EN 81-50 Part 50: Design Rules, Calculations, Inspections and Tests of Elevator Components

The European standard “EN 81-50 Safety rules for the construction and installation of elevators - Inspections and tests - Part 50: Design rules, calculations, inspections and tests of elevator components” describes the design rules, calculations, inspections and testing methods for elevator components used in the design of passenger elevators, freight elevators, freight-only elevators and other similar types of lifting devices, as referenced in other standards.

The purpose of this standard is to define safety requirements for elevators to protect persons and objects against the risks of accidents associated with the use, maintenance, and emergency operation of elevators. The preambles of the relevant standards requiring the use of this standard should be consulted for the persons and objects to be protected, assumptions, and principles.

For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

• Notified body: An organization or manufacturer that operates a fully approved quality assurance system to test security components.
• Security component: A component provided to perform a security function during use.
• Type examination certificate: A document issued by an approved body that has carried out a type examination, confirming that the examined product sample complies with the provisions applicable to it.

The table entitled “List of significant hazards” given in the standard contains all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events that have been determined by the risk assessment to be significant for this type of machinery and that require action to eliminate or reduce the risk, as far as this standard addresses.

Safety is paramount in the world of vertical transportation. Elevators (lifts) carry millions of passengers daily between buildings, skyscrapers, and public spaces. To ensure the flawless operation of these systems, their design, installation, and maintenance are subject to rigorous standards. Among these, the EN 81-50 standard stands out as a critical framework for verifying the integrity of elevator components. This standard provides manufacturers and engineers with detailed methodologies for testing and certifying the components that ensure the smooth and safe operation of elevators. This standard, aligned with broader EU safety directives such as the Machinery Directive 2014/33/EU, is a cornerstone of modern elevator engineering.

Today, the need for reliable elevator technology is growing. This standard addresses this need by focusing on the microscopic level—the nuts, bolts, ropes, and buffers that collectively prevent catastrophic failures.

Essentially, the EN 81-50 standard provides a guide to proving that individual elevator components can withstand the rigors of daily operation. It applies to components used in passenger and freight elevators, including traction, hydraulic, and positive drive systems. The key areas focused on in the EN 81-50 standard are:

• Design rules and calculations: This standard mandates rigorous stress analysis for components under various loads, including static loads, dynamic impacts, and fatigue over time. For example, suspension ropes must be rated for breaking loads exceeding 12 times the rated capacity to prevent rupture. These rules ensure that components such as guide rails and counterweights are dimensioned to withstand seismic events or extreme loads without deformation.
• Inspections and non-destructive testing: Visual inspections, ultrasonic testing, and magnetic particle inspections are essential for detecting defects in metals and welds. This is crucial for high-stress areas like vehicle chassis, where microscopic cracks can lead to failure.
• Performance tests:
  • Bumpers and shock absorbers: Drop tests simulate emergency stops to ensure energy absorption prevents vehicle overspeed damage.
  • Safety devices: These devices, which must deploy within milliseconds to engage the rails, are tested under controlled falls to verify their stopping power.
  • Door and lock mechanisms: Components are subjected to strength tests such as limiting door openings to 50 mm outside of locking zones under 1000 N pressure, increasing anti-pinch.

EN 81-50 standard tests are harmonized for certification. Components that pass these tests can receive the CE mark and are readily traded throughout the EU. This standardization reduces variability, ensuring that a rope tested in one country can perform the same in another.

The component types, test requirements, and purposes are as follows:

• Suspension ropes: Breaking load more than 12 times the rated capacity. Preventing failures during movement.
• Safety features: Activation within 0,5 seconds. Emergency braking.
• Bumpers: Energy absorption for 1 m drop. Cushion impacts.
• Guide rails: Deflection under load no more than 1/500. Maintaining alignment.
• Door locks: 1000 N force resistance. Prevents unwanted opening.

This standard, which requires higher thresholds in the EN 81-50 standard, such as increasing lighting in shafts (from 50 lux to 200 lux in machine rooms) and improving access to the cabin ceiling for maintenance, reduces accident risks for both users and technicians. It also encourages innovation: lighter composites and smart sensors can now be inspected efficiently, resulting in energy-efficient elevators that reduce building carbon footprints.

Our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding our customers' needs for years, providing them with the advanced testing services they need, and assisting them in establishing, implementing, and improving management systems. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the standard "EN 81-50 Safety Requirements for the Construction and Installation of Elevators - Inspections and Tests - Part 50: Design Requirements, Calculations, Inspections, and Tests of Elevator Components."