Lift inspections

Lifts are subject to various inspections in the course of their lifespan. A new lift is inspected during commissioning. After this, periodic inspections are carried out and lifts are also inspected following alteration works.

The Lift Safety Act also decrees on the inspection of certain devices within the scope of the Machinery Directive: escalators, moving walks, home lifts, paternoster lifts and electronically operated lifting doors.

There is further information on lift inspections in the Tukes guideline Lift maintenance, alteration works and inspections.

Periodic inspections

Periodic inspection times:

• Passenger lift: initially within two years of commissioning and every two years after that.
• Escalators, moving walks, home lifts and paternoster lifts: initially within two years of commissioning and every two years after that.
• An electrically powered lifting door that is not a rolling door or in private use and whose lifting height is greater than 2.9 metres: initially within four years of the commissioning date and every four years after that.

During the periodic inspection, the inspector makes sure that the device is safe to use and properly maintained. During the inspection, the inspector checks the device’s technical parts and their operation and makes sure that the maintenance programme is suitable for the device and that the maintenance programme has been adhered to.

The possessor of the lift shall ensure that the periodic inspections of the device are carried out.

The periodic inspections are carried out by accredited bodies approved by Tukes. Lifting doors may also be inspected and examined by accredited inspectors.

Reinspection

In the event that the inspector detects major deficiencies in the periodic inspection, the lift is ordered to be reinspected. The reinspection must be carried out within three months. There is no need to take the lift out of commission but the deficiencies should be quickly repaired.

Inspection and examination of a new lift

Before commissioning a new lift the supplier of the lift shall verify its conformity and safety (the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU). On practical terms, the lift shall be subjected to a final inspection or a more thorough unit-specific inspection during the commissioning.
    
Once the conformity of the lift has been verified, the installer affixes a CE marking on the lift and issues a declaration of conformity for the lift.

Only notified bodies are permitted to carry out inspections of new lifts. After the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, acting as the competent national notifying authority, has notified an accredited body to the European Commission, this notified body has the right to carry out inspections under the Lifts Directive across the EU.

Verification inspection

In order to ensure the safety of escalators, moving walks or home lifts, a verification inspection shall be carried out within three months of the commissioning date. As for lifting doors subject to periodic inspections, a verification inspection is carried out within six months of the date of taking into use. The verification inspection must renewed, if the equipment is relocated to another place of use.

The possessor of the equipment is responsible for ensuring that a verification inspection is carried out.

Verification inspections are carried out by accredited bodies approved by Tukes. Lifting doors may also be inspected and examined by accredited inspectors.

Inspection of alterations

Alteration means the replacement of a component or structural subsystem with a component or subsystem that deviates from the original assembly.

Alterations can be divided into major and minor alterations.

A major alteration is an alteration

• directed at the nominal speed, nominal load, carrier weight or lifting height of the lift or
• where certain parts of the lift pertaining to safety are added, altered or replaced with a different type of part.

An extensive major alteration is also called modernisation. Minor alterations include all other alteration works than the ones mentioned above.

Whenever major alterations are carried out, the upgraded components and structures included in the scope of alteration must be inspected by an accredited body before recommissioning the lift. The inspection is carried out to the applicable extent in accordance with the conformity assessment procedure based on unit verification (The Lifts Directive, Annex VIII).

The company that carried out the minor alteration is responsible for its conformity. Before commissioning the lift, the company shall self-check the work it has carried out. The company shall record the performed alterations in the technical documentation of the lift and the maintenance book. The accredited body will examine the alteration in connection with the next periodic inspection.