Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Denmark

Lifts are regulated under the Working Environment Act by orders issued by Arbejdstilsynet (Danish Working Environment Authority). The use order BEK 461/2016 makes the owner responsible for regular supervision, for control by a certified expert company (certificeret sagkyndig virksomhed, ISO 9001-certified via DANAK-accredited body) at intervals of 1-12 months set in its Annex 2, and for periodic inspection by a DANAK-accredited inspection body every third year. Separate orders cover rebuilding and significant repair (BEK 1997/2020) and design requirements for existing non-CE-marked lifts (BEK 1448/2021).

Who regulates lifts

Arbejdstilsynet (Danish Working Environment Authority), Beskæftigelsesministeriet

Periodic inspection

Accredited inspection body every 3 years (max 36 months); every 2 years (max 24 months) for rope-suspended passenger lifts without speed-governed safety gear and paternosters (BEK 461/2016 §33). Plus control by a certified expert (service) company at 1-12 month intervals per Annex 2, depending on type, location and remote monitoring.

Installer and maintenance licensing

Yes: control/maintenance must be done by a certified expert company with an ISO 9001 quality system certified by a DANAK-accredited body (BEK 461/2016 §§12-13/24); inspection bodies DANAK-accredited.

Laws, codes and standards

Directive 2014/33/EU (2014) — Lifts Directive — harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts and safety components for lifts
Mandatory · Referenced in BEK 461/2016 and BEK 464/2016; Danish transposing order not identified this session · European Parliament and Council
BEK nr 1448 af 16/06/2021 (2021) — Order on design requirements for existing lifts etc. not CE-marked
Mandatory · Arbejdsmiljøloven · Arbejdstilsynet
BEK nr 1997 af 09/12/2020 (2020) — Order on rebuilding and significant repair of lifts etc.
Mandatory · Arbejdsmiljøloven · Arbejdstilsynet
BEK nr 460 af 23/05/2016 (2016) — Order on access routes to lifts, escalators and similar machines
Superseded · Arbejdsmiljøloven · Arbejdstilsynet
BEK nr 461 af 23/05/2016 (2016) — Order on use etc. of lifts, escalators and similar machines
Mandatory · Arbejdsmiljøloven (Working Environment Act) · Arbejdstilsynet
EN 81-20 (2020) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Lifts for the transport of persons and goods — Part 20: Passenger and goods passenger lifts
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-28 (2022) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Lifts for the transport of persons and goods — Part 28: Remote alarm on passenger and goods passenger lifts
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-50 (2020) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Examinations and tests — Part 50: Design rules, calculations, examinations and tests of lift components
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-70 (2021+A1:2022) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lift — Part 70: Accessibility to lifts for persons including persons with disability
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-72 (2020) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lifts — Part 72: Firefighters lifts
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-73 (2020) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lifts — Part 73: Behaviour of lifts in the event of fire
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN
EN 81-77 (2022) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lifts — Part 77: Lifts subject to seismic conditions
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Directive 2014/33/EU (Lifts Directive) via Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76 as amended; national transposing act · CEN

Lift associations and bodies

Last verified 2026-10-16. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.