Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The DRC still has a detailed colonial-era lift rule: Ordinance 22-342 of 28 June 1959 on the installation and operation of lifting equipment, which has a full chapter on passenger lifts and goods lifts (shaft, landing doors, car, safety gear, ropes, buffers, machine room). Lifts must be examined before first use by an approved inspector, get a full visit at least every 12 months including a safety-gear test, and have safety parts checked at least every 3 months. Labour inspection engineers enforce it. A 2014 building-permit order also requires a lift machinery plan for buildings of ground plus 4 floors or more.
Who regulates lifts
Labour inspection (ingénieurs du service du travail ou des mines) under Ordinance 22-342 art. 38; Ministry of Urban Planning for building permits
Periodic inspection
Before first use and after alteration, by an approved visiting agent with load tests (art. 34); full detailed visit at least every 12 months incl. safety-gear test, and safety components checked at least every 3 months for lifts (art. 35); written report kept on file (art. 36).
Installer and maintenance licensing
No installer licence found. Inspectors (agents visiteurs) must belong to an approved body or be personally approved, and must be independent of manufacturers, suppliers and maintenance firms (art. 39).
Laws, codes and standards
- Arrêté 0017/73 (1973-02-06) — Order on workplace safety for earthworks, excavation and building-industry workMandatory · Labour safety regulation; applies without prejudice to Ordinance 23-342 [sic] of 28 June 1959 · Ministère du Travail
- Arrêté ministériel n° CAB/MIN-ATUHITPR/006/2014 (2014-04-04) — Order regulating the grant of building permits in the DRCSuperseded · Building-permit regulation · Ministry of Land Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, Infrastructure, Public Works and Reconstruction
- Arrêté ministériel n° CAB/MIN-UH/023/2018 (2018-05-31) — Order amending and supplementing the 2016 order regulating the grant of building permits in the DRCMandatory · Ministerial order of 31 May 2018, J.O.RDC 15 Oct 2018, no. 20, col. 55; art. 40 repeals the 2016 order and all earlier contrary provisions; in force on signature · Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing
- Ordonnance 22-342 (1959-06-28) — Ordinance on the installation and operation of lifting equipmentMandatory · Belgian Congo ordinance, published in the Bulletin administratif du Congo belge; replaced Ordinance 22-96 of 4 April 1956 (art. 42) · Gouverneur général du Congo belge
Lift associations and bodies
- Congolese Control Office (OCC)
Last verified 2026-10-17. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.