What is BS EN 81‑20 - Safety rules for lifts about?
BS EN 81‑20 discusses safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts. BS EN 81‑20 specifies the safety rules for permanently installed new passenger or goods passenger lifts, with traction, positive or hydraulic drive, serving defined landing levels, having a car designed for the transportation of persons or persons and goods, suspended by ropes, chains or jacks and moving between guide rails inclined not more than 15° to the vertical.
BS EN 81‑20 also considers supplementary requirements in special cases (use of lifts by persons with disabilities, in case of fire, potentially explosive atmosphere, extreme climate conditions, seismic conditions, transporting dangerous goods, etc.).
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover lifts with rated speed ≤ 0,15 m/s , hydraulic lifts with a rated speed exceeding 1 m/s and the setting of the pressure relief valve exceeding 50 MPa.
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover new passenger or goods passenger lifts in existing buildings wherein some circumstances due to limitations enforced by building constraints, some requirements of EN 81-20 cannot be met and EN 81-21 should be considered.
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover lifting appliances, such as paternosters, mine lifts, theatrical lifts, appliances with automatic caging, skips, lifts and hoists for building and public works sites, ships' hoists, platforms for exploration or drilling at sea, construction and maintenance appliances or lifts in wind turbines.
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover safety during operations of transport, erection, repairs, and dismantling of lifts.
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover Noise and vibrations are not dealt with in this standard as they are not found at levels that could be considered harmful regarding the safe use and maintenance of the lift.
Note: BS EN 81‑20 does not cover passenger and goods passenger lifts, which are installed before the date of its publication.
Who is BS EN 81‑20 - Safety rules for lifts for?
BS EN 81‑20 on safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts is useful for:
- Lift Manufacturers
- Builders
- Civil Engineer
- Estate Managers
- Quality Control Personnel
Why should you use BS EN 81‑20 - Safety rules for lifts?
Safety in lifts is a prime concern for builders and lift manufacturers. The guidelines in BS EN 81‑20 help to ensure passenger safety. BS EN 81‑20 guides you with the safety rules related to passenger and goods passenger lifts with a view to safeguarding persons and objects against the risk of accidents associated with the normal use, maintenance, and emergency operation of lifts.
BS EN 81‑20 guides you with the installation of lifts in buildings/constructions. BS EN 81‑20 provides you with requirements for the materials and equipment that must be met in the safe operation of lifts. BS EN 81‑20 also gives the maximum car area related to a specified design load in the car (rated load) and the minimum car area to transport a corresponding number of persons, based on 75 kg per person, to detect and discourage overloading. BS EN 81‑20 will help you in ensuring the safety of your customer when they use your lifts.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 81‑20:2020 supersedes BS EN 81‑20:2014, which is withdrawn. BS EN 81‑20:2020 has been editorially revised. These changes are:
- All externally referenced standards have now been dated
- A new Annex ZA has been developed in order to be aligned with the requirements of the EU Commission Standardization Request “M/549 C(2016) 5884 final”