When people think about lift maintenance, they often focus on one thing: keeping the lift running. But for commercial property owners, facilities managers and landlords, there’s something even more important happening behind the scenes — ensuring every lift meets the correct British Standards.
The reality is that maintaining a lift isn’t simply about fixing faults when they appear. Every inspection, service and safety check should be carried out in accordance with recognised industry standards that are designed to protect passengers, reduce breakdowns and keep buildings legally compliant.
So, what is the British Standard for lift maintenance, and what does it actually mean for your building?
Let’s break it down.
What Is the British Standard for Lift Maintenance?
The primary British Standard relating to lift maintenance is BS EN 13015, which provides guidance on the maintenance of lifts and escalators throughout their operational life.
Rather than focusing on how a lift is manufactured, BS EN 13015 explains how lifts should be maintained to ensure they remain safe, reliable and efficient. It provides guidance on maintenance planning, servicing procedures, inspection routines, record keeping and preventative maintenance.
Following this recognised standard helps commercial property owners reduce the risk of breakdowns while ensuring lifts continue to operate safely for staff, visitors and the public.
Why British Standards Are Essential for Commercial Lift Maintenance
British Standards create consistency across the lift industry by ensuring maintenance is carried out using recognised procedures rather than individual company practices.
For commercial buildings, following the correct standards helps to improve passenger safety, reduce unexpected breakdowns, extend lift lifespan, support legal compliance, reduce long-term repair costs and minimise disruption to daily operations.
Whether your lift serves a hotel, office building, shopping centre, warehouse or apartment block, regular maintenance carried out in accordance with British Standards helps keep the entire building operating efficiently.
What Does BS EN 13015 Cover?
BS EN 13015 provides detailed guidance on how lifts should be maintained throughout their service life.
Planned Lift Maintenance
Every lift should have a planned maintenance programme based on several factors, including:
- Frequency of use
- Building type
- Lift design
- Environmental conditions
- Manufacturer recommendations
For example, a passenger lift operating continuously in a busy hotel requires significantly more frequent servicing than a lift serving a small residential development.
Planning maintenance correctly allows engineers to identify wear before it develops into expensive failures.
Routine Lift Servicing
Routine servicing forms the backbone of effective lift maintenance.
During each visit, engineers inspect and test critical components including:
- Door mechanisms
- Safety devices
- Lift controls
- Guide rails
- Braking systems
- Drive equipment
- Communication systems
- Emergency lighting
The objective is simple — prevent faults before they cause lift downtime.
Lift Maintenance Records
The British Standard also recommends maintaining comprehensive maintenance records.
These documents allow building owners to monitor:
- Previous repairs
- Recurring faults
- Component replacements
- Maintenance history
- Future recommendations
Accurate records support insurance requirements, assist future engineers and demonstrate that the lift has been maintained responsibly.
How BS EN 13015 Differs from LOLER Inspections
One of the biggest misunderstandings is believing that routine maintenance and LOLER inspections are the same thing.
They are not.
Routine maintenance is designed to keep the lift operating safely, reliably and efficiently throughout the year.
LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) requires independent statutory examinations to confirm that the lift remains legally safe to use.
In simple terms:
- Maintenance helps prevent faults.
- LOLER confirms the lift is legally safe.
Commercial property owners must ensure both are completed at the appropriate intervals.
Which Other Regulations Apply to Lift Maintenance?
Although BS EN 13015 is the primary maintenance standard, several other regulations work alongside it.
BS EN 81
BS EN 81 is the collection of standards covering the safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts. These standards specify how lifts should be designed and built to ensure long-term safety.
LOLER
Passenger lifts generally require a statutory thorough examination every six months, while certain goods lifts require examinations every twelve months depending on how they are used.
These inspections help ensure lifts continue to meet legal safety requirements.
PUWER
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) requires employers and building owners to ensure work equipment, including lifts, remains safe throughout its operational life.
Together, BS EN 13015, BS EN 81, LOLER and PUWER create the framework governing lift installation, maintenance and ongoing safety.
Who Is Responsible for Meeting Lift Maintenance Standards?
Responsibility ultimately rests with the duty holder responsible for the building.
This may include:
- Commercial landlords
- Facilities managers
- Property management companies
- Hotel operators
- Housing associations
- Business owners
Although lift maintenance companies carry out servicing, responsibility for ensuring maintenance and statutory inspections take place remains with the building owner or manager.
Working with an experienced lift company helps ensure these responsibilities are met correctly.
What Happens If Lift Maintenance Standards Are Ignored?
Ignoring recognised maintenance standards often leads to a gradual decline in lift performance.
Small mechanical issues develop into larger faults. Components wear more quickly, breakdowns become increasingly common and repair costs begin to escalate.
Poor maintenance can also result in:
- Unexpected lift shutdowns
- Failed LOLER examinations
- Increased liability risks
- Expensive replacement parts
- Greater disruption for building users
- Reduced passenger confidence
For commercial properties, these issues can quickly affect productivity, customer satisfaction and the overall reputation of the building.
How Professional Lift Maintenance Helps Buildings Stay Compliant
Professional lift maintenance involves far more than routine servicing.
Experienced lift engineers identify safety-critical issues before they become serious failures, carry out preventative maintenance, replace worn components, maintain accurate service records and provide recommendations that help prepare the lift for future statutory inspections.
This proactive approach reduces downtime, extends lift lifespan and helps commercial buildings remain fully compliant with current British Standards.
Why Following British Standards for Lift Maintenance Matters
British Standards are not simply a checklist for engineers — they provide the foundation for safe, reliable and legally compliant lift operation.
By following recognised standards such as BS EN 13015, alongside LOLER and PUWER requirements, building owners can reduce breakdowns, improve passenger safety, lower long-term maintenance costs and maximise the lifespan of their lift.
Investing in professional lift maintenance carried out to British Standards gives building owners confidence that their lift is operating safely today while protecting its performance for many years to come.
