European Committee for Standardization (CEN) devised a new standard, the so-called SNEL (Safety Norm for Existing Lift – EN 81-80), where 74 hazards were described in detail that must be taken into consideration while improving lift safety.

The new Norm accounts for the above mentioned principles.

A number of European Union countries have already introduced SNEL in their legislation (Belgium, France, and Spain) with transition periods form 1 to 15 years, depending on seriousness of the hazard in question. In the other countries, including Poland, works are under way to have it introduced.

In its document 95/216/EC of 8 June 1995 the European Communities Commission recommended its Member States to improve lift safety in accordance with the following ten principles:

At present, a lift owner (i.e. a real property manager or administrator) usually takes the decision to modernize the lift following the recommendation from the Office of Technical Inspection (UDT) issued after annual inspection carried out by a UDT inspector to certify the lift for further use.

UDT Inspector, upon finding that the degree of lift’s wear creates hazards for its users, obligates its owner to carry out modernization scheme. As a rule, the owner undertakes modernization only to the extent that allows UDT to approve further operation of the lift.

Based on the Agreement signed with Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A., the Association and its Associate Members – the Lift Manufacturing Companies – propose that such modernization be financed as a part of pro-ecological investment projects, i.e. by preferential credits.