Lift Servicing Regulations

Understanding LOLER and Your Lift Servicing Responsibilities

If you’re responsible for a building with a lift, you need to know about the rules that govern its upkeep. This blog makes it simple. We’ll take you through the critical lift servicing regulations concerning ongoing lift maintenance, the recommended servicing schedules, and the details of thorough examinations (often called LOLER inspections).

We won’t drown you in dense legal text – this is a plain-English guide for building and lift owners, with the focus on clarity and practical understanding.

At Tower Lifts, your lift’s safety is always our priority. With more than 10 years of experience, we have a thorough understanding of the importance of consistent, expert attention. That’s why we recommend regular, proactive maintenance through carefully planned servicing schedules. It’s the only way to guarantee that your lifts always operate at their best and meet all necessary safety standards.

Proactive Maintenance, Servicing, and LOLER – What They Mean for Your Lift

To ensure your lift operates safely and reliably, it helps to understand the different types of attention it needs. In this section we look at what proactive maintenance, scheduled servicing, and LOLER thorough examinations involve.

Lift Care Essentials – Understanding Maintenance, Servicing, and LOLER

  • Proactive Maintenance Explained – This describes a continuous process of care that includes, but isn’t limited to, routine servicing. It means keeping an eye (and ear) out for any changes in your lift’s operation, ensuring it’s regularly cleaned, and dealing with minor concerns promptly in order to stop them escalating.
  • Scheduled Servicing Explained – This refers to planned, regular visits from your lift service provider. During these visits, engineers carry out a list of agreed-upon checks, lubrication, adjustments, and parts replacements. The frequency of the visits (see below) ensures the lift is consistently meeting operational and safety benchmarks.
  • LOLER Thorough Examination Explained – This is a legal requirement. Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) require a thorough examination of your lift by a ‘Competent Person’. This individual independently assesses whether the lift is safe for use, identifying any defects that could lead to danger. It’s not a service visit but a critical safety check.

How Proactive Care and Lift Servicing Support Your LOLER Inspection

Ensuring that proactive maintenance and scheduled servicing are part of your lift infrastructure directly contributes to a successful LOLER thorough examination. A well-cared-for lift is less likely to have the kind of defects that would be noted by the Competent Person. Additionally, good maintenance records are considered evidence of ongoing safety management, and this expected and viewed favourably as part of a LOLER assessment.

How Proactive Care and Lift Servicing Support Your LOLER Inspection

Proactive Maintenance vs. Scheduled Servicing – The Key Difference

The main difference lies in scope and timing.

  • Scheduled servicing is about completing a set list of maintenance tasks at regular, pre-agreed intervals.
  • Proactive maintenance is broader and more dynamically involved with the day-to-day running of your lift. It includes scheduled services but also involves ongoing monitoring and taking preventative action between scheduled visits to anticipate and resolve issues before they cause a breakdown or safety concern. It’s about being aware of safety at all times, not just when a service visit is scheduled.

How Often Should Your Lift be Serviced?

When it comes to lift servicing, there’s no fixed answer. It really depends on a number of factors regarding your lift and how it’s used. We always aim to create a schedule that proactively and consistently maintains safety and performance, rather than just reacting to problems.

The Tower Lifts team assesses the following when recommending service frequency:

  1. Lift Type and Purpose – Different lifts have different needs. A heavily used passenger lift in a busy office needs more regular attention (potentially monthly) than a dumbwaiter in a medium sized restaurant, which might be checked every six months.
  2. Level of Activity – How many journeys does your lift make each day? The more it’s used, the more quickly the components will wear, requiring more frequent servicing.
  3. Age and History – Older lifts may need more service visits to ensure continued reliability and to catch age-related wear. Hew lifts, on the other hand, need servicing to maintain warranty conditions.
  4. Operating Conditions – A lift exposed to excessive dust, humidity, or extreme temperature changes will need more care than one in a protected indoor setting.
  5. Manufacturer’s Recommendations – The company that made your lift will provide recommended service intervals. These are guidelines to follow as a minimum.

The bottom line: While some lifts need monthly check-ups and others require attention once a year, the most effective strategy is a custom approach. The team at Tower Lifts can assess these individual factors to develop a proactive lift servicing plan tailored precisely to your lifting equipment. This ensures you get the very best performance, longevity, and, most importantly, the safety of everyone who uses it.

Expert Lift Care – From Regular Maintenance to Emergency Repairs

An understanding of lift servicing regulations is the important first step to ensuring safety, compliance, and the longevity of your lifts. At Tower Lifts, we’re here to make your ongoing responsibility for keeping your lifts safe, straightforward and stress-free.

We offer comprehensive lift servicing and maintenance packages, tailored to your specific needs, alongside breakdown and lift repair services to promptly manage any unexpected issues.

Our commitment to the highest standards is our calling card. This is demonstrated by our key accreditations: ISO9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, Constructionline approval, and the industry-specific UKAS LiftCert. We are members of LEIA (Lift and Escalator Industry Association), guaranteeing that our work always meets our industry benchmarks.

Want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your lifts are expertly managed? Contact Tower Lifts today for a consultation or service quote and let us take care of the rest – 01525 601099

Tower Lifts London lift team can design and install a varied range of lifts throughout the UK including:

Domestic Lifts • Food Lifts • Bespoke Platform Lifts • Service Lifts • Platform Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts • Heavy Duty / Car Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • MRL Lifts • Fire lifts • Residential Lifts • low-Headroom Lifts