Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has no enforced lift- or escalator-specific regime. The Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 624/2009 (which required a lift in buildings more than 20 m above ground floor, art. 33(4)-(5)) was REPEALED by the Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 1356/2024 (Federal Negarit Gazette 31st Year No. 39, masthead dated 7 May 2025), whose English text contains no lift, elevator or escalator provision; it requires buildings to be constructed to the applicable codes and standards, lets the Ministry prepare national codes and standards and issue directives, and keeps Building Regulation No. 243/2011 (243/2003 E.C.) and Building Directive No. 5/2003 E.C. in force for two years until amended. An industry figure told Addis Fortune (April 2025) that 'Ethiopia does not have standards for elevators', and The Reporter said the Ethiopian Standards Agency's ~17 elevator and conveyor standards are not referenced by the building code and so are not binding (an ECPMI official was quoted that the code requires elevators above four storeys, widely ignored). In September 2025 the Ethiopian Construction Authority tabled a draft directive covering companies installing, maintaining and inspecting lifts AND escalators: operating licences and certificates of competence, a tiered grading of firms, mandatory safety compliance checks on imported elevators, and Authority-certified independent inspection companies as the only bodies issuing the clearance reports that keep a lift in service (routine inspection likened to annual vehicle roadworthiness checks); its adoption was not confirmed in October 2026. Addis Ababa's building permit authority does inspect buildings (Fortune 2025: action against 113 buildings after surprise visits).
Who regulates lifts
Ethiopian Construction Authority (draft elevator and escalator directive, 2025); Ministry responsible for urban development and construction (codes, standards and directives under Proclamation 1356/2024); city building permit authorities (Addis Ababa building permit inspection)
Periodic inspection
None in force found; draft directive (2025) would require clearance reports from Authority-certified independent inspection companies (routine inspections likened to annual vehicle roadworthiness checks), for lifts and escalators
Installer and maintenance licensing
Draft (Sept 2025): operating licence + certificate of competence for lift and escalator installation, servicing and inspection firms, with tiered grading - adoption not confirmed
Laws, codes and standards
- Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 1356/2024 — Ethiopian Building ProclamationMandatory · Federal Negarit Gazette 31st Year No. 39 (masthead dated 7 May 2025); in force on publication (art. 54) · House of Peoples' Representatives
- Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 624/2009, art. 33(4)-(5) (2009) — Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 624/2009Superseded · Repealed by Ethiopian Building Proclamation No. 1356/2024, art. 53(1) · House of Peoples' Representatives
- Building Regulation No. 243/2011 (243/2003 E.C.) — Council of Ministers Building RegulationMandatory · Kept in force for two years by Proclamation 1356/2024 art. 52 · Council of Ministers
- Ethiopian Construction Authority draft elevator directive (2025) (2025) — Draft directive on licensing and inspection of lift and escalator installation, maintenance and inspection firmsVoluntary · Draft only; not confirmed as adopted · Ethiopian Construction Authority
Lift associations and bodies
- Ethiopian Construction Authority (ECA)
Last verified 2026-10-19. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.