Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Iceland

Iceland applies the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU (via the EEA Agreement) by Regulation No. 966/2016 on lifts and safety components for lifts, under the Act on working environment, health and safety No. 46/1980; it repealed Regulation 341/2003. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (Vinnueftirlitið) supervises lifts, must be notified of major alterations and accidents, and registers lifts. Regulation No. 54/1995 on registration, inspection and supervision of lifts requires a service contract with an approved maintenance provider (service at least four times a year), an inspection before first use and an annual inspection of passenger lifts.

Who regulates lifts

Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (Vinnueftirlitið, formerly Vinnueftirlit ríkisins); responsible minister for social affairs

Periodic inspection

Vinnueftirlitið arranges an annual inspection of all passenger lifts and every other year for lifts not approved for passengers (Reg. 54/1995 art. on inspections); per island.is: goods and food lifts every other year, wheelchair lifts and escalators annually. Owner must have a service contract with an approved maintainer who services the lift at least four times a year (Reg. 54/1995); a 2026 amendment (No. 387/2026) reportedly allows two services a year for wheelchair lifts. Escalators and moving walks (rennistigar, færibönd) are in the scope of Reg. 54/1995; Vinnueftirlitið inspects escalators before first use and then annually (island.is).

Installer and maintenance licensing

Maintainers must be approved (viðurkenndur umsjónarmaður) and Vinnueftirlitið can withdraw approval (Reg. 54/1995). New passenger lifts are taken over by an independent body before use; Vinnueftirlitið takes over goods lifts, wheelchair lifts and escalators (island.is).

Laws, codes and standards

Reglugerð nr. 1005/2009 — Regulation No. 1005/2009 on machinery and technical equipment
Mandatory · Act No. 46/1980 on working environment, health and safety; implements Directive 2006/42/EC (via the EEA Agreement) · Ministry responsible for social affairs / Vinnueftirlitið
Reglugerð nr. 54/1995 (1995) — Regulation on registration, inspection and supervision of lifts and lifting equipment for passengers and goods
Mandatory · Regulation under Act No. 46/1980; amended (e.g. No. 387/2026 per Stjórnartíðindi, not opened). · Ministry responsible for social affairs
Reglugerð nr. 966/2016 (2016) — Regulation on lifts and safety components for lifts
Mandatory · Transposes Directive 2014/33/EU (EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 43/2015); penalties under Act No. 46/1980; in force 15 Nov 2016; repealed Regulation 341/2003. Lifts already in service stay under the rules in force when commissioned. · Ministry of Welfare (Velferðarráðuneytið), 28 Oct 2016
ÍST EN 115 — Safety of escalators and moving walks
Referenced by law · Reglugerð nr. 54/1995, art. 2(2): escalators and moving walks for passenger transport shall be designed, built and installed in accordance with applicable rules and standard ÍST EN 115; art. on signage also cites ÍST EN 115 · Staðlaráð Íslands / CEN

Lift associations and bodies

Administration of Occupational Safety and Health

Last verified 2026-10-17. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.