Equipment Types5 min read

LOLER Passenger Lift and Hoist Inspection Requirements

Any lift that carries people has a 6-month examination requirement under LOLER 1998. Here's what that means in practice — scope, documentation, and the distinction from the Lifts Regulations.

By Lolerflow Team |  LOLER Compliance Specialists

The 6-Month Rule for People-Carrying Equipment

Regulation 9(3)(a) of LOLER 1998 sets a 6-month examination interval for any lifting equipment used for lifting persons. This is not negotiable — even a written examination scheme cannot specify a longer interval for equipment that carries people.

Equipment covered by the 6-month rule includes:

→Passenger lifts (all types — traction, hydraulic, screw-drive)
→Goods-and-persons lifts
→Building maintenance cradles and gondolas (when occupied)
→Powered access platforms used for transporting workers vertically
→Stair lifts and platform lifts in workplaces
→Mast climbers used to transport workers
→Man-riding hoists on construction sites

LOLER vs the Lifts Regulations 1997

The two sets of regulations coexist and both apply to most passenger lifts in UK buildings:

RegulationApplies whenKey requirement
Lifts Regulations 1997New lift installed after 1997 in a buildingConformity assessment + CE marking before first use
LOLER 1998Any lift used at work, ongoing6-monthly thorough examination, Schedule 1 records
PUWER 1998All work equipment including liftsMaintenance, inspection, suitable for purpose

What the Examination Covers

Car and sill
Floor and door sill, lighting, ventilation, emergency communication
Landing doors
All landing doors — interlocks, closing devices, fire resistance (where required)
Safety gear
Overspeed governor, safety gear, buffers — functional test
Suspension means
Ropes or chains — wear, corrosion, broken wires, end terminations
Counterweight
Guide condition, clearances, securing
Machine room
Motor, gearbox, brake — visual and functional checks
Control system
Overload device, emergency stop, levelling accuracy
Pit
Drainage, lighting, stop switch, buffer condition

Never miss a 6-month lift examination

Lolerflow tracks every lift separately, fires alerts before each 6-month deadline, and stores all Schedule 1 reports securely. 30-day free trial.

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How often must passenger lifts be examined under LOLER?+
Every 6 months. Any lifting equipment used for lifting persons — including passenger lifts, goods-and-persons lifts, and building maintenance cradles with occupants — must be thoroughly examined every 6 months under Regulation 9(3)(a) of LOLER 1998.
Does LOLER apply to lifts in office buildings?+
Yes. LOLER applies to all lifting equipment used at work. A passenger lift in an office building, hotel, hospital, or retail premises falls within scope. The Lifts Regulations 1997 also applies to new lifts — but LOLER is the ongoing operational compliance framework.
Who must carry out the LOLER examination on a passenger lift?+
A competent person — typically a specialist lift engineer with LEIA (Lift and Escalator Industry Association) accreditation or equivalent. The examination must be sufficiently independent — an engineer employed by or contracted to the dutyholder should not examine their own employer's lifts without demonstrating genuine independence.
→ LOLER Inspection Frequency — The 6-Month and 12-Month Rules→ What Is a LOLER Thorough Examination?→ LOLER Compliance Guide