Elevator Safety Standards in India What Every Building Owner Should Know
With the scarcity of land and the rise in population in many big cities, buildings are now compelled to grow vertically. Hence, elevators have become a pivotal part of everyone’s lives and are installed in many residential complexes, commercial towers, shopping malls, hospitals etc. Today’s smart elevators improve mobility and accessibility. However, with this new trend, one thing which can’t be ignored is elevator safety.
For building owners, sticking with safety and compliance norms is not just important from a legal perspective, but it is also their moral duty to protect occupants from any hazardous situations. In India, The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has come up with a set of norms related to installation, design, operation and maintenance of lifts. One of the crucial regulations is IS 14665, it highlights the practice code for elevators to ensure reliability and safety.
This blog will talk about these important elevator safety standards in India, as all building owners should adhere and be aware of these standards for a smooth and safe elevator experience.
Understanding IS 14665
The IS 14665 standard is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards that comprises the following points:
- Elevator design
- Construction and installation
- Safety devices
- Inspection and testing
- Maintenance protocols
While installing elevator in any building, the owner must ensure to follow this code. These elevator safety standards in India cover everything right from the shaft dimensions to control mechanisms, fire-resistant materials and redundant safety circuits.
Failure to follow this code can put the elevator users at risk and legal penalties. Hence it is crucial for the building managers to contact BIS-certified elevator manufacturers and installers like
IEC LIFTS™ to take care of all the essential norms.
Role of the Building Owner in Elevator Safety
Being a building owner, your responsibility never ends after lift installation. Below are some of the conditions you must ensure:
Certification and compliance
- Look for the conformity certificate to ISO 14665 from the elevator manufacturing company.
IEC LIFTS™ comply with this standard. - Your elevator company must also comply with other rule codes like National Building Code (NBC) and the Electricity Act, to ensure proper backup system and power supply.
Inspection Before Handover
- In front of a certified professional from the elevator manufacturer company like
IEC LIFTS™, building owners must conduct a trial run and inspection. - Conduct ‘no-load’ and ‘full-load’ test to check the working of lift in various stress conditions.
Safety Circuits: The Heart of Lift safety precautions
Safety circuit is a well-designed electrical network that stops elevator working if any safety parameter is breached. This feature helps in the following manner:
- Open Doors: If the door is open or not shut completely, the safety circuit will cut off the power supply to stop the elevator from moving.
- Emergency conditions: In case of any scenario like seismic activity, fire alarm or power failure, the circuit will stop lift’s operation and redirect it to the nearest floor for safe exit of passengers.
While choosing any elevator, the building owner must check the presence of safety circuit along with its functionality in various fault scenarios.
Avoiding Manual Door Tampering
Modern elevators consist of automatic doors that have in-built sensors and software algorithms. Opening the doors forcefully can damage the elevator and can endanger lives. Manual forcing of elevator doors is strictly not allowed under Indian Safety norms. Instead building owners must:
- Educate all maintenance professionals and security staff not to open the doors forcefully.
- Educate passengers on how to respond without putting their life at risk in case the elevator stops unexpectedly.
Scheduled Preventive Maintenance
Lift safety precaution is not an option but rather a compulsory task as per
IS 14665. With time elevators may face wear and tears and it’s common in any electro-mechanical equipment. Lack of maintenance can cause:
- Sluggish or erratic operation
- Noisy rides
- Door malfunctions
- Power fluctuations
Your elevator maintenance plan must cover:
- Regular lubrication of moving parts
- Checking the tension and wear of ropes
- Inspecting the safety gear and buffers
- Calibrating load weighing devices
- Testing emergency braking systems
You must properly maintain the maintenance logs which can be referred during audits or inspections.
Emergency Communication System
Another important aspect that needs your attention is the emergency communication system inside the elevator. According to IS 14665:
- It is required to install emergency intercom or phone system which is connected with building’s security or control room.
- Passengers should be clearly guided on whom to contact in case of an emergency.
For high-rise buildings, it is often necessary to integrate elevators with the building management system (BMS) to track it in real-time, get alerts and do remote troubleshooting.
Lift Licensing and Annual Renewals
In many Indian states, the installation and operation of elevators is subject to approval by local government bodies or lift inspectorate departments. In such conditions:
- Get a lift license before installing it.
- Renew the license annually or as per the specified timeline.
- Do regular inspections from government-authorized professionals.
Should there be any unlicensed elevator, the building owner may face severe penalties or legal consequences. This implies, compliance is not just important but mandatory.
Educating Occupants and Facility Staff
Building owners must conduct awareness and training programs. This includes:
- Dos and don’ts near the elevator entrance.
- Train facility staff on how to deal with emergency conditions.
- Provide basic knowledge to people on elevator safety.
These simple measures can minimize accident risk and can promote overall passengers’ safety.
Choosing the Right Elevator Partner
Choose a reputed elevator company like
IEC LIFTS™ that is equally responsible to take care of the elevator’s maintenance and provide excellent after-sales service.
- Has BIS certification
- Offers detailed AMC (Annual Maintenance Contracts)
- Provides 24×7 support and fault reporting
- Uses quality parts and follows IS 14665 protocols strictly
Conclusion
Lift safety precautions are not merely a technical specification — it’s a commitment that requires adequate planning, quality installation, frequent maintenance, adhering with regulations and user awareness.
Being a building owner your role will be crucial. Whether it’s a new building or an existing one, adhering with IS 14665 elevator safety protocols is mandatory. You must ensure proper safety circuits, door usage and regular inspections to avoid any hazardous accident and give peace of mind to all users. You must contact reputed elevator manufacturing company like
IEC LIFTS™ to get the lift installation work done with professionalism, while taking care of lift maintenance and inspection work when required.
Safety is not optional, rather mandatory!
