Cardiff Lift Company always complies with the European Lift Directive 95/16/EC, however for lift replacement where existing building restrictions are present, we can, where appropriate modify our lift designs and with the approval of our DTI appointed notified body Plant Safety Ltd obtain a derogation. Thus enabling comparable safety as required by the European Lift Directive 95/16/EC.
Cardiff Lift Company is one of the first independent lift companies to achieve full compliance with the European Lift Directive 95/16/EC.
Please click on the Certificate image on the right to view our Approval Certificate.
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EU Lift Directive 95/16/EC (The Lift Regulations 1997)
The directive was required to create a common Standard of Safety to which all new lifts within the EU would conform and be enforceable by law in each member countries.
This is a substantial improvement on the previous BS 5655 Parts 1 to 10 which were recommendations only and could not be legally enforced.
Another benefit is that it enabled the free trade of approved new lifts and related components within the EU as they all meet the same safety requirements.
The directive was enacted by the European Council on 1st July 1997, the official UK version is "The Lift Regulations 1997". The latest implementation date was 1st July 1999 which was to allow a new set of standards to be written and approved by all EU member countries. The new UK standards that were published are:
- BS EN81-1:1998 Safety Rules for the construction and installation of lifts Part 1 Electric Lifts
- BS EN81-2:1998 Safety Rules for the construction and installation of lifts Part 2 Hydraulic Lifts
- BS EN81-3:2001 Safety Rules for the construction and installation of lifts Part 3 Electric & Hydraulic Service Lifts
- PAS 32-1:1999 Specification for examination and testing of new lifts before putting into service Part 1 Electric Traction Lifts
- PAS 32-2:1999 Specification for examination and testing of new lifts before putting into service Part 2 Hydraulic Lifts
To help ensure compliance with the new standards national governments licensed suitably qualified companies to act as Notified Bodies, who regularly scrutinise and audit the design, manufacturing, installation and testing procedures to ensure strict compliance.
Approved Lift Companies are issued with a certificate stating the scope of approval and the right to use the Notified Bodies license number.
All Lifts placed on the market after 1st July 1999 must have clearly visible within the lift car a plate bearing the CE mark and the Notified Bodies license Number.
 Safety Assessment Federation
To ensure Lifts are well maintained lift inspections are important.
Many Insurers require some degree of regular inspection to keep insurance policies valid.
Cardiff Lift provides a range of industry standard Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) inspections.
Nov 2006 New guidance from the HSE & SAFed
Supplementary Testing of In Service Lifts
The revised guidelines for the supplementary testing of in-service lifts has been formulated by the Review Committee comprising of major lift owners, users, lift manufacturerers, lift maintenance companies, inspection bodies and chaired by the Health & Safety Executive
The new guidance supersedes the existing document "Lift Guidelines (LG 1): Guidelines on the thorough examinations and testing of lifts, Volumes 1 and 2" published by SAFed in December 1998, which is now withdrawn.
Under the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, Regulation 2(1) lifts have to receive a thorough examination by a competent person, every 6 months for passenger carrying lifts and annualy for all other types of lifts.
What this means is that no annual testing / inspection protocol as LG1 is now required. Supplementary testing will only be required when called for by the Competent Person at the time of their thorough examination.
Who is a Competent Person
- Lift Insurance Inspectors
- Client appointed persons (The person who is responsible for ensuring compliance to
LOLER 1998 & HASAWA 1974 for that client) usually in larger organisations.
- Lift Engineer where they deem a specific piece of a lifts apparatus to be requiring
further in depth examination.
What is a "thorough examination"
HSE guidance states: A thorough examination is a systemic and detailed examination of the lift and all its associated
equipment by a competent person. Its aim is to detect any defects which are or might become, dangerous, and for the competent person to report them to the dutyholder and if appropriate, the enforcing authority (the Health and Safety Executive or Local Authority) so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.
Any supplementary tests called for to support the thorough exmination, is in order to establish the
equipments suitability for continued safe use.
We have been informed by the major insurance companies engineering inspection arm that all
Landing door locks will be examined during the couse of their inspectors thorough examination at least
once per year.
Accordingly we will no longer be offering as per the previous guidelines to carry out LG1 inspections, and unless deemed by our engineers during the course of a routine maintenance or instructed by yourselves, no supplementary examinations will be offered.
We will continue to undertake our routine maintenance inspections carrying out any adjustments and in the case of comprehensive maintenance contracts, replacement of worn components, that may be required to ensure
the reliable and safe operation of lifts.
Any outstanding LG1 testing can be completed unless specifically cancelled by the customer. When oustanding tests are completed, customers will receive Certificates in line with the new supplemetary testing requirement of recording such testing or detailed inspections.
The guides provided on the right are for information only, you should visit the respective websites for the latest information, please see the link buttons further down this page.
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HSE Thorough
Examination & Testing of Lifts
Click the Guide to View
DTI Lifts Guidance Notes
on the UK Regulations Non 1999
Click the Guide to View
SAFed Guidance for the Lift Owner or Duty Holder
Click the Guide to View
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Building Regulations and the
Disability Discrimination Act
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires all public buildings, such as
offices, shops, schools, pubs and clubs etc, to offer equal access to all able bodied
or disabled persons using the building. This requires that vertical access in both
gaining access into and inter-floor movement within public buildings may require
the provision of a lift.
Further Information
For further Lift Regulation information please do not hesitate to contact us. For full contact details click on the Contact Us button on the left or just telephone our Cardiff (UK) factory on: 029 20 404 404
To search for further in depth information click on the appropriate logos below:
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