What is BS EN 81‑21-Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts about?
BS EN 81 discusses safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts. BS EN 81‑21 specifies the safety rules related to new passenger and goods/passenger lifts permanently installed in existing buildings where in some circumstances due to limitations enforced by building constraints, some requirements of EN 81-20:2014 cannot be met.
BS EN 81‑21 addresses a number of these constraints and gives requirements for alternative solutions. It will be read and applied in conjunction with the European Standard EN 81-20:2014.
BS EN 81‑21 covers:
- Either the construction and installation of one or more completely new lift(s) including new well and machinery spaces in an existing building; or
- The replacement of one or more existing lift(s) by new ones in existing well(s) and machinery spaces.
Note 1: BS EN 81‑21 Standard does not cover:
- Replacement or modifications of some parts to a lift already installed
- Other applications outside of the scope of EN 81-20:2014
Who is BS EN 81‑21-Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts for?
BS EN 81‑21 on safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts is useful for:
- Lift manufacturers
- Health and safety bodies
- Architects
- Civil Engineers
- Builders
- Estate Managers
Why should you use BS EN 81‑21-Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts?
Though lifts are one of the safest forms of transportation available, following these simple guidelines in BS EN 81‑21 helps ensure passenger safety. BS EN 81‑21 provides guidance in the reduction of top and pit clearances that may be required due to site conditions. The adopted principle of safety is based on two levels of achievement: first by means of an electrical stopping of the lift car, then by means of a mechanical stopping of the lift car.
When drafting BS EN 81‑21, it has been considered for reduced overhead and pits the following. Risk reduction measures that rely solely on operations in compliance with procedures are considered as not acceptable, except in a few situations in which mistake-proof solutions are not available (for example some activities in repair and installation in which safety devices cannot be operational). The risk reduction measures are automatically (without any intervention) activated, or maybe manually activated if mistake-proof-by-design or a combination of both is used.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 81‑21:2018 supersedes BS EN 81‑21:2009+A1:2012, which is withdrawn. BS EN 81‑21:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 81‑21:2009+A1:2012. These include:
- Updating of references and their associated requirements with regard to EN 81-20:2014
- Removal of duplicated text in reference to the requirements for refuge spaces expressed in EN 81-20:2014
- Replacement of Annex ZA with regard to the commission mandate M/549/C(2016) 5844 Final and Directive 2014/33/EU.