EN 81-20 sets the safety rules for the construction and installation of passenger and goods-passenger lifts. It replaced the earlier EN 81-1 (electric) and EN 81-2 (hydraulic) standards and has applied to new lifts in Europe since 1 September 2017. The design, calculation and testing of components is covered by its companion standard, EN 81-50.
What did it replace?
The 81 series splits lift safety into topics. EN 81-20 and EN 81-50 form its foundation.
- EN 81-20
- Covers the lift as a whole: shaft, car, doors, machinery and control spaces, and the safety of people working during installation and maintenance.
- EN 81-50
- Covers components: design rules, calculations, examinations and tests. It complements EN 81-20.
- EN 81-1 / 81-2
- The earlier texts for electric and hydraulic lifts. They have been superseded by EN 81-20 and EN 81-50.
What changed in practice?
The common thread is protecting the technician working on the lift as much as the passenger. The headlines most discussed in the field:
- Refuge spaces at the pit and above the car were increased, reducing the crushing risk during maintenance
- Car and shaft lighting were strengthened, and emergency lighting has to run longer during an outage
- Closing forces on automatic doors were limited and light curtains became the norm in the door zone
- Stopping devices, railings and working-area rules on the car roof and in the pit were clarified
- Access, labelling and locking rules for control and machinery spaces were detailed
- Communication for a person trapped in the car was defined as an inseparable part of the rescue scenario
These headlines summarise what the changes mean on site; the binding text is the current version of the standard. Dimensions, durations and force values can change between versions, so base project decisions on the version in force and on your notified body.
What does it say about communication?
EN 81-20 requires a means of emergency communication in the car as a general framework; the text that details how it must work is EN 81-28. They are read together: 81-20 says “there shall be one”, 81-28 says “this is how it works”.
In practice this means a device behind the alarm button that can set up two-way voice communication, and a rescue service staffed around the clock at the other end.
What about existing lifts?
The standard applies to lifts installed after it came into force. Lifts already in service are assessed against the rules of their own period; however, a major modernisation or a change of use brings current rules back into play.
In periodic inspections, topics that concern life safety are checked whatever the age of the lift — working emergency communication being the first of them.
The most common mistakes in projects
- Planning shaft dimensions to the old standard and missing the refuge spaces
- Leaving the communication device for later and not pulling the cabling and power for it
- Not planning a shared backup supply for emergency lighting and the alarm
- Remembering accessibility requirements (EN 81-70) only at the end of the project
Frequently asked questions
- What is EN 81-20?
- EN 81-20 is the standard that sets the safety rules for the construction and installation of passenger and goods-passenger lifts, covering the shaft, car, doors, machinery and control spaces and working safety during installation and maintenance.
- When did EN 81-20 become mandatory?
- It has applied to new lifts in Europe since 1 September 2017. Lifts installed after that date are assessed against EN 81-20 and EN 81-50.
- Are EN 81-1 and EN 81-2 still valid?
- No. EN 81-1 for electric lifts and EN 81-2 for hydraulic lifts were superseded by EN 81-20 and EN 81-50. Lifts installed under the older texts are assessed against the rules of their own period.
- What is the difference between EN 81-20 and EN 81-50?
- EN 81-20 covers the lift as a whole and its installation; EN 81-50 defines design rules, calculations and test methods for components. They are applied together.
- Do I have to bring my existing lift up to EN 81-20?
- A lift in service is assessed against the rules of the period it was installed in. Current rules apply on a major modernisation or a change of use. Life-safety topics such as emergency communication are checked at every periodic inspection.