Lifts in the UK were manufactured by a variety of companies located in most main cities within England and Scotland. At least all major companies were represented by a branch or a manufacturing base, in fact not dissimilar to the car industry within the Midlands during the 1950s and 1960s.

The introduction of BS2655 in the 1950s provided the standard to which manufacturers worked to. The Health & Safety at Work Act in 1974 proved to be a catalyst for change and an emphasis for standardisation. Thereafter, committees were working to devise a pan European Code, which then became known as EN81; within the UK the standard was known as BS5655, however,
this still contained a number of national variations.

Over the last ten years a number of issues have been identified as 'good ideas', mainly from people who have a vested interest within the industry. This, coupled with a European economic community intent on binding us all together has culminated in the Lifts Regulations 1997, which is now law.
This has been supplemented by BSEN81, which is a Harmonised European standard with NO national variation.

The Regulations

The Object:-

• To install lifts with a standard number of features.
• To control the design and installation process.
• To label the car station panel/push plate with a CE mark.
  

The Features:-

• Protect the car against uncontrolled upward movement.
• Incorporate two-way communication links within the car to the outside world.
• Have a method of car overload protection.
• Monitor machine room temperature and link to the lift control system to protect against overheating.
  

The Process:-

• Large manufacturers will have in-house procedures in accordance with ISO 9000 to control the process of design/manufacture/installation. This form of self regulation will be monitored periodically by a Notified Body, who in turn is regulated by the DTI.
• Smaller contractors who are not ISO 9000 accredited, will appoint a Notified Body to check the design and thereafter the 'as installed' lift.
• Following the Harmonised Standard BS EN81 for design, the Notified Bodies involvement is reduced.
• All products utilised should be approved, 'type tested' and CE marked.
  

When Does it Apply From?:-

• All parts in manufacture from 1st September 1998
• All new installations entering service after 1st July 1999.

However, It is good practice to employ the process/features to all lifts, ie. including modernised lifts.

The Future
The regulations in effect produce a number of checks and balances which will prove to be beneficial to the end user. The additional features on the lift installations will prove to be expensive, adding approximately 10% to the lift costs. The term 'approved body' will not take the place of the traditional 'engineer', whether that be the initiating architect or lift consultant in the process, as the Client requirements will still need to be considered, tendered and then transmitted to the successful lift company. The lift company will then install the installations to the specification, using the necessary approved body, under the terms of the Lifts Regulations.