Codes and Standards

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK National Standards Body responsible for working with industry, trade associates and government to produce British, European and International standards.

The BSI retains full membership of CEN and CENELEC post Brexit and continues to work with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electro-technical Standardisation (CENELEC) in the production of standards. Harmonised standards that are cited in the OJEU give a presumption of conformity with European Directives, and where the UK remains aligned with the EU, the UK designates the standard on the “.gov” website in support of the UK Lifts Regulations.  Compliance with designated standards provides a presumption of conformity to the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) of the Lifts Regulations and therefore one possible conformity assessment route (but not the only one) aligned with legislative requirements.

BSI produces three main types of documents: Standard Specification (commonly referred to simply as "Standards"), Codes of Practice, and Publicly Available Specification (PAS).  BSI also produces and maintains standards of UK origin on subjects not covered by ISO or CEN/CENELEC standards.

BSI produces a wide range of documents to support standardisation, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices.  It contributes to the development of standards led by international bodies such as CEN and ISO, while also taking responsibility for the creation and maintenance of UK-origin standards on subjects not covered by ISO or European organisations such as CEN and CENELEC.  This ensures that national priorities and sector-specific needs are effectively addressed.

The BSI’s work includes Standard Specifications, commonly referred to as "British Standards", which define mandatory requirements and recommended practices; Codes of Practice, which provide practical guidance for implementation; and Publicly Available Specifications (PAS), which are fast-tracked standards developed to address urgent or emerging needs.  BSI also develops BSI Flex Standards, which are agile, modular documents designed for iterative updates and public consultation.  In addition, BSI publishes Technical Specifications (TS) for detailed technical requirements, Technical Reports (TR) that offer explanatory or background information, and Published Documents (PD) which serve as interim or niche guidance.

A Standard sets out a series of verifiable requirements, typically founded on risk assessment.  These requirements are indicated by the auxiliary verb “shall”, while recommendations which reflect best practice but are not mandatory are indicated by  “should”. Standards often include annexes, which may be normative (containing additional requirements) or informative (providing guidance or recommendations).  To be considered compliant with a standard, one must meet all the stated requirements. However, adherence to recommendations is optional, as other conformity assessment procedures are available to installers under the UK Lifts regulations.

Codes and standards are constantly evolving.  For the latest UK information, consult the British Standards online portal at: bsol.bsigroup.com.  A list of designated standards can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-standards-lifts.

Standards typically undergo a five-year systematic review cycle at which point they may be withdrawn, revised, or retained in current form.

Members of the SoVT are encouraged to engage with the topic of standards development and provide comments on draft revised and new standards.  Every comment made will be reviewed objectively by the responsible working group committees.  All comments must include both a comment (i.e. justification for change) and a proposed change.  Further information on standards under development, including guidance on how to make formal comments, can be found at standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.

Members requiring support or guidance on any code or standard-related issue may contact the SoVT Codes & Standards Representative, Adam Scott, at [email protected], who will endeavour to assist. 

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) publishes global standards such as ISO 8100 and ISO 22201 for lifts and escalators.  
ISO Elevator Standards Overview
ISO Homepage

Migrating to ISO standards ensures that lift safety and design requirements are unified worldwide, making it easier for manufacturers, installers, and regulators to work across borders.  The new standards are fully aligned with both the EU Lifts Directive and the UK Lifts Regulations, supporting legal compliance and “presumption of conformity” with essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs).  These standards address new technologies, digitalisation, and cybersecurity, keeping the industry up to date with global trends as well as access to global markets.  Harmonised standards and the UK’s adoption of these standards facilitate international trade, reduce technical barriers, and support the UK’s participation in the global lift market.

The migration of EN lift standards to ISO is a pivotal step toward global harmonisation in the lift industry.  For the UK, remaining aligned with these standards is essential for legal compliance, market access, innovation, and maintaining leadership in lift safety. Active participation in standardisation ensures that the UK’s interests are represented and that the industry remains competitive and future-ready.  It allows UK companies to compete globally, export products, and participate in international projects without facing additional technical barriers.  Presumption of conformity when using these standards gives confidence to manufacturers, building owners, and regulators that lifts comply with UK law and safety regulations.

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) oversees EN standards across the EU, including EN 81 series for lifts.
CEN Transport Standards

European Standards for lifts, such as EN 81-20 and EN 81-50, are being revised and adopted as ISO standards (International Standards), resulting in EN ISO 8100-1 and EN ISO 8100-2.  This migration is a joint effort between European (CEN/TC 10) and international (ISO/TC 178) committees, involving 67 countries.

The new EN ISO 8100-1/2 standards will replace previous EN standards and become the global reference for lift safety, design, and installation.  These will be published as an “EN ISO” version for use in Europe and an “ISO” version for use in other countries across the world, the technical content of which will remain identical.  Note the BSI will adopt the “EN ISO” version, publishing it as “BS EN ISO”.

Many supplementary standards in the EN 81 series are also likely to be updated in the new EN ISO framework; this is important to develop technical harmonisation.

• ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) – maintains the A17 series for elevators and escalators in North America.  ASME Elevator Safety Codes
  
  
• NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) - provides fire safety codes, including NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, for firefighters and evacuation lifts.  NFPA Fire Service Elevator Keys / Occupant Evacuation Elevator Code
  
  
• SASO (Saudi Arabia) - SASO Elevator Regulation
  
  
• EMSD (Hong Kong) - EMSD Ordinance
  
  
• BCA (Singapore) - BCA Lift Legislation
  
  
• Standards Australia - AS 1735 Overview