maintenance staff.
- This harmonised EU legislation governs the design, manufacture, and installation of lifts.
- It is mainly relevant for lift installers and components manufacturers but also has important implications for the owners and users of lifts.
- It is aligned with the new legislative framework policy and is applicable from 20 April 2016, replacing the previous Directive 95/16/EC.
Guidance on the application of the directive
- Guide to application of lifts directive (3 MB)
- 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 (97KB)
EU declaration
With regard to access to cars for disabled people, EU countries are encouraged to take any national measures necessary to ensure that all levels of existing buildings, as well as those under construction are accessible to disabled people, particularly those who use wheelchairs.
It is recommended that at least one lift accessible to disabled people in wheelchairs be provided in all new buildings. Furthermore, the lift must fulfil all regulatory requirements (as regards dimensions, position of controls, etc.)
Standardisation
European harmonised standards for Directive 2014/33/EU are produced by the European standardisation organisation: the European Committee for Standardization - CEN (technical committee CEN/TC 10 ). Their references are published in the official journal of the European Union (OJEU).
Notified bodies for lifts
- List of bodies notified under Directive 2014/33/EU (NANDO information system )
- European coordination of notified bodies for lifts (NB-L)
- NB-L Chairperson: Mr Stoermer – stephan [dot] stoermertuv [dot] at (Email)
- NB-L technical secretariat: Ms Balzano – sarababertech [dot] it (Email)
- NB-L administrative secretariat: Administrative-Secretariat-Notified-Bodiesmethods-planning [dot] eu (Email)
'Recommendation for use' (RfU) sheets
These 'technical sheets for coordination' report the common position of the notified bodies – sector Lifts – approved by the expert group 'NB-L' and endorsed by the lifts working group.
Directive 2014/33/EU on lifts and safety components for lifts
- RfUs for lifts - Directive 2014/33/EU (353 KB) considered as endorsed (January 2022)
Directive 95/16/EC on lifts and safety components for lifts
- RfUs for lifts - Directive 95/16/EC (3 MB) considered as endorsed (September 2016)
Further information
- Report: implementation and functioning of the lifts directive
- Staff working document: Evaluation of the lifts directive
- Evaluation of the lifts directive
- Minutes of the meetings of the lifts working group from 2002 onwards (3 MB)
- Contact points (151 kB) and Market surveillance authorities (151 kB)
Contact
Grow-liftsec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Grow-lifts[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Brexit notice
Unregulated certificates warning
Unregulated certificates, which are often called ‘voluntary certificates’ besides other names, are often 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 can create the impression that the 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 for 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.