Security
Safety is the Swedish Elevator Association's absolute top priority. For those who use elevators and escalators, but also for those who have elevators and escalators as part of their work environment.
”Safety is our top priority”.
Safety risks with older elevators in Sweden
New and well-modernized elevators are very safe means of transportation. However, more than half of all elevators in Sweden are older than 30 years, which means that users often travel in elevators that lack important safety equipment.
In recent years, there have been several accidents involving older elevators in residential buildings, where children in particular have been seriously injured. The Swedish Elevator Association has therefore produced a report that both describes the most common risks and provides a number of suggestions for how safety can be improved.
The Swedish Elevator Association assesses that the regulations must be changed and that we must introduce retroactive requirements for updating safety equipment. The technical solutions exist, but according to current regulations, the safety equipment in old elevators only needs to be updated in the event of a major modernization of the elevator. However, the decision to modernize lies entirely with the property owner.
Previous regulatory changes have yielded very good results, for example when elevators without protection in the car opening in workplaces were banned back in 2012. It is not acceptable that residential buildings, where the most vulnerable in society such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities live, do not have the same safety standards and security as workplaces.
New legal requirement
From 15 October 2023, new legal requirements will apply to older elevators regarding protection between the shaft door and the elevator car door, to prevent accidents where small children in particular are at risk of getting stuck in the space between the doors. The new rules must be met by 1 October 2031 at the latest.
Do you have questions?
The Swedish Elevator Association is happy to provide advice. The Swedish Elevator Association has been working for safer elevators and escalators since 1992. You can also contact your elevator service company directly.
More about security
Patrick Agardh
The Technology and Safety Committee is the Swedish Elevator Association's largest committee, focusing on issues related to safety, technology, and regulations and standards.
