Nick Mellor, Principal Industry Adviser at LEIA
For nearly eighty years, LEIA and its predecessor organisations have played an active role in the development of standards through the British Standards Institution (BSI). The first Technical Committee meeting of NALM took place on 20th April 1948, marking the beginning of a long-standing commitment to shaping industry best practice.
Engineering and safety are intrinsically linked and sit at the core of LEIA members’ activities – whether in the design of new equipment, the maintenance and repair of existing assets, or their modification. Codes and standards provide essential benchmarks that support these activities and help members meet their statutory responsibilities. It is therefore no surprise that compliance is deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations of LEIA members.
Through representation at BSI and via BSI at European (CEN) and international (ISO) standards bodies, LEIA ensures that the expertise and experience of its members directly inform the development of new equipment standards.
Micky Grover-White, Head of Technical, explains: “Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, LEIA continues to receive queries about the status of European standards in the UK. The British Standards Institution (BSI) remains a full member of European standardisation bodies such as CEN, which is responsible for standards for lifts, escalators and moving walks. As a CEN member, BSI publishes CEN standards as BS ENs, ensuring that the UK continues to align with European standards in this sector.”
LEIA still strongly supports work at BSI where vital standards such as BS 7255 for safe working on lifts has been revised. It’s working on testing standards in the BS 8486 series, a revision of BS 5655-11 on the modification of existing lifts, a revision of BS 8899 for the improvement of lifts for use by firefighters and for evacuation use.
What this means for members
This work delivers significant value to LEIA members. Not only does members’ real-world experience directly influence the development of European and international standards, but it also helps shape the future direction of the industry. In essence, contributing to codes and standards is about solving tomorrow’s challenges today.
LEIA actively gathers member input on draft standards through seminars, events and communications. For example, a recent seminar on the draft BS 5655-11 attracted strong engagement and provided valuable feedback. These events are consistently well attended, offering members direct access to the expertise of those involved in standards development, as well as ongoing support from the LEIA team.
Importantly, this is a two-way process. Member engagement ensures that LEIA representatives can accurately reflect the views of the wider membership when working with stakeholders, regulators and government.
While larger organisations often have the capacity to dedicate resource to standards work, a significant proportion of LEIA members are SMEs. It is therefore essential that LEIA’s representation reflects the full breadth of the membership, ensuring that all voices – including those of SMEs are heard.
Behind the scenes
Standards development is rigorous and highly detailed work. Revising a standard requires extensive collaboration, with working groups dedicating significant time to analysing every word to ensure technical accuracy, proportionality, clarity and accountability. Each phrase must be carefully considered to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.
In addition to committee work, the LEIA team contributes substantial time each year to ensure that standards remain practical, relevant and aligned with members’ needs. Alongside this, there is ongoing work in critical areas such as building safety and the introduction of evacuation lifts.
Case study – what does it take to revise BS 5655-11 for the modification of existing lifts?
BS 5655-11 and BS 5655-12 were originally published in 2005. While they remain strong standards with enduring principles, feedback from LEIA members highlighted the need for significant updates.
Key drivers for the revision include:
- Advances in technology, including new safety features in modern lift standards
- The need for guidance on modifying lifts installed under the Lifts Regulations, particularly following type or design examination
- Broader drivers for modification, including safety, accessibility, energy efficiency and fire use
- The need to expand guidance on key principles such as levels of safety, replacement components, digital modifications and competence
- The requirement for more detailed guidance on specific components and systems, reflecting both new technologies and member experience
The revision process began at the end of 2023 with the preparation of a draft. This involved 20 full days of meetings for the revision panel, alongside extensive work undertaken between meetings. Sub-groups contributed detailed technical content, working intensively to develop specific sections.
Further meetings were required to prepare the draft for public comment (DPC), which was issued on 10 February. The two-month consultation period, closing on 10 April, allowed stakeholders to submit feedback via the BSI Standards Development Portal – an essential part of the process, as all comments must be reviewed by the panel.
LEIA supported this process by hosting a member seminar on 4th March, generating extensive feedback and multiple pages of detailed comments.
Following the consultation period, additional meetings have been scheduled to address the 649 comments received. It is anticipated that the revised standard will be published by the end of 2026.
This project represents just one strand of activity. The effort involved is significant, but it is eclipsed by the scale of work behind the forthcoming BS EN ISO 8100-1 and -2 standards, which aim to establish a global framework for lift safety and design.
Similar work continues across ISO and CEN on escalator standards and a wide range of other industry requirements. This collaborative international approach is essential, and it underpins LEIA’s strong support for BSI’s continued membership of CEN following Brexit (noting that CEN operates independently of the European Union).
How to get involved
LEIA actively encourages member participation in standards development through its technical seminars which cover upcoming and newly published standards and gather member feedback.
LEIA members are also made aware of draft standards when out for comment (as recently for BS 5655-11) and are encouraged to submit comments.
Looking to the future
Ultimately, LEIA’s investment in codes and standards is an investment in the long-term safety, credibility and sustainability of the lift and escalator industry. By ensuring that members have a direct voice in shaping the frameworks that govern their work, LEIA not only supports compliance but actively influences the direction of travel for the sector.
This work protects the interests of members, ensures that UK expertise remains recognised at a global level, and helps create a level playing field across the industry. It also ensures that emerging challenges are addressed proactively, rather than reactively.
For members, this means confidence: confidence that standards are practical and relevant, confidence that their expertise is represented, and confidence that LEIA is working on their behalf – often years in advance – to safeguard both their businesses and the wider industry.