News from Axess 2 Ltd.

There are major changes coming into force on the 29th December 2009 regarding certification of platform lifts to the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, and any lift installed from this date onwards must comply with these new regulations.

All of the manufacturers that supply platform lifts must have made the necessary changes to comply to the new standards by the 29th December 2009, key changes are as follows.

Lift to be certified to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Type tested by a notified body.

Key changes from old directive are:

1. A new safety circuit that requires the lift to be re set if a landing door is opened using the door release key
2. The definition of a platform lift is a machine with a speed of not more than 0.15m/s this will distinguish from a passenger lift.
3. ‘L’ shaped platform lifts will still have ‘hold to run’ controls, but there will be a new type that has lift car doors as a conventional elevator, that can be one touch controls.(the standard states that the passenger should be fully enclosed)
4. Platform lifts with a full lift cabin, must not be accessed from above for maintenance, the ceiling should be able to be removed that in turn breaks the safety circuit to prevent lift movement.
5. The pit prop should be able to be put into place from outside the lift shaft and have a safety switch to break the safety line and prevent lift movement.

These are the most obvious changes, however there are some other design criteria that should be implemented.

On completion of a platform lift installation, the qualified, experienced installers must as always complete the manufacturers test certificate, but now also MUST complete the following:

1. Static load test not less than 1.25 x SWL
2. Dynamic load test 1.1 x SWL
3. A copy of the load test is left with the lift when put into service.

Axess 2 have implemented these changes for the coming new year ensuring all of our manufacturers have the new certification.