Why ISO Matters for Vertical Transportation
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards are the common language of safety, interoperability, and performance across the elevator and escalator value chain. For developers and authorities, they de-risk projects and streamline approvals. For manufacturers and service providers, they anchor design decisions, testing programs, and quality systems, and they ease market access across borders.
At the core of the current framework are:
- ISO 8100 series — the principal safety rules for construction and installation;
- ISO 22559 — the global essential safety requirements (GESRs) framework;
- ISO 14798 — risk assessment methodology;
- ISO 25745 — energy measurement, verification, and classification;
- ISO 8100-30 (formerly ISO 4190-1) — standard shaft/cabin/install dimensional coordination.
The Safety Backbone: ISO 8100 (Design, Construction, Installation)
The ISO 8100 family is the anchor for lift safety.
- ISO 8100-1:2019 sets safety rules for the construction and installation of passenger and goods lifts—covering design principles, protective measures, and functional safety. It is the natural successor (and global counterpart) to long-standing regional frameworks and is currently under revision (FDIS stage), signaling active maintenance and alignment with technology progress.
- ISO 8100-2:2019 complements Part 1 with design rules, calculations, examinations, and tests of lift components, ensuring that safety isn’t just functional on paper but verified through examination and test regimens.
- ISO 8100-20:2018 clarifies scope and application for lifts intended to carry persons (and persons with goods) in fixed structures—important for demarcating what is (and isn’t) covered when specifying solutions for special buildings or transport vessels.
What this means for projects: If you are a developer or EPC specifying lifts, referencing ISO 8100-1/-2/-20 provides a globally recognized safety baseline for construction, acceptance, and inspection protocols.
From “Principles” to “Parameters”: ISO 22559 and The GESR Approach
ISO 22559-1:2014 sets out Global Essential Safety Requirements (GESRs)—a top-level framework that defines the safety outcomes lifts must achieve, and a methodology to minimize risks during use, operation, and work on lifts. It is a technology-neutral backbone that helps regulators and manufacturers align on what must be safe even as designs evolve.
Earlier, ISO/TS 22559-2:2010 translated those GESRs into Global Safety Parameters (GSPs). That Technical Specification has been withdrawn and superseded functionally within the newer ISO 8100 family (see ISO/TS 8100-21), reflecting the sector’s move from principles to fully harmonized, testable requirements. For historical context and migration, knowing that ISO/TS 22559-2 was replaced is useful when you encounter older specs.
Practical takeaway: Use ISO 22559-1 when you need a policy-level statement of safety objectives (e.g., regulations, conformity strategies) and pair it with ISO 8100 parts when writing procurement and test specifications.
Managing Risk Systematically: ISO 14798
ISO 14798:2009 provides the risk assessment process for lifts, escalators, and moving walks. It describes hazard identification, risk estimation, and reduction methods—usable not just for harm to persons but also property and environmental risks. It’s widely referenced in both new installations and modernization projects to justify design choices, maintenance intervals, and safety upgrades.
How it’s used in practice:
- During design, to evaluate alternatives (e.g., door protection systems, overspeed devices).
- During modernization, to prioritize upgrades on legacy equipment based on quantified risk.
- During audits, to document ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) reasoning for authorities or insurers.
Energy Performance and Sustainability: ISO 25745
With buildings under pressure to meet ESG and energy codes, the ISO 25745 series standardizes how the industry measures and improves energy performance:
- ISO 25745-1:2023 defines methods of measuring actual energy consumption and conducting periodic verification for lifts, escalators, and moving walks—crucial for projects committing to operational energy targets and green building ratings.
- ISO 25745-3:2015 covers energy calculation and classification of escalators and moving walks, enabling consistent energy labeling and apples-to-apples comparisons in tenders.
Specification tip: Include ISO 25745-1 measurement + verification clauses in OPRs (Owner’s Project Requirements) and require ISO 25745-3 classifications for escalators/moving walks to drive lifecycle efficiency.
Dimensional Coordination & Modernization Pathways: ISO 8100-30 (ex-ISO 4190-1)
For decades, ISO 4190-1:2010 defined standardized dimensions to permit installation of passenger lifts (classes I, II, III, VI)—think shaft sizes, pit/headroom, and car arrangements. It has since been withdrawn and replaced by ISO 8100-30:2019, aligning dimensional coordination with the modern 8100 family. If you encounter older architectural drawings or tender books that still reference ISO 4190, the migration path is to ISO 8100-30.
Design implication: Using the current ISO 8100-30 helps reduce clashes between architecture and lift packages, simplifies modernization planning, and supports supply-chain interoperability.
Escalators & Moving walks: Applying the Same Logic
While lift safety centers on ISO 8100-1/-2, the principles extend to escalators and moving walks through ISO 14798 (risk assessments) and ISO 25745 (energy). Many authorities and consultants apply the GESR concept (ISO 22559-1) to modernization programs to ensure legacy equipment approaches the safety level of new installations—particularly in transport hubs and retail.
A practical compliance roadmap (spec to operations)
- Set the baseline: Reference ISO 8100-1/-2/-20 for safety, scope, and testing in employer’s requirements and tender specs.
- Articulate objectives: Add ISO 22559-1 (GESRs) in the regulatory/conformity narrative to align stakeholders on outcomes.
- Quantify risk: Require a documented ISO 14798 risk assessment for new builds and modernizations; use it to prioritize controls and commissioning tests.
- Measure energy, then improve: Specify ISO 25745-1 M&V during commissioning and O&M; request ISO 25745-3 classes for escalators/moving walks to benchmark tenders.
- Coordinate with architecture: Ensure shafts and headroom conform to ISO 8100-30 (not legacy ISO 4190-1) for smoother installation and futureproofing.
- Document tests & examinations: Ensure component and system examinations per ISO 8100-2 are included in factory and site acceptance plans.
Key Takeaways for Decision-Makers
- Use ISO 8100 as the working safety rulebook, supported by ISO 22559 for high-level safety outcomes.
- Prove safety with risk assessment and testing: ISO 14798 + ISO 8100-2 are your audit trail.
- Manage lifecycle performance with ISO 25745 energy M&V and classification.
- Design for compatibility using ISO 8100-30 dimensional coordination (instead of legacy ISO 4190-1).