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IS 14665 Part 2/Sec 1 : 1999Code of Practice for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Electric Passenger and Goods Lifts — Part 2: Constructional and Installation Requirements, Section 1: General Provisions

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EN 81-20 · ASME A17.1 · ISO 8100-1
SupersededEssentialCode of PracticeBIMMEP · Lifts, Escalators and Mechanical Handling
Superseded by IS 17462 Series
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OverviewValues6InternationalEngineer's NotesTablesFAQ4Related

IS 14665:1999 Part 2/Sec 1 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for installation, operation and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts — part 2: constructional and installation requirements, section 1: general provisions. This standard specifies the constructional and installation requirements for doors and gates on electric passenger and goods lifts. It focuses on critical safety features like locking mechanisms, door operation forces, dimensional clearances, and fire resistance to ensure passenger safety and reliable operation.

Specifies general constructional and installation requirements for electric passenger and goods lifts (commonly referenced for installations from its period).

Overview

Status
Superseded — superseded by IS 17462 Series
Usage level
Essential
Domain
MEP — Lifts, Escalators and Mechanical Handling
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
EN 81-20:2020 · CEN (European Union)ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44-19 · ASME (US) / CSA (Canada)ISO 8100-1:2019 · ISO (International)
Typically used with
IS 14665IS 4666IS 2062IS 2553
Also on InfraLens for IS 14665
6Key values3Tables4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes
! Ensuring the correct functioning of the door locking mechanism (interlock) is the single most critical safety check during installation and maintenance.
! Verification of the fire rating for landing doors must align with the building's overall fire strategy and the fire rating of the shaft wall, as specified in the National Building Code.
! The door reopening device (light curtain or safety edge) must be tested across its full height to ensure it detects small obstructions, not just at a single point.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 5Dimensions of Door OpeningsCl. 6Locking DevicesCl. 8Protection in Relation to Door OperationCl. 11Fire Resistance of DoorsCl. 12Mechanical Strength
Pulled from IS 14665:1999. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
steelcableselectrical componentsguide rails

Engineer's Notes

In Practice — Editorial Commentary
When IS 14665 Part 2/Sec 1 is your governing code

IS 14665 Part 2 Section 1 (1999) provides Code of Practice for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Electric Passenger and Goods Lifts — Part 2: Constructional and Installation Requirements, Section 1: General Provisions. India's standard for elevator design + installation in commercial, residential, hospital + transit buildings.

Use when: specifying lifts in multi-storey buildings; passenger + freight lifts; commercial + residential lift design.

Lift design specifications

Lift categories: - Passenger: people transport in residential / commercial - Goods (freight): cargo transport in warehouses / industrial - Service: combined passenger + light freight - Hospital: stretcher-friendly + reliability-critical - Glass / scenic: premium aesthetic

Capacities: - 4-13 person passenger: 320-1000 kg - Hospital lift: 1000-1600 kg + stretcher size - Freight: 1500-5000 kg - Speed: 0.5-2.5 m/s (residential); higher for transit

Key components (per IS 14665): - Car (cabin): structural + interior - Counterweight: balances car weight - Hoistway (shaft): enclosed travel path - Machine room: motor + controller (top or side) - Door system: car + landing doors with safety - Safety systems: governors, brakes, overload, emergency - Control system: electric / electronic

Critical safety systems: - Governor (over-speed prevention) - Safety gear (mechanical brake) - Emergency stop - Door interlocks - Overload sensors - Fire-fighters' lift (per IS 14665)

Installation: - Hoistway construction per code - Machine room provisions - Electrical supply + backup - Door system + landing arrangement - Safety systems verification - Acceptance testing before service

Quality + acceptance: - Manufacturer certification - Installer qualification - Government certification (state lift inspector) - Periodic compulsory inspection - Annual maintenance contract

Reference values

Cabin dimensions (typical): - 4-person: 1100 × 1400 mm - 6-person: 1300 × 1500 mm - 8-person: 1500 × 1700 mm - 13-person: 1900 × 2100 mm - Hospital: 1500 × 2400 mm (stretcher)

Hoistway dimensions: - 4-person: 1400 × 1700 mm - 6-person: 1600 × 1800 mm - 8-person: 1900 × 2000 mm - Hospital: 2000 × 2700 mm

Speed selection: - 4-storey residential: 0.5-0.75 m/s - 8-storey commercial: 1.0-1.5 m/s - High-rise (15+ storey): 2.0-3.0 m/s+ - Express (skyscraper): 4-7 m/s

Safety thresholds: - Over-speed: governor trips at 1.3 × rated speed - Brake stopping: < 2.5 m of cabin movement - Door re-open: photoelectric sensor + edge sensor - Emergency lighting: 60+ min battery backup - Phone / intercom: working at all times

Maintenance schedule: - Daily: visual inspection - Weekly: safety system test - Monthly: comprehensive mechanical / electrical check - Annual: detailed inspection (government inspector) - 5-year: major refurbishment - 25-30 year design life; major rebuild

Fire safety: - Fire-fighters' lift in high-rise (per IS 14665) - Fire-resistant door materials - Emergency power from generator - Hoistway smoke / fire compartmentation

Companion codes
  • IS 14665 Part 1, 3, 4, 5 — Other parts of lift code.
  • IS 1860 — Electric Traction Lifts.
  • IS 14543 — Electrical Equipment.
  • IS 17900 Part 1:2022 — Escalators (related).
  • IS 875 (Part 5) — Special Loads.
  • IS 1893 (Part 1) — Earthquake Resistant Design.
  • IS 7689 — Lift Design Documentation.
  • IS 11463 — Hospital Lifts.
  • EN 81 — Safety Rules for Lifts (European).
  • ASME A17.1 — Safety Code for Elevators (US).
  • ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management.
  • National Building Code (NBC).
  • Bureau of Indian Standards Lift Acts (state-specific).
  • Local Lift Inspection Acts.
Common pitfalls

1. No regular maintenance → breakdowns + safety issues. 2. Safety system tests skipped → potential accidents. 3. Door interlocks bypass → fall risk. 4. Overload sensors not calibrated → overloading accidents. 5. Emergency phone not working → trapped users helpless. 6. Earthquake design ignored → tremor damage. 7. Fire-fighters' lift not specified → high-rise non-compliance. 8. Inadequate hoistway smoke / fire separation → spread risk. 9. Power backup absent → users stuck. 10. Annual inspection skipped → government compliance issue.

Lifecycle

1. Building design includes lift specifications. 2. Manufacturer + installer qualified. 3. Installation per IS 14665. 4. Commissioning + safety testing. 5. Government certification. 6. Operation + daily / weekly / monthly maintenance. 7. Annual inspection + comprehensive maintenance. 8. Service life 25-30 years; major refurbishment then.

IS 14665 Part 2/Sec 1 is fundamental for India's multi-storey buildings + commercial / institutional infrastructure.

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
EN 81-20:2020CEN (European Union)
HighCurrent
Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Lifts for the transport of persons and goods — Part 20: Passenger and goods passenger lifts
Covers safety rules for new passenger and goods passenger lifts, serving as the primary modern European benchmark.
ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44-19ASME (US) / CSA (Canada)
MediumCurrent
Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
Comprehensive North American standard covering design, construction, operation, and maintenance of elevators, with different terminology and some philosophical differences.
ISO 8100-1:2019ISO (International)
HighCurrent
Lifts for the transport of persons and goods — Part 1: Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Lifts for the transport of persons and goods passenger
International standard technically harmonized with EN 81-20, intended for global adoption.
EN 81-1:1998+A3:2009CEN (European Union)
HighWithdrawn
Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Part 1: Electric lifts
The direct predecessor to EN 81-20 and a likely major influence on the 1999 version of IS 14665.
Key Differences
≠Modern international standards like EN 81-20 mandate a system to detect and stop Unintended Car Movement (UCM) from a landing with the doors open. IS 14665:1999 does not have an explicit requirement for a dedicated UCM protection device.
≠EN 81-20 requires a two-way voice communication system connecting the lift car to a permanently manned rescue service. IS 14665:1999 primarily requires a simple emergency alarm bell audible outside the hoistway.
≠Refuge spaces in the pit and headroom are more stringently defined in EN 81-20, specifying volumes for standing and crouching postures (e.g., 0.4m x 0.5m x 2.0m for standing). IS 14665:1999 specifies minimum clearances, which are less prescriptive than the volumetric 'safe space' concept.
≠EN 81-20 mandates a full-height light curtain for door protection on new lifts, whereas IS 14665:1999 allows for mechanical safety edges, which are an older and less comprehensive form of passenger protection.
≠Accessibility requirements are significantly more detailed in dedicated standards like EN 81-70 (referenced by EN 81-20) concerning button dimensions, tactile markings, voice announcers, and color contrast. IS 14665:1999 has very basic provisions, with detailed accessibility requirements typically covered in India's National Building Code.
Key Similarities
≈Both the IS code and international standards mandate the fundamental safety combination of an overspeed governor to detect excessive speed and a safety gear system to mechanically grip the guide rails and stop the car.
≈Both standards require the use of buffers at the bottom of the hoistway to protect against over-travel, and both specify the same threshold: energy accumulation (spring) type buffers are permissible up to 1.0 m/s, while energy dissipation (oil) type buffers are mandatory for speeds exceeding 1.0 m/s.
≈The core principle of using electrical interlocks on all hoistway doors to prevent the lift from running while any door is open is a fundamental and common requirement in both IS 14665 and its international counterparts.
≈Both standards specify a minimum safety factor for the steel wire suspension ropes to ensure redundancy and prevent failure. The commonly applied minimum factor of 12 for traction lifts with three or more ropes is a shared benchmark.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Normal Car IlluminationSpecifies 'adequate illumination' without a numeric value.Minimum 100 lux at floor level.EN 81-20:2020
Emergency Car IlluminationMinimum 0.2 lux for 1 hour.Minimum 5 lux for 1 hour on the emergency power supply.EN 81-20:2020
Buffer Type Speed ThresholdEnergy dissipation type required for speeds > 1.0 m/s.Energy dissipation type required for speeds > 1.0 m/s.EN 81-20:2020
Kinetic Energy of Closing DoorsShall not exceed 10 J.Shall not exceed 10 J.EN 81-20:2020
Car Ventilation AreaEffective area of not less than 1% of the car floor area.Effective area of not less than 1% of the available car floor area.EN 81-20:2020
Pit Refuge Space (Standing Position)Specifies minimum clearances (e.g., 500 mm under car on buffer), not a volumetric space.Requires a defined volume of at least 0.4 m x 0.5 m (base) x 2.0 m (height).EN 81-20:2020
Suspension Ropes Safety Factor (3+ ropes)Minimum factor of 12.Minimum factor of 12 (derived from calculation methods).EN 81-20:2020
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Minimum clear opening height2.0 m
Maximum force to prevent door closing150 N
Maximum kinetic energy of power operated doors10 J
Minimum fire resistance for landing doors1 hour (or half of shaft's fire resistance)
Minimum dimension of vision panel clear area60 mm
Maximum gap between closed door panels or door and frame6 mm

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Minimum Internal Dimensions of Lift Wells for Passenger Lifts
Table 2 - Minimum Dimensions of Machine Rooms
Table 3 - Minimum Clearances in Lift Well
Key Clauses
Clause 5 - Dimensions of Door Openings
Clause 6 - Locking Devices
Clause 8 - Protection in Relation to Door Operation
Clause 11 - Fire Resistance of Doors
Clause 12 - Mechanical Strength

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 14665:1999Code of Practice for Installation, Operation ...
→
IS 4666:1990Specification for Electric Lifts
→
IS 2062:2011Hot Rolled Medium and High Tensile Structural...
→
IS 2553:1990Safety Glass - Part 1: General
→
Handbook & Design Rules
Design Rules (NBC 2016)
📐Services Lift Quantity Residential
→
📐Services Lift Car Stretcher
→
📐Lift Lobby Min Size
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is the maximum force allowed for a closing lift door?+
The force needed to prevent the door from closing should not exceed 150 N (Clause 8.1.3).
What is the minimum fire rating for landing doors?+
The fire resistance of landing doors must be at least half of the fire resistance of the lift well enclosure, with a minimum of one hour (Clause 11.1).
What is the minimum clear opening height for a lift door?+
The minimum clear height for both car and landing doors shall be 2.0 metres (Clause 5.1).
What is the maximum allowable gap between closed door panels?+
The clearance between panels, or between panels and the frame, should not exceed 6 mm (Clause 9).

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