Press and Media

Testing and certification of lifts and their components

The introduction of digitalisation for lifts poses a challenge for lift and component manufacturers to ensure not only functional safety but also IT security. At interlift 2019, which will take place in Augsburg from 15 to 18 October 2019, TÜV SÜD will present its comprehensive range of services for ensuring the safety and security of smart lifts. (Hall 5, Stand 5.033)

More and more modern lift systems now include embedded IT systems which collect data and support connectivity with the surrounding infrastructure and the manufacturer or the lift’s servicing and maintenance companies. These increasing levels of connectivity and the option of remote diagnosis and maintenance can save costs and improve lift availability. However, they also give rise to new risks, particularly concerning the security and protection of communicated data. Lift and component manufacturers are facing the challenge of having to ensure both the functional safety and the IT security of their systems, i.e. protection from hacker attacks.

By offering a broad service portfolio, TÜV SÜD supports lift and component manufacturers in coping with this task. The international provider of testing and certification services combines in-depth knowledge of the lift industry with specialist expertise in IT security and a network of international experts. “This combination of features enables us to ensure lifts and components are in compliance with legal, normative and other requirements, such as those of operators in the various target markets worldwide”, says Dieter Roas, Business Unit Manager Lifts and Machinery at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. This also, and particularly, applies to technical innovations such as remote maintenance, or the use of sensors and IT-supported sensor systems for condition monitoring of lifts and their components.

In Europe, the placing on the market of lift systems is governed by the European Lift Directive 2014/33/EU and the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. In addition, the EN 81 series of standards specifies the requirements applicable to lifts and their components. “As a Notified Body under the EU Lift Directive, we provide type examinations of lift systems and all safety components as one of the criteria for accessing the EU Single Market”, explains Roas. TÜV SÜD also holds the accreditations and notifications necessary for providing testing and certification of lifts and their components for all relevant markets worldwide.

Innovative technological solutions particularly frequently pose the challenge of combining existing industry knowledge with specialist expertise in related disciplines. Where performance of risk assessment and determination of safety integrity levels (SIL) are necessary, for example, the EN 81 standard refers to the IEC 61508, a cross-industry standard governing the functional safety of safety-related systems. The specific requirements for the functional safety of lift systems are defined in EN 81-20 and EN 81-50. They include the use of programmable electronic systems in safety-related applications for lifts (PESSRAL).

As digitalisation progresses in the lift industry, assessment of the software used is also becoming increasingly important for the safety of lift systems. So far, the associated requirements for functional safety are defined in part 3 of IEC 61508. But IT security demands have not been covered by the available standards, yet. The IEC 62443 standard series now offers a good basis for assessing the IT security of industrial automation and control systems (IACS) and developing effective measures for protecting these systems along their entire life cycle. TÜV SÜD issued the first certificates according to IEC 62443 worldwide in 2016. “This demonstrates that we closely accompany and intensively support technological developments and innovations”, stresses Roas. “Lift and component manufacturers and installers benefit from our targeted combination of industry know-how with our experts' wide-ranging specialist knowledge in disciplines such as functional safety and IT security.”

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Press-contact: Dr Thomas Oberst