The Lifts Regulations 1997

3.    HAZARDS TO PERSONS IN THE CAR

(3.1) Lift cars must be completely enclosed by full-length walls, fitted floors and ceilings included, with the exception of ventilation apertures, and with full-length doors. These doors must be so designed and installed that the car cannot move, except for the landing movements referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Section 2.3, unless the doors are closed, and comes to a halt if the doors are opened.

• The doors of the car must remain closed and interlocked if the lift stops between two levels where there is a risk of a fall between the car and the shaft or if there is no shaft.

(3.2) In the event of a power cut or failure of components the lift must have devices to prevent free fall or uncontrolled upward movements of the car.

• The device preventing the free fall of the car must be independent of the means of suspension of the car.

• This device must be able to stop the car at its rated load and at the maximum speed anticipated by the installer of the lift. Any stop occasioned by this device must not cause deceleration harmful to the occupants whatever the load conditions.

(3.3) Buffers must be installed between the bottom of the shaft and the floor of the car.

• In this case, the free space referred to in Section 2.2 must be measured with the buffers totally compressed.

• This requirement does not apply to lifts in which the car cannot enter the free space referred to in Section 2.2 by reason of the design of the drive system.

(3.4) Lifts must be so designed and constructed as to make it impossible for them to be set in motion if the device provided for in Section 3.2 is not in an operational position.