Building services

Passenger lift compliance for building owners

How to comply with lift safety requirements if you own or manage a building with passenger lifts. Covers LOLER thorough examinations, Lifts Regulations 2016 for new installations, Part M accessibility standards, firefighting lift duties, and record keeping.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must ensure passenger lifts in your building are safe and accessible. This includes getting lifts checked every 6 months by an independent expert, following rules for new lifts, and meeting accessibility standards. Keep records of all checks and repairs.

  • Get lifts checked every 6 months by an independent expert
  • New lifts must meet Lifts Regulations 2016 and have UKCA marking
  • Follow Part M accessibility standards for lift dimensions and features
  • Keep records of all checks and repairs for at least 2 years
  • Stop using lifts if an expert finds dangerous defects
  • Higher-risk buildings (18m+ or 7+ storeys) have extra fire safety rules
  • Lift doors must stay open for at least 3 seconds
  • Lift controls must be 900-1100mm high with tactile buttons
  • Provide audible and visual floor indicators
  • Penalties for non-compliance include unlimited fines
On this page
UK-wide

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When this applies

If you own or manage a building with passenger lifts, you have legal duties under several overlapping regulations. These duties apply whether the building is commercial, residential, or mixed-use, and whether you own or lease it.

Passenger lifts are one of the most heavily regulated building services because a failure can cause serious injury or death. Your obligations fall into three areas: ongoing safety under LOLER, product compliance under the Lifts Regulations 2016 (for new or replacement lifts), and accessibility under Part M of the Building Regulations.

If your building is a higher-risk residential building (18 metres or higher, or 7 or more storeys), the Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 add further requirements for firefighting lifts.

Thorough examination requirements

Under LOLER, all passenger lifts must undergo thorough examination by a competent person. This is not a routine service - it is a detailed independent inspection to identify defects before they become dangerous.

The thorough examination must be carried out by a person who is independent of the day-to-day maintenance of the lift. In practice, most building owners use insurance company engineers or independent inspection bodies that are members of SAFed (Safety Assessment Federation).

The competent person produces a written report after each examination. If they find an imminent danger defect, they must notify both you and the HSE immediately. You must not use the lift until the defect is rectified.

The difference between thorough examination and servicing

Thorough examination and routine servicing are separate requirements. Servicing keeps the lift running smoothly - adjusting door mechanisms, lubricating components, and replacing worn parts. Thorough examination checks that the lift is safe. You need both.

Thorough examination cannot be carried out by the company that maintains your lift day-to-day, unless the examiner operates independently within that organisation and has no conflict of interest.

New lift installations

If you are installing a new passenger lift, it must comply with the Lifts Regulations 2016. These set essential health and safety requirements for the design, manufacture, and installation of new lifts placed on the UK market.

Accessibility requirements

Building Regulations Part M sets minimum standards for passenger lift accessibility in non-domestic buildings. If you are constructing a new multi-storey building or carrying out a material change of use, you must provide a passenger lift that meets these standards.

These are minimum requirements. The Equality Act 2010 places a separate, ongoing duty on service providers and employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which may require you to go beyond Part M minimums.

Firefighting lifts in higher-risk buildings

If your building is a higher-risk residential building (18 metres or higher, or 7 or more storeys), the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require monthly routine checks of firefighting lifts and evacuation lifts. These checks are separate from the LOLER thorough examination and ongoing servicing.

Maintenance contracts and record keeping

You should have a maintenance contract with a specialist lift engineering company. When selecting a contractor, check that they are:

  • Members of the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA)
  • Able to provide 24-hour emergency call-out
  • Carrying appropriate insurance (minimum GBP 5 million public liability is typical for lift work)
  • Experienced with your type of lift installation

Your maintenance contract should specify response times for breakdowns, the scope of routine servicing visits (typically monthly or quarterly), and what is included in the contract price versus charged as extras.

Records you must keep

Maintain a complete record for each lift:

  • Thorough examination reports - keep until the next report, or for a minimum of 2 years
  • Service and maintenance logs - dates, work done, parts replaced
  • Declarations of conformity - from the installer (for lifts subject to Lifts Regulations 2016)
  • Firefighting lift monthly check records - if applicable
  • Breakdown records - dates, causes, resolution

These records must be available for inspection by the HSE, building control, or the Fire and Rescue Service (for firefighting lifts).

  1. 1

    1. Confirm your thorough examination schedule

    Check when your passenger lifts were last thoroughly examined. Passenger lifts must be examined every 6 months. If you do not have a current report, arrange an examination immediately with a competent person (insurance engineer or SAFed member).

  2. 2

    2. Review your maintenance contract

    Check that your maintenance contractor is a LEIA member and that the contract covers routine servicing, emergency call-out, and clearly defines response times. Ensure the contractor is not also carrying out thorough examinations unless they can demonstrate independence.

  3. 3

    3. Check accessibility compliance

    If you have installed a new lift or your building has undergone a material change of use, verify that the lift meets Part M requirements for car dimensions, accessible controls, and audible and visual indicators. Consider an accessibility audit if you are unsure.

  4. 4

    4. Verify firefighting lift duties (higher-risk buildings)

    If your building is 18 metres or higher or has 7 or more storeys with residential units, confirm you are carrying out monthly firefighting lift checks and keeping records. A competent person must perform these checks.

  5. 5

    5. Organise your lift records

    Create a central lift safety file containing thorough examination reports, service logs, declarations of conformity, and monthly check records. Set calendar reminders for the next thorough examination due date.

  6. 6

    6. Address any outstanding defects

    Review your most recent thorough examination report. If there are outstanding defects, arrange remedial work with your maintenance contractor and keep evidence of completion. Do not ignore findings - defects left unaddressed can lead to enforcement action.

Official guidance and resources