SAFETY, FIRE & SECURITY


Lift maintenance and inspection: what you need to know


Lifts represent both a critical service and a significant safety responsibility. Understanding the scope of ‘duty holder’ obligations, thorough examination requirements, and proper documentation is essential for compliance and occupant safety, says Oliver Greening, LIFTEX 2025 show director


Are you a duty holder under existing or new legislation?


The landscape of building safety with implications for lifts is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Building Safety Act and other new legislation impacts everyone responsible for lift management, in particular in higher-risk buildings. Property managers, owners and engineers might be duty holders under existing legislation such as the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) for lifts used at work or used in the event of fire under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order with new responsibilities under the recent Fire Safety (England) Regulations.


Regular checks


Various British Standards and industry guidance have recommended simple checks of lifts and that lifts for the use of firefighters and evacuation lifts should be regularly maintained and inspected.


In addition, in higher-risk buildings a routine monthly check is now required for lifts for the use by firefighters and evacuation lifts. These are intended to be routine checks made or arranged by the ‘responsible person’ (as made clear in Government guidance) so not needing the involvement of a maintenance provider or inspection body.


These monthly routine checks must include:


• Evacuation lift – basis operational check • Lift for use by firefighters – basis operational check


• Documenting the results of checks Maintaining and upgrading lifts


The responsible person should arrange for regular maintenance following the manufacturer’s instructions. This typically involves maintenance visits with periodicity based on risk assessment taking account of usage patterns, the condition of the lift and other factors.


Key maintenance responsibilities include: • Implementing a planned preventative maintenance programme based on manufacturer recommendations and usage patterns


• Ensuring rapid response to breakdowns and entrapments (recognising that lift maintenance companies are not a “blue light” service)


• Conducting monthly functional checks on lifts for use by firefighters and evacuation lifts as required under Fire Safety (England) Regulations


• Maintaining backup power systems for emergency operation


• Ensuring communication systems within lifts remain operational at all times


When it comes to upgrades, duty holders should assess existing lifts against current standards, particularly BS EN 81-80 (Safety norms for existing lifts). This standard identifies safety gaps between older installations and current requirements, prioritising upgrade needs.


Critical upgrade considerations include: • Improving door protection devices to current standards


• Updating control systems for improved reliability and accessibility


• Enhancing emergency communication systems


• Implementing uncontrolled movement protection


• Upgrading lifts for use by firefighters to current standards (BS EN 81-72) where practicable or using BS 8899


• Converting appropriate lifts to evacuation lifts under current standards (BS 9999:2017, Annex G of BS EN 81-76 when published).


Thorough examinations: beyond basic inspection


A thorough examination should not be confused with routine maintenance. Required under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), these examinations should be conducted by a “competent person” who is impartial and independent from the regular maintenance provider.


A thorough examination includes: • Assessment of the entire lift installation, including machine room equipment, shaft components, and car mechanisms


• Verification of safety devices and their operational status


• Inspection of suspension for wear and damage


• Assessment of braking systems • Verification of door safety mechanisms • Inspection of emergency operation systems • Where the lifts is for use by firefighters or evacuation lifts, those function and features provided for the use/protection of firefighters or for evacuation.


22 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2025 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


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