Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Ireland

Ireland transposes the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU by the European Union (Lifts and Safety Components for Lifts) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 232 of 2017, amended by S.I. No. 323 of 2022 for market surveillance), which designate the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) as market surveillance authority and the Minister as notifying authority. In service, passenger and goods lifts fall under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 299 and 732 of 2007): a competent person must thoroughly examine them every 6 months and reports must be kept for HSA inspectors.

Who regulates lifts

Health and Safety Authority (HSA) — market surveillance authority for lifts (S.I. 232/2017 reg. 3) and workplace-safety enforcement; Department of Enterprise (notifying authority, sponsoring department)

Periodic inspection

Thorough examination by a competent person every 6 months for passenger and goods lifts (incl. pavement hoists, dumb waiters), under the General Application Regulations 2007, Part 2 Chapter 2; reports kept for HSA inspection; repairs by a competent person; a logbook of repairs and checks.

Installer and maintenance licensing

No lift-specific licence found; examinations and repairs must be done by a 'competent person'.

Laws, codes and standards

Directive 2014/33/EU — Lifts Directive: harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts and safety components for lifts
Mandatory · EU directive, binding through national transposition (see the national transposition instrument in this country's list). Repealed Directive 95/16/EC with effect from 20 April 2016. · European Parliament and Council
S.I. No. 232 of 2017 (2017) — European Union (Lifts and Safety Components for Lifts) Regulations 2017
Mandatory · Made under section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 to give effect to Directive 2014/33/EU; notice in Iris Oifigiúil 2 June 2017. HSA designated market surveillance authority (reg. 3). · Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (as amended, incl. S.I. 732 of 2007) (2007) — Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 — Part 2 Chapter 2 (use of work equipment / lifting equipment)
Mandatory · Regulations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; HSA states lifts must be thoroughly examined by a competent person every 6 months. · Minister / Health and Safety Authority
S.I. No. 323 of 2022 (2022) — European Union (Lifts and Safety Components for Lifts) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Mandatory · Amends S.I. 232/2017 to give effect to Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (market surveillance). · Minister (Department of Enterprise)
EN 115-1 — Safety of escalators and moving walks - Part 1: Construction and installation
Harmonised (presumption of conformity) · Escalators and moving walks fall under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, not the Lifts Directive; EN 115-1 supports its essential requirements. · CEN/TC 10 (WG 2)
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) · Reference published in the OJEU under Directive 2014/33/EU by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76; replaces EN 81-20:2014. · CEN/TC 10
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) · Reference published in the OJEU under Directive 2014/33/EU by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/76. · CEN/TC 10
EN 81-70 — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lifts - Part 70: Accessibility to lifts for persons including persons with disability
Voluntary · Applied through national accessibility/building rules where referenced. · CEN/TC 10
EN 81-80 (2019) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Existing lifts - Part 80: Rules for the improvement of safety of existing passenger and goods passenger lifts
Voluntary · Not harmonised (existing lifts are outside the Lifts Directive); binding only where a national rule refers to it. · CEN/TC 10

Lift associations and bodies

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