Colin Craney’s latest Elevator World article explores lift standards and regulations, and how they they can be influenced, or impacted.
Prompted by a recent interview with René Hermann, Chairman of the Working Group CEN TC10 WG1, Colin evaluates how leading industry organisations, like the EFESME (European Federation for Elevator Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) can dominate lift standards at the cost of small to medium organisations who don’t have the same clout in the marketplace.
That EFESME should feel a need to publicly raise such concerns is of concern in itself. Or maybe its comments are something of an overreaction? Whatever the case, it is important that participants in the CEN Committee should not only refrain from promoting corporative self-interest and/or exercising bias, but also that they be seen to do so.
Colin also considers how Brexit has affected lift standards, how they are set and how they are promoted (especially if the reason is for commercial gains). Colin writes:
That the U.K. no longer has a proper seat at the table in the development of EN 81 and other CEN Standards is, in my view, lamentable, particularly in that the U.K. is, at least for the foreseeable future, committed to alignment with the EN Standards and that the EU is the largest lift market.
There are many pros to lift standard development that Colin welcomes. Well-needed clarity in some instances being one. The cons however, as Colin explains, could have big implications.
The indication is the next few years will bring much change in relation to standards and regulation. In addition to that required of CEN TC10 by the Commission, change in the U.K. is set to flow from the Grenfell Inquiry, some of which are already evident in the inclusion of a requirement for Evacuation Lifts in the London Plan and other provisions and legislation flowing from the Grenfell tragedy.
For the full picture on the future of lift standards, click here to read the full article.
Colin Craney has 42 years of industry experience, initially in a number of field and management roles with Otis, followed by 17 years in consulting, currently for SVM Associates. Colin is a U.K. chartered engineer and a fellow of CIBSE, European engineer, chartered safety and health practitioner, accredited consultant on the HSE Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register and a member of the Chartered Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Colin is a barrister, having been called to the bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
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