Elevator: safety, maintenance and technical control

Verified 15 May 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Are you the owner or tenant of a home and would you like to know the safety features of the elevator of your building (condominium or not) and its maintenance conditions? We're taking stock of the regulations.

Condominium building

The safety of an elevator is to ensure the following measures :

  • Closure of landing doors
  • Safe access for people to the cabin
  • Protection of users against shocks caused by the closing of doors
  • Preventing the risk of falling and crushing the cabin
  • Protection against cab speed disturbances
  • Providing users with means of alerting and communicating with an intervention service
  • Protection of the electrical circuits of the installation
  • Safe access for emergency personnel to machinery spaces, associated equipment and areas covered by the cabin
  • Impossibility for any person other than the intervention personnel to access the machinery spaces, the associated equipment and the spaces traversed by the cabin.

FYI  

If the elevator was installed after 27 August 2000, it shall include CE marking. This marking means that the elevator responds well to the safety measures described.

Maintenance

The syndic of co-ownership must pass one maintenance contract with a professional to ensure its proper functioning and the safety of persons.

This contract must be concluded for a minimum of 1 year. It must have some mandatory minimum clauses (in particular, contract duration, penalties for non-compliance with maintenance, safety and control obligations, termination).

The references of the maintenance contract and its end date must be entered in the building maintenance log. This log must record all visits, operations and interventions carried out.

The professional must perform periodic and occasional operations and checks.

The operations and periodic checks are as follows:

  • Visit every 6 weeks to monitor the operation of the installation and make the necessary adjustments
  • Every 6 weeks verification of the effectiveness of landing door locks and devices preventing or limiting acts affecting the locking of landing doors
  • Review every 6 months of the good condition of the cables and annual verification of the parachutes
  • Annual cleaning of installation bowl, cabin roof and machinery room
  • Lubrication and cleaning of parts
  • Verification every 6 weeks of the proper functioning of the means of alert and communication with an intervention service.

The occasional operations and audits are as follows:

  • Repair or replacement of small parts of the installation showing signs of excessive wear
  • Specific maintenance measures to remove or mitigate defects identified by the roadworthiness test which endanger the safety of persons or impair the proper functioning of the equipment
  • In the event of an incident, interventions to clear people trapped in the cabin and troubleshooting and restoring the normal operation of the elevator
  • Replacement of the means for alerting and communicating with an intervention service when the latter is operating by means of the fixed switched telephone network (PSTN) or a 3G or earlier mobile network
  • Repair or replacement of important parts of the installation when they show wear.

The company responsible for the maintenance of the elevator must inform the syndic of co-ownership, in writing, the type (general category) and characteristics of the alert and communication means used to reach a response service, including the network and equipment used. In the event of a change in the hardware or network, this information must be updated. It must be kept at the disposal of the syndic of co-ownership and transmitted on simple request.

In addition, when the alert device operates via the PSTN or a 3G or earlier mobile network, and works are required to upgrade this hardware, the company must alert the condominium trustee by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. This alert must be renewed at least every 6 months as long as the works have not been carried out.

Control

A roadworthiness test shall verify that the elevator has safety devices in good condition and that the means of alerting and communicating with an intervention service are compatible with systems other than the fixed PSTN or the 3G mobile network or earlier. It also makes it possible to identify any defect presenting a danger for the safety of persons or affecting the proper functioning of the apparatus.

This technical inspection must be carried out every 5 years by a person qualified or competent in this field.

The person's activities must be covered by insurance that guarantees the consequences of his professional responsibility for controlling lifts.

It must guarantee its impartiality (absence of bias) and its independence (absence of any link of interest or influence) vis-à-vis the syndic of co-ownership who calls on it and any company that can carry out works or maintenance of the elevator.

When it is a question of legal person, its capital must not be held, even partially, by a company which might pose a problem of impartiality or independence.

The person in charge of the technical control must give the syndic of co-ownership a document by which he certifies on the honor that he is in a legal situation with regard to his qualification.

The person responsible for the roadworthiness test shall establish a report indicating the operations carried out and the defects identified (if any). Within one month of the end of the intervention, she must submit this report to the syndic of co-ownership.

The Condominium Trustee must give this report to the company or person responsible for the maintenance of the elevator and, if works are made necessary, to the persons responsible for their design and execution.

Please note

The syndic of co-ownership must inform the inhabitants of the building of the unavailability of the elevator during the technical inspection. This information must be displayed a few days before the intervention on the elevator door.

Elevator maintenance works must be voted in the general meeting of co-owners by a majority of Article 24.

The simple majority (called majority of article 24) corresponds to the majority of the votes cast by the co-owners present or represented as well as those who voted by post. Abstentionists (those who did not vote) are therefore not taken into account.

The works for the conformity of the elevator must be voted in the general meeting of the co-owners by an absolute majority called Article 25.

The absolute majority (called majority of article 25 of law no. 65-557 of 10 july 1965) corresponds to the majority of the votes of all the co-owners of the building (present, represented and absent).

If the decision has received at least ⅓ votes, it may be the subject of a 2nd vote by a simple majority of Article 24 (majority of the votes of the co-owners present, represented or having voted by post).

Any person with a title of occupation (tenant, co-owner...) can seize the judge for interim measures of the court of justice the location of the building to request, possibly under on-call duty, the upgrading of the elevator.

Anyone with a title of occupation can also apply for compliance with obligations maintenance and technical inspection.

Sanctions depend on the persons concerned:

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Syndic of condominium

The syndic of co-ownership who does not respect the obligations of security, of control and of maintenance may incur liability in the event of an accident involving persons. He may also incur liability if he calls on a professional who does not meet the qualification required for the performance of the maintenance contract.

Professional in charge of maintenance and control

The professional in charge of maintenance of the elevator may be fined €2,250 if he has not concluded a written maintenance contract or if he has concluded a maintenance contract which does not contain the minimum mandatory clauses.

The professional in charge of roadworthiness test the elevator which has not carried out the necessary checks may be fined €2,250.

The professional in charge of roadworthiness test the elevator which is not qualified to carry out these checks may be fined €2,250.

Manufacturer or installer

The manufacturer of lifts or installer of lifts may be fined €2,250 in particular if it does not make all parts of the installation accessible to the professional in charge of maintenance.

Other

The safety of an elevator is to ensure the following measures :

  • Closure of landing doors
  • Safe access for people to the cabin
  • Protection of users against shocks caused by the closing of doors
  • Preventing the risk of falling and crushing the cabin
  • Protection against cab speed disturbances
  • Providing users with means of alerting and communicating with an intervention service
  • Protection of the electrical circuits of the installation
  • Safe access for emergency personnel to machinery spaces, associated equipment and areas covered by the cabin
  • Impossibility for any person other than the intervention personnel to access the machinery spaces, the associated equipment and the spaces traversed by the cabin.

FYI  

If the elevator was installed after 27 August 2000, it shall include CE marking. This marking means that the elevator responds well to the safety measures described.

Maintenance

The owner of the elevator must pass a maintenance contract with a professional to ensure its proper functioning and the safety of persons.

This contract must be concluded for a minimum of 1 year. It must have some mandatory minimum clauses (in particular, contract duration, penalties for non-compliance with maintenance, safety and control obligations, termination).

The references of the maintenance contract and its end date must be entered in a maintenance book of the building. This log must record all visits, operations and interventions carried out.

The professional must perform periodic and occasional operations and checks.

The operations and periodic checks are as follows:

  • Visit every 6 weeks to monitor the operation of the installation and make the necessary adjustments
  • Every 6 weeks verification of the effectiveness of landing door locks and devices preventing or limiting acts affecting the locking of landing doors
  • Review every 6 months of the good condition of the cables and annual verification of the parachutes
  • Annual cleaning of installation bowl, cabin roof and machinery room
  • Lubrication and cleaning of parts
  • Verification every 6 weeks of the proper functioning of the means of alert and communication with an intervention service.

The occasional operations and audits are as follows:

  • Repair or replacement of small parts of the installation showing signs of excessive wear
  • Specific maintenance measures to remove or mitigate defects identified by the roadworthiness test which endanger the safety of persons or impair the proper functioning of the equipment
  • In the event of an incident, interventions to clear people trapped in the cabin and troubleshooting and restoring the normal operation of the elevator
  • Replacement of the means for alerting and communicating with an intervention service when the latter is operating by means of the fixed switched telephone network (PSTN) or a 3G or earlier mobile network
  • Repair or replacement of important parts of the installation when they show wear.

The company responsible for the maintenance of the elevator must inform the owner, in writingthe type and nature of the alert and communication means used to reach an intervention service, in particular the network and equipment used. In the event of a change in the hardware or network, this information must be updated. It must be kept at the disposal of the owner and transmitted on simple request.

In addition, when the alert device is operating via the PSTN or a 3G or earlier mobile network, and works are required to upgrade this hardware, the company must alert the owner by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. This alert must be renewed at least every 6 months as long as the works have not been carried out.

FYI  

If the owner has the necessary technical capabilities to ensure the maintenance of the elevator, he is not obliged to resort to a professional and can carry out the maintenance himself. In this case, the owner must keep the maintenance log up to date and draw up an annual activity report.

Control

A roadworthiness test shall verify that the elevator has safety devices in good condition and that the means of alerting and communicating with an intervention service are compatible with systems other than the fixed PSTN or the 3G mobile network or earlier. It also makes it possible to identify any defect presenting a danger for the safety of persons or affecting the proper functioning of the apparatus.

This technical inspection must be carried out every 5 years by a person qualified or competent in this field.

The person's activities must be covered by insurance that guarantees the consequences of his professional responsibility for controlling lifts.

It must guarantee its impartiality (absence of bias) and its independence (absence of any link of interest or influence) vis-à-vis the owner who calls on it and any company that can carry out works or maintenance of the elevator.

When it is a question of legal person, its capital must not be held, even partially, by a company which might pose a problem of impartiality or independence.

The person in charge of the roadworthiness test must give the owner a document by which he certifies on his honor that he is in a legal situation with regard in particular to his qualification.

The person responsible for the roadworthiness test shall establish a report indicating the operations carried out and the defects identified (if any). Within one month of the end of the intervention, it must submit this report to the owner.

The owner must provide this report to the company or person responsible for the maintenance of the elevator and, if works are required, to the persons responsible for their design and execution.

Please note

The owner must inform the inhabitants of the building of the unavailability of the elevator during the technical inspection. This information must be displayed a few days before the intervention on the elevator door.

Any person with a title of occupation (tenant, ...) can seize the judge for interim measures of the court of justice the location of the building to request, possibly under on-call duty, the upgrading of the elevator.

Anyone with a title of occupation can also apply for compliance with obligations maintenance and technical inspection.

Sanctions depend on the persons concerned:

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Owner of the building

The owner who does not respect the obligations of security, of control and of maintenance may be fined €450 and to be held liable in the event of an accident involving persons.

Similarly, the owner who calls on a professional who does not does not meet the required qualification for the performance of the maintenance contract may be fined €450.

Professional in charge of maintenance and control

The professional in charge of maintenance of the elevator may be fined €2,250 if he has not concluded a written maintenance contract or if he has concluded a maintenance contract which does not contain the minimum mandatory clauses.

The professional in charge of roadworthiness test the elevator which has not carried out the necessary checks may be fined €2,250.

The professional in charge of roadworthiness test the elevator which is not qualified to carry out these checks may be fined €2,250.

Manufacturer or installer

The manufacturer of lifts or installer of lifts may be fined €2,250 in particular if it does not make all parts of the installation accessible to the professional in charge of maintenance.

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