European legislation and EN standards www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives A European Directive is a statutory act of the European Union which requires member states to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result. Directives normally leave member states with a certain amount of leeway as to the exact rules to be adopted. Directives can be adopted by means of a variety of statutory procedures depending on its subject matter. When adopted, directives give member states a timetable for the implementation of the intended outcome. If a member state fails to pass the required national legislation, or if the national legislation does not adequately comply with the requirements of the directive, the European Commission may initiate legal action against the member state in the European Court of Justice. www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives for platform lifts and stairlifts The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European union have decided that platform lifts and stairlifts fall under the jurisdiction of the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and will also fall under the new amended Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC will be replaced by the amended Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC on 29 December 2009. So in legal terms platform lifts and stairlifts are machines and not lifts. www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives for platform lifts and stairlifts Under the Machinery Directive a platform lift is an Annex IV machine. For travel heights exceeding 3,0 m. it must pass an EC Type examination performed by an accredited European Notified body. Platform lifts and stairlifts must carry an EC Declaration of Conformity and be CE-marked before they can be legally placed on the markets in the European Communities. www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives Date of application Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC was published on 9th June 2006. It came into force 20 days later on 29th June 2006. The Member States had until 29th June 2008 to adopt and publish the national laws and regulations transposing the provisions of the new Directive into national law. The provisions of the new Directive become applicable on 29th December 2009. Until that date, the provisions of the current Machinery Directive 98/37/EC, continue to apply. www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives The scope of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is extended, since construction-site hoists and cartridge-operated fixing and other impact machinery will no longer be excluded. The borderline between the Machinery and the Low Voltage Directives is clarified. The borderline with the Lifts Directive has also been clarified. The new text modifies the scope of the Lifts Directive so that lifts with a travel speed no greater than 0.15 m/s will be excluded from the Lifts Directive and will be subject to the Machinery Directive. The range of safety components subject to the Machinery Directive has been clarified. An indicative list of safety components is given in a new Annex (V). This list can be updated by the Machinery Directive Committee (of which EPSA is a member) to cover new products. www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives for platform lifts and stairlifts Low Voltage Directive 93/68/EC The new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC requires that the Essential requirements of LVD shall be fulfilled. EMC Directive 2004/108/EC Transposed into national law and in full force from 20 July 2007 Use of Work Equipment Directive 95/63/EC Directive for safety and health protection of workers Construction Products Directive 89/336/EC Applicable for elements of the platform lift and the stairlift belonging to a building e.g. stairs, walls, floors, etc., www.epsa.eu.com

European Directives for platform lifts and stairlifts New requirements for machinery for lifting of persons A new boarderline to the Lift Directive – Speed maximum 0.15 m/s. Hold to run operation inside load carrier if it is not fully enclosed. Automatic travel from the outside call buttons. Automatic travel accepted from inside and outside of platform lifts if the load carriers are fully enclosed . In case of risk of falling objects carrier must have a protected roof. 6.3.3. Risk due to objects falling on the carrier If the machine has to be mounted on site, static and dynamic tests will also have to be performed on site. www.epsa.eu.com

EN Standards for platform lifts and stairlifts Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Special lifts for the transport of persons and goods - Part 40: Stairlifts and inclined lifting platforms intended for persons with impaired mobility EN 81-41 Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Special lifts for the transport of persons and goods – Part 41: Vertical lifting platforms intended for use by persons with impaired mobility. Both EN standards Conformity to the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and of the new amended Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. www.epsa.eu.com

European Standard for platform lifts EN 81-41 Types of drives covered Rack and pinion. Rope and Chain suspension. Screw and nut. Friction drive. Guided Chain. Scissor mechanism. Hydraulic. Traction drive is not covered. Rated speed Not greater than 0.15 m/s. Rated Load Not less than 250 Kg/m2 Max. permissible load 500 Kg. Control Devices Hold to run travel (inside) – Dimensions taken from EN 81-70 www.epsa.eu.com

European Standard for platform lifts EN 81-41 Lift-way Enclosed lift-way only. Usage Persons with impaired mobility with or without a wheelchair. Platform dimensions Clear area not exceeding 2.0 m2 www.epsa.eu.com