1\. Lifts Directive
The Lifts Directive (2014/33/EU) ensures that lifts and their safety components meet safety and performance standards across the EU. The directive applies specifically to lifts that travel at a speed greater than 0.15 m/s and are installed in buildings, such as those in homes. For more information, access the following link: _Home Lifts and Lifts_. This directive requires that all lifts installed from 2002 onwards must be:
- CE marked with an accompanying Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
Before a lift can be placed on the market and put into service, the installer—who is responsible for its design, manufacture, and installation—must ensure that it complies with all applicable EU legislation, including the Lifts Directive. This process includes working with a Notified Body. A Notified Body is an independent, accredited organization designated by an EU member state to assess the conformity of lifts and their safety components with the Lifts Directive.
Once compliance is confirmed (final inspection certificate issued by the Notified Body), the installer affixes the CE marking to the lift. A crucial part of this process is the preparation of the EU Declaration of Conformity, a legal document signed by the installer, confirming that the lift meets all relevant EU legislation. This declaration must be handed over to the lift owner, together with the lift’s technical file before the lift is made available for use.
Lifts are subject to more than one Union act requiring an EU declaration of conformity. For example, the Lifts Directive, the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU, and the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU) are all applicable to the lift at the time of placing on the market. In this regard, a single EU declaration of conformity attesting conformity with all the applicable Directives must be drawn up by the installer. The single EU declaration of conformity may be a folder made up of relevant individual declarations of conformity.
Annex II of the Lifts Directive specifies the mandatory minimum content of the declaration of conformity. A general structure of an EU declaration of conformity is provided in the link below.
Declaration of Conformity Lifts (Sample)
2\. National Laws regarding Lifts
The safety of lifts is mainly covered by following legislations:
- Lifts Regulations 2016, S.L. 427.37 which transpose the provisions of Directive 2014/33/EU relating to the placing on the market, making available on the market and putting into service of lifts and safety components for lifts,
- Inspection of Lifts Regulations 2007, S.L. 427.63 which is a national legislation stipulating provisions with regards to periodic inspections of lifts.
Lifts made available for use before 1st July 2002, must be registered with the MCCAA by the administrator whereas lifts made available for use as from 1st July 2002 onwards, must be registered by the lift installer. A certificate of registration, which will contain a unique registration number, is issued by the MCCAA on successful registration of the lift. In the case of lifts registered by the administrator, the registration certificate is directly forwarded by the MCCAA to the administrator by post whereas in the case of lifts registered by the installer, the registration certificate must be collected by the installer – who should keep a copy of this certificate, whilst handing over the original certificate to the administrator.
The lift installer is responsible for ensuring that only lifts which comply with the applicable standards and regulations are made available for use.
The appointed administrator or responsible person of the building in which a lift is installed also has important legal obligations. These obligations are clearly outlined in the Inspection of Lifts Regulations 2007, S.L. 427.63
In cases where there is no officially appointed responsible person/administrator, these obligations are automatically shared between all co-owners in the condominium. Furthermore, a nameplate affixed in the lift cabin is an essential identification feature that provides important information about the lift. For further information, please refer to the following link: Nameplate Affixed in Lift Cabin.
3\. Obligations of the Responsible Person/s / Appointed administrator
When the lift is made available for use and officially handed over to the administrator, it must be accompanied by essential documentation. This documentation, which should be provided in either Maltese or English, must include at a minimum: the declaration of conformity (DoC), an instruction manual containing the necessary plans and diagrams for normal operation, maintenance, inspection, repairs, periodic checks, and emergency rescue procedures; as well as a logbook in which all repairs and, where applicable, periodic checks are to be recorded. Since part of the documentation pertains to the in-service inspection and maintenance of the lift, as well as to the procedures for the release and evacuation of trapped individuals in the event of a breakdown, the relevant sections must be made accessible to those responsible for lift maintenance and inspection, as well as to emergency rescue services. While it is the lift owner’s responsibility to ensure this access, it is also advisable for the lift installer to provide a designated and convenient location within the lift installation for storing the instruction manual and logbook. Additionally, the installer’s instructions must include information on the use of any specialised equipment—such as specific tools or software—required for the safe and effective maintenance of the lift or for carrying out rescue operations.
The administrator is also required by law to keep all records and information related to the lift in a file. Such information will include the instructions manual, the certificate of lift registration (issued by the MCCAA when the lift is registered), and any other documents regarding repairs, modifications, servicing and maintenance of the lift. Additionally, it is also the responsibility of the administrator to keep a logbook noting all thorough examinations (TEs) and preventive inspections (PIs). These inspections are explained in the following section.
The obligations of the responsible person can be found through this link: _Responsible Person/Administrator Obligations in relation to Lifts_
Should there be a change in the responsible person, please complete the following application: _Application Form for the Change of Responsible Person(s) for Lifts_
4. Registration of Lifts
For the registration of new or existing lifts, please refer to the respective link below:
To verify whether a lift is registered with the MCCAA, please click the link to access the database of the lifts currently registered in Malta: **Lifts Database**
Once downloaded, search through the file by using the search function (Ctrl + F) and type for either the serial number or the name of the building or the name of the street name of the lift location.
Please note that those lifts which are operating and not listed in the database are not registered and hence are illegal as stipulated by Regulation 5 of the ‘Inspection of Lifts Regulations, 2007’ (Legal Notice 231 of 2007).
For further assistance please contact the MCCAA on 23952000.
5\. Preventive Inspections (PIs) and Thorough Examination (TEs)
The administrator is responsible for ensuring that the lift is thoroughly examined and periodically inspected at specified intervals by an Authorised Conformity Assessment Body (ACAB). The official list of ACABs is available on the MCCAA’s website and the administrator is free to choose anyone from this list: _Download ACABs List_
In the case of lifts installed in a residential building, a preventive inspection needs to be carried out at least every year whereas a thorough examination needs to be carried out at least every 10 years. The ACAB carrying out the preventive inspection or the thorough examination shall issue a report and send it to the administrator who is then required to send a copy of this report to the MCCAA within 28 days and keep a copy in his records. The report may indicate certain repairs that need to be carried out within specified timeframes. The administrator shall ensure that the necessary works are carried out within such timeframes and shall then notify the MCCAA in writing that such repairs have been completed.
6. Lifts with Reduced Pit or Reduced Headroom
One of the safety requirements applicable to lifts is that they must be designed and constructed to prevent the risk of crushing when the cabin is in one of the extreme positions. This objective is normally achieved by means of free space or refuge beyond the extreme positions. However, there exist certain specific cases, particularly in existing buildings, where this solution is impossible to fulfil, and other appropriate means may be provided to avoid this risk.
Therefore, if the person taking responsibility for lift installation determines – bearing full legal responsibility, that it is not possible to provide the refuge space required by the applicable standard, they may submit an application to the TRD-MCCAA. This application would seek pre-approval to install a lift that offers reduced refuge space, provided that adequate protection against the risk of crushing is ensured through alternative means.
These approvals are only meant to be given in exceptional circumstances whatever the kind of building concerned, and they are intended particularly for lifts to be installed in existing buildings. Only in cases where the solution based on free space or refuge beyond the extreme positions is impossible to fulfil will such a proposed lift for a new building be eligible for consideration. The Authority interprets “impossible” to mean either physically impossible i.e. due to constraints such as those imposed by factors such as the presence of major electric cables or tunnels, or legal constraints such as those imposed by preservation orders. It is not an economic concept.
For the above-stated reasons, it is very important not to plan a new building with the presumption that an approval for the installation of a “low-pit” or “low-headroom” lift will be granted. _In the case of new buildings, it is therefore highly recommended to apply for such approvals beforehand._
To apply for approval to install a lifts with reduced pit or headroom, please complete the following application form: _Application Form for the Approval of Lifts not Conforming to Schedule I, Section 2.2, of the Lifts Regulation, 2016_
7\. ACAB Designation Requirements
The conditions and requirements for a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) to be designated as an Authorised Conformity Assessment Body (ACAB) are established in the Method for Designating Conformity Assessment Bodies Regulations, S.L. 427.45.
To qualify as an Authorised Conformity Assessment Body, the applicant shall:
- Be legally recognised as a company.
- Demonstrate technical competence in lifts and a thorough understanding of the relevant legislation (Lifts Regulations 2016, S.L. 427.37, and Inspection of Lifts Regulations 2007, S.L. 427.63).
- Satisfy the requirements outlined by the Regulatory Affairs Directorate’s guide for Authorised Conformity Assessment Body’s Designation Document.
- Be accredited to MSA EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012, with an assessment carried out by NAB-Malta, including the assessment by a technical expert on lifts.
Accreditation must be obtained before applying for designation. For further details on the accreditation process, please contact info@nabmalta.org.mt
Once accredited you may submit the Application Form for Authorised Conformity Assessment Bodies for Lifts to the Technical Regulations Division for designation as an ACAB.
8\. Emergency Alarm System
An emergency alarm system in a lift is a safety feature that enables passengers to alert building personnel or emergency services in the event of an incident, such as entrapment. This system is mandatory under the Lifts Directive to ensure timely assistance and enhance passenger safety. For more information, please refer to this link: **Emergency Alarm System (Auto dialer)**
9\. Further Questions
**Frequently Asked Questions on lifts**
10\. Contact Us
_Need further information or assistance?_ Feel free to send us an email – rad@mccaa.org.mt or give us a call at +356 23952000
