Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Solomon Islands

PARTIAL: Lifts ARE named in force by the Safety at Work Act 1982 (Cap. 74): s18 and Schedule 3 apply to any 'lifting machine', defined to include 'a lift, whether for passengers or goods', used in the course of a business. It must be soundly constructed, maintained, marked with its safe working load, tested by a competent person before first use and after repair, examined by a competent person at least every six months with records kept, and comply with any standard the Minister approves; an unsafe result must be notified to the Commissioner of Labour. Building rules: the National Building Standard Act 2025 (passed 15 Aug 2025; custodian the Architecture and Building Management Services Division (ABMSD), Ministry of Infrastructure Development) with the National Building Code and Building Manual. The NBC 2022 Final Draft has Part NE3 Lift Installations: lifts in Class 2-9 buildings must comply with AS 1735 Parts 1 and 2; stretcher lift above 25 m effective height; emergency lift (AS 1735.2, 612 kg) at 75 m or more; 'Do not use lifts in fire or earthquake' signs; fire-isolated shaft doors to AS 1735.11. Whether that draft is now in force under the 2025 Act, and the Act's commencement, were not confirmed.

Who regulates lifts

Commissioner of Labour (Labour Division) for lifts used at work (Safety at Work Act 1982); Ministry of Infrastructure Development - ABMSD for building standards

Periodic inspection

Yes for lifts used in the course of a business: examination by a competent person at least once every six months, test to determine safe working load before first use and after repair, records kept (Safety at Work Act 1982, Schedule 3 para 6). Persons designated by the Minister in the Gazette are deemed competent. No published list of designated examiners found.

Installer and maintenance licensing

Not found

Laws, codes and standards

National Building Standard Act 2025 (2025) — National Building Standard(s) Act 2025
Voluntary · Act of Parliament, passed 15 August 2025 · Parliament of Solomon Islands; custodian ABMSD, Ministry of Infrastructure Development
Safety at Work Act 1982 (Cap. 74), s18 and Schedule 3 (1982 (1996 revised edition)) — Safety at Work Act - Lifting equipment
Mandatory · Act of Parliament · Parliament of Solomon Islands; enforced by the Commissioner of Labour
National Building Code 2022 (Final Draft) (2022 draft) — Solomon Islands National Building Code - 2022 Final Draft
Voluntary · DRAFT; the preface cites a 'National Building Code Act - 2022'; relationship to the National Building Standard Act 2025 not confirmed · Ministry of Infrastructure Development
AS 1735 Parts 1, 2 and 11 — Lifts, escalators and moving walks - Part 1 General requirements; Part 2 Passenger and goods lifts - Electric; Part 11 Fire-rated landing doors
Voluntary · Referenced by the NBC 2022 draft (NE3.1, NE3.4, NC3.10, Spec NC1.5); not yet confirmed as in force · Standards Australia

Lift associations and bodies

Architecture and Building Management Services Division, Ministry of Infrastructure Development (ABMSD)
Commissioner of Labour (Labour Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration)

Last verified 2026-10-22. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.