In Türkiye, the coloured label on a lift shows the result of its periodic inspection, carried out at least once a year: green means no defects, blue minor defects, yellow defective and red unsafe. Under the current regulation a red-labelled lift must not be used and its defects must be fixed within 60 days; a yellow-labelled lift has up to 120 days, and blue-label defects must be fixed before the next periodic inspection.
Who attaches the label, and when?
Lifts in buildings are inspected at least once a year. The inspection is carried out by a type-A inspection body authorised by the Ministry of Industry and Technology that has signed a protocol with the local authority (the municipality or the provincial administration). Every defect is listed in the report, and the lift is placed in one of four groups; the colour of the label shows the group.
The duty to have the inspection done lies with the local authority and the person responsible for the building (the building manager or owner). The technical staff of the lift's maintenance company attend the inspection.
Four colours, four outcomes
- Green — no defects
- The lift is safe. Normal use and monthly maintenance continue until the next periodic inspection.
- Blue — minor defects
- There are defects that do not directly affect safety. They must be fixed before the next periodic inspection; the lift may be used.
- Yellow — defective
- Defects must be fixed within 120 days at most, followed by a follow-up inspection. The lift may be used in the meantime.
- Red — unsafe
- The lift must not be used. Defects must be fixed within 60 days at most; otherwise the lift is sealed.
Deadlines are taken from Article 11 of the Lift Periodic Inspection Regulation (as amended on 13 September 2022). Which defect falls into which group is set by the checklists annexed to the regulation; for your own lift, see the periodic inspection report.
What happens after a red label?
A red label means the lift was found unsafe. The person responsible for the building must not allow it to be used and must have the defects fixed within 60 days. The inspection body then carries out a follow-up inspection within three working days of the end of that period.
If the defects have still not been fixed, the local authority cuts the lift's main power supply and seals it. If an unsafe lift is used anyway, the person responsible for the building is liable for any loss of life or property.
A red label usually means a refurbishment or part replacement. Sharing the defect list with your maintenance company straight away and planning the work in the first week of the 60 days makes the deadline much easier to meet.
Yellow label: 120 days
A yellow-labelled lift may be used, but the person responsible for the building must have the listed defects fixed within 120 days at most. A follow-up inspection takes place within three working days of the deadline; if the defects remain, the lift is taken out of service and sealed.
Blue label: before the next inspection
Minor defects behind a blue label must be fixed before the next periodic inspection. If the person responsible for the building applies within 60 days of the report's approval date, the first follow-up inspection is free of charge, so a blue label can be turned green early.
Where does "60 days for yellow, 30 for red" come from?
The "60 days for a yellow label, 30 days for a red label" figures still found online come from the former 2015 regulation on lift operation, maintenance and periodic inspection, which is no longer in force. The rules in force today are the 2018 Lift Periodic Inspection Regulation and its 2022 amendment: 60 days for red, 120 days for yellow.
Practical follow-up for building managers and lift companies
- Share the inspection report with the maintenance company the same day; the defect list is the basis of the work plan.
- Put the deadline in the calendar according to the colour: 60 days for red, 120 for yellow, the next inspection for blue.
- When a defect is fixed, have the work written into the maintenance report and the lift log book; that is the first thing the follow-up inspection asks for.
- Do not miss the free follow-up inspection for blue labels within 60 days.
- For companies maintaining lifts in many buildings, tracking these dates by hand is hard; maintenance management software can show each lift's label colour and deadline on one screen.
Frequently asked questions
- What do lift label colours mean in Türkiye?
- Green means no defects, blue minor defects, yellow defective and red unsafe. The colour shows the result of the periodic inspection carried out at least once a year.
- Can a lift with a red label be used?
- No. The person responsible for the building must not allow its use; defects must be fixed within 60 days, otherwise the lift is sealed.
- How long is the deadline for a yellow label?
- Under the current regulation, defects on a yellow-labelled lift must be fixed within 120 days at most, followed by a follow-up inspection within three working days.
- What should be done about a blue label?
- Minor defects must be fixed before the next periodic inspection. If you apply within 60 days of the report's approval, the first follow-up inspection is free.
- Who carries out the periodic inspection?
- A type-A inspection body authorised by the Ministry and contracted by the local authority. The duty to have it done lies with the local authority and the person responsible for the building.
Sources