EN 81-20 and EN 81-50: What the standard requires of the inspection control station
The inspection control station is the device fitters use to work in the shaft. EN 81-20 sets out what it consists of, where it sits and what colour each button must be. This page summarises the requirements a maintenance box must meet.
Two standards that belong together
EN 81-20 and EN 81-50 replaced the earlier EN 81-1 (rope lifts) and EN 81-2 (hydraulic lifts). They have been mandatory since 1 September 2017: lifts for which an EU declaration of conformity is issued after that date must meet their requirements or demonstrate an equivalent level of safety.
EN 81-20 describes the construction and installation of the lift. EN 81-50 sets out how individual components are designed, calculated and tested. Both apply to a component such as an inspection control station: one determines what the device must be capable of, the other how its suitability is demonstrated.
One focus of the revision was the protection of maintenance personnel. This includes refuge spaces on the car roof and in the pit, clearly defined access routes — and precisely the requirements for control stations, STOP devices and lighting set out on this page. The earlier limit of no more than two inspection control stations per installation has been removed.
What an inspection control station consists of
Four elements are mandatory. Each must be protected against unintentional operation.
Inspection switch
A bistable switch meeting the requirements for electrical safety devices to EN 60947-5-1. The positions must be marked NORMAL and INSPECTION — on or directly next to the switch.
UP and DOWN direction pushbuttons
The direction of travel must be clearly identifiable. Colour and symbol are fixed (see table below), so the assignment stays unambiguous without labelling.
RUN button
The car moves only while the direction pushbutton and the RUN button are held down at the same time. Both must be operable with one hand simultaneously.
STOP device
A STOP device marked STOP on or next to the device. It may also serve as the STOP device for the access point, provided it is no more than 1 m away from it.
Colour and symbol of the direction controls
EN 81-20 fixes the button colour and symbol colour of the three travel commands and refers to IEC 60417 for the symbols. That's why a white button on a compliant inspection control station is always UP, and a black one is always DOWN.
| Function | Button Colour | Symbol Colour | Symbol to |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP | White | Black | IEC 60417-5022 |
| DOWN | Black | White | IEC 60417-5022 |
| RUN | Blue | White | IEC 60417-5023 |
If several inspection control stations are switched to INSPECTION, the car can only be moved when the same pushbuttons are pressed simultaneously at all affected stations. The fitting lists for our maintenance boxes mark the pushbuttons accordingly.
Where a control station is required
A permanently installed inspection control station is required on the car roof and in the pit — as well as in the car or on a platform, if the car must be moved from there.
On the car roof
Operable from a horizontal distance of no more than 0.30 m from the refuge space. This includes a STOP device no more than 1 m from the access point and a socket outlet.
Boxes for the car roofIn the pit
Likewise operable from a distance of no more than 0.30 m from the refuge space, with a STOP device and socket outlet. The pit lighting switch sits within reach of the access point.
Boxes for the pitAt the controller
A bridging device must be provided in the controller or at the test panel for maintenance of the door and door-locking contacts — with an audible signal and flashing light during travel.
Boxes for the control panelIn the car or on a platform
If the car must be moved from inside it or from a platform, an inspection control station is required there too. There is no longer a numerical limit on control stations per installation.
Figures a maintenance box must meet
Required protection against contact for the inspection control station to EN 60529. KINRED boxes are IP54 as standard, IP65 on request.
Maximum distance from which the control station on the car roof and in the pit must be horizontally operable.
Maximum distance of the STOP device from the access point for inspection and maintenance personnel.
Minimum illuminance 1.0 m above the car roof and above the pit floor, wherever work is carried out.
Minimum illuminance outside the working areas, without allowing for shadows cast by the car or components.
From an automatically charging standby power source, among other places at every alarm device in the car and on the car roof.
Standards that also apply to maintenance boxes
- EN 81-20
- Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts.
- EN 81-50
- Design rules, calculations and tests for lift components.
- EN 60947-5-1
- Control circuit devices and switching elements — electromechanical control circuit devices, the basis for safety contacts with positive opening.
- EN 60204-1
- Safety of machinery — electrical equipment of machines.
- EN 60529
- Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code).
- EN ISO 13850
- Safety of machinery — emergency stop, principles for design.
Configure a compliant maintenance box
Choose the fitting, socket outlet type and housing — with contact assignment, circuit diagram and dimensional drawing for every design.