EN 81-77: Lifts Subject to Seismic Conditions

EN 81-77 defines additional safety requirements for lifts installed in regions exposed to seismic activity. It introduces seismic categories and measures to keep the car, counterweight, and components safe during and after an earthquake.

What EN 81-77 adds

Depending on seismic category, the standard requires reinforced guide rails and fixings, counterweight retention and derailment protection, displacement detection, and an earthquake operation mode that moves the car to a safe floor and parks it. It supplements EN 81-20/50 in seismic zones.

Modernization in seismic regions

Upgrading lifts in southern Europe and other seismic areas can require structural rail and counterweight work, seismic sensors, and controller logic for earthquake operation — significant scope that must be identified in the bid.

How Vertisk helps

Vertisk surfaces seismic and structural scope from tender documents and links it to the right detection, controller, and structural components for accurate modernization estimates.

Frequently asked questions

When does EN 81-77 apply?

It applies where national regulation classifies the site as seismically active; the required seismic category and measures scale with the local seismic hazard.