Liftinstituut’s LCB accreditation helps lift manufacturers access more global markets
Liftinstituut can now support manufacturers of lifts, their components and functions with product certification for more regions worldwide. The certification organisation has recently been accredited by ANAB as a Lift Certification Body (LCB), authorising it to operate within the scope of ISO 8100-20, -21, -22 and -23. What does this accreditation imply? And how does certification by an LCB complement existing European and North American certification routes? Willem Kasteleijn, Product Manager Certification at Liftinstituut, explains.
Liftinstituut has been accredited by ANAB as an LCB. What does that mean exactly?
“We are now officially accredited to perform certifications as a Lift Certification Body. This is a relatively new concept in the certification landscape. In Europe, manufacturers know us as a Notified Body, while in North America we e.g. carry out certification as an AECO. With the LCB accreditation, we can now also support manufacturers who want to bring their products to different regions worldwide.”
“We know that there is strong demand from major players in the lift market for support from a Lift Certification Body. We are pleased that, as the first certification organisation in the world, we can support them in this role. I deliberately say ‘support’. The LCB approach is not yet accepted everywhere. Many countries have their own lift legislation and standards. In regions where lift safety is legally based on ISO standards, the likelihood that our LCB approach will be accepted is higher. We hope that major manufacturers will actively engage with authorities to promote acceptance of the LCB system, as it clearly works to their advantage.”
What is the added value of certification by a Lift Certification Body?
“LCB certification by Liftinstituut is particularly valuable in situations where a product does not fully comply with the requirements of ISO 8100-1 and -2. These standards are prescriptive, meaning they must be followed in full if they are in force in a country or region. When a product deviates from these standards, certification can become challenging.”
“With our services as a Lift Certification Body, we offer a complementary route. It allows manufacturers to demonstrate that a deviating design or concept provides an equivalent level of safety, even if it does not comply with every prescriptive requirement. Think, for example, of a lift with a design that fundamentally deviates from conventional solutions covered by ISO 8100-1/-2. Such a lift may comply with 80% of the standard requirements. For the remaining 20%, the manufacturer can ask us, as an LCB, to validate the equivalency with the safety objectives of the standard. This makes innovative concepts certifiable without compromising safety.”
LCB certification is linked to ISO standards. Is an LCB certificate therefore also accepted in Europe?
“In Europe, the legal basis is the Lift Directive, which defines the essential safety requirements. Harmonised standards, such as the upcoming EN-ISO 8100-1/-2, provide prescriptive solutions to meet those requirements. If a manufacturer deviates from the standards, equivalency has to be demonstrated through a risk assessment. Conceptually this is similar to the LCB approach, but the legal framework is different. As a result, an LCB certificate cannot replace certification for the European market. A separate assessment remains necessary.”
“The advantage of Liftinstituut is that we can support manufacturers with a combined approach. As a Notified Body, we can certify products for Europe; as an AECO, for North America; and as a Lift Certification Body, for a broader range of regions worldwide. Although the legal procedures differ per region, there is significant technical overlap. This makes a coordinated ‘three-in-one’ approach both efficient and practical.”
Why should manufacturers choose Liftinstituut as their Lift Certification Body?
“Liftinstituut is highly specialised in lift safety. Many certification bodies cover a wide range of products, with lifts representing only a small part of their portfolio. For us, lifts and lift safety components are our core business. That means deep expertise, short communication lines, fast response times and a thorough understanding of the lift industry. These strengths apply just as much to our role as a Lift Certification Body.”
“Manufacturers with global ambitions are in good hands with Liftinstituut. Of course, there will always be countries or regions with their own specific requirements. But manufacturers working within the ISO framework are generally on the right path with us as their Notified Body, AECO and Lift Certification Body.”
Scope of the ANAB accreditation
ANAB has officially accredited Liftinstituut as a Lift Certification Body (LCB). Liftinstituut operates within the following scope:
- ISO 8100-20/-21/-22: define the requirements for product certification that complement the prescriptive standards ISO 8100-1/-2.
- ISO 8100-23: describes the requirements that Liftinstituut fulfills as an accredited Lift Certification Body
The LCB standards provide a complementary route for certifying products that deviate from ISO 8100-1/-2 while maintaining an equivalent level of safety. Where ISO 8100-1/-2 are accepted, ISO 8100-20/-21/-22/-23 should also be accepted.
Contact us for more information
Would you like to know more about what Liftinstituut can mean for you as a Lift Certification Body? Do you have a question about certification in accordance with ISO 8100-20/-21/-22 and ISO 8100-23? Please feel free to contact us. Call accountmanager Dennis Lindeboom at +31 6 520 84 107 or business manager Albert-Jan van Ommen at +31 6 512 43 395, or complete our contact form.
