A Clear Guide to EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 Lift Standards

Modern lift installations must meet rigorous safety and performance expectations. For building owners, facilities managers, and duty holders, understanding the standards behind lift design and testing is essential for ensuring long‑term safety, compliance, and reliability.

Across the UK and Europe, two standards sit at the core of modern lift safety: EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50. Together, they define how lifts should be built, tested, and certified.

1. What Do EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 Cover?

EN 81‑20

This standard sets out the detailed safety and technical requirements for the design and installation of passenger and goods lifts. It specifies how lifts must be constructed to protect both users and engineers, covering everything from car dimensions to lighting, door operation, and safe working areas.

EN 81‑50

Where EN 81‑20 focuses on the lift as a whole, EN 81‑50 deals with the testing and verification of individual components. It defines how critical parts — such as brakes, buffers, doors, overspeed governors, and control systems — must be examined and certified before being used in a lift installation.

These two standards replaced EN 81‑1 and EN 81‑2 in 2014, creating a modernised framework that reflects today’s technology and safety expectations.

2. Why the Standards Were Updated

Lift technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Older standards no longer aligned with modern building design, digital control systems, or accessibility requirements.

EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 were introduced to:

• Strengthen safety for passengers and engineers
• Improve accessibility for all users, including those with reduced mobility
• Create consistent testing and documentation across Europe
• Support the integration of modern monitoring and control technologies

The result is a clearer, more robust set of rules that ensure lifts are designed and installed to the highest safety levels.

3. Key Improvements Introduced by EN 81‑20

Compared with previous standards, EN 81‑20 introduced several important enhancements:

• Advanced door protection: Improved detection systems reduce the risk of doors closing on passengers.
• Higher lighting requirements: Minimum lighting levels inside the car and shaft improve visibility and safety.
• Better accessibility: Control panels, car dimensions, and landing interfaces must accommodate a wider range of users.
• Stricter fire safety: Materials and components must meet enhanced fire‑resistance criteria.
• Safer maintenance spaces: Clearer requirements for pit and headroom dimensions help protect engineers during servicing.

These updates not only improve safety but also enhance the overall user experience.

4. EN 81‑50: Testing and Certification of Lift Components

EN 81‑50 ensures that every safety‑critical component is tested to a recognised European standard before installation.

Testing applies to items such as:

• Safety gears and buffers
• Overspeed governors
• Suspension ropes and chains
• Braking systems

Manufacturers and installers must maintain full documentation of all testing procedures and results. This traceability ensures every component used in a lift installation meets the required safety performance.

5. How EN 81 Standards Work Alongside LOLER

In the UK, compliance doesn’t stop once a lift is installed. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) require regular thorough examinations — typically every six months for passenger lifts — to ensure ongoing safety.

The relationship between the standards is straightforward:

Regular LOLER inspections often highlight risks in older lifts that may not meet current EN standards. Modernisation can help bridge these gaps and improve long‑term safety.

6. What This Means for Building Owners

Even if your lift was installed before EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 came into force, you still have a responsibility to keep it safe and compliant. Modernisation can bring older systems closer to today’s safety expectations.

Common upgrade areas include:

• Enhanced door protection and light curtains
• Updated safety gear and overspeed governors
• Improved lighting and communication systems
• Modern emergency lowering and alarm features

Our team at Acute New Elevators provides full compliance audits and tailored modernisation solutions designed to improve safety with minimal disruption.

7. Future‑Proofing Your Lift Systems

Ensuring your lifts align with EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 helps protect passengers, engineers, and your organisation’s reputation. Compliance also supports insurance requirements and reduces the risk of costly downtime.

Lifts designed, tested, and maintained to these standards offer:

• Greater reliability
• Improved energy efficiency
• Enhanced safety and user confidence

For ongoing support, our maintenance services ensure your lifts remain compliant throughout their operational life.

Conclusion

EN 81‑20 and EN 81‑50 set the benchmark for safe lift design, installation, and component testing. When combined with regular LOLER examinations, they create a complete framework for long‑term lift safety and performance.

At Acute New Elevators, we work closely with building owners and facilities managers to identify compliance gaps and modernise lift systems to meet the latest standards.

If you’d like expert guidance on EN 81‑20, EN 81‑50, or LOLER compliance, our team is ready to help.