What Is Inspection?
Lift inspection is the periodic verification that the lift installation operates safely and that its safety components still perform their function. It is not confined to the car and the doors: the machine room, the pit, the counterweight and all safety devices fall within the scope.
Why Is It Done?
The aim is to prevent risks such as free fall, overspeed, movement with the doors open and falling into the shaft. Lift safety rests not on a single device but on a chain of protections that back one another up; the inspection verifies each link of that chain separately.
Which Equipment Is Covered?
- Passenger elevators
- Freight elevators
- Stretcher and bed elevators
- Panoramic elevators
- Disabled-access platforms and service lifts
Legal Basis and Interval
There is no single universal interval. The inspection interval follows the most restrictive of three sources: the maximum period set by the applicable work-equipment legislation, the instructions in the manufacturer's manual, and the operator's risk assessment. Heavy duty, corrosive environments or shift work shorten it. The next inspection date is stated in the report.
Scope of Inspection
- Car: structure, lighting, ventilation, emergency lighting and communication
- Doors: locking device, closing force, photocell and interlock against movement with door open
- Suspension ropes or belts: wear, broken wires, tension balance
- Overspeed governor and safety gear (safety device)
- Brake system and emergency braking function
- Buffer and counterweight arrangement
- Shaft: pit clearances, refuge spaces, shaft lighting
- Machine room: access, emergency rescue arrangement, electrical panel
- Levelling accuracy and floor alignment
- Emergency communication system and rescue instructions
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 17020
- EN 81-20
- EN 81-50
- EN 81-70
- EN 81-77
Method and Equipment
- Calibrated test weights
- Speed measuring device (tachometer)
- Door closing-force meter
- Rope diameter measuring instruments
- Electrical measuring instruments
- Distance and level measuring instruments
Inspection Process
- 1Preliminary Information and PlanningThe equipment inventory, capacity data, manufacturer's instructions and previous inspection reports are collected; the inspection date and site conditions are planned.
- 2Document ReviewThe declaration of conformity, user manual, maintenance records and, where applicable, records closing out earlier nonconformities are reviewed.
- 3Visual InspectionThe load-bearing structure, connections, guards and warning markings are checked visually; wear, deformation and corrosion are assessed.
- 4Function and Safety Device CheckSafety devices such as brakes, limit switches, emergency stop and overload protection are verified by operating them.
- 5Measurement and Load TestDepending on the type of equipment, a load test, pressure test or electrical measurements are carried out. Test values are set according to the manufacturer's limits and the relevant standard.
- 6Evaluation and ReportingFindings are graded as conforming / non-conforming / conditionally conforming; the report and the inspection label are issued.
- 7Follow-upIf nonconformities exist, a follow-up inspection is carried out once they have been corrected; the next inspection date is stated in the report.
Nonconformities
A door interlock that does not work, a safety gear that fails to engage or inadequate braking are grounds for immediate withdrawal from service. On such findings the lift is sealed and taken out of use.
Inspection Report
- Details of the inspection body and the inspection personnel
- Equipment identification: make, model, serial number, capacity, year of manufacture
- Standard applied and scope of inspection
- Measuring instruments used and their calibration data
- Findings of the visual inspection and function check
- Load / pressure test values
- Nonconformities identified and their severity
- Conclusion (conforming / non-conforming / conditionally conforming) and the next inspection date
Accreditation
Inspection activities are carried out under ISO/IEC 17020, which requires the impartiality of the inspection body, the competence of its personnel and the validity of the inspection methods. Under the impartiality rule, a party that maintains or repairs an item of equipment cannot carry out the independent inspection of that same equipment. EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020, granted by accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC mutual recognition arrangement; because accredited scope is defined per inspection type, it is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Inspections
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is periodic inspection needed when the elevator already carries a CE mark?
The CE mark shows the elevator's conformity at the moment it was placed on the market. Periodic inspection, on the other hand, verifies that safety is maintained throughout its service life; the two relate to different points in time and different purposes.
Is the elevator out of service during the inspection?
Yes. Because safety functions such as the brake, the safety gear and the door locks are actually operated during the test, the elevator is taken out of service for the duration of the inspection. The length of time varies with the number of floors served and the condition of the installation.
Who may carry out the inspection?
The inspection is carried out by an inspection body accredited under ISO/IEC 17020 and by inspectors authorised by that body. The impartiality of the inspection body is fundamental: the party that maintains the equipment cannot conduct the periodic inspection of that same equipment as an independent inspection.
Does the load test damage the equipment?
The test load is set from the rated capacity of the equipment and the standard applied, and stays within the design limits. A properly planned load test causes no damage. If the equipment carries a hidden defect, bringing it to light during the test is precisely the purpose of the test.