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IS 14668:1999 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for safety gears for lifts. This standard specifies safety requirements for the design, construction, and testing of safety gears used in electric and hydraulic lifts. It covers different types of safety gears, such as instantaneous and progressive, and defines their permissible use based on the lift's rated speed. The code ensures that in an overspeed or free-fall condition, the safety gear can safely stop and hold the lift car or counterweight.
Specifies the requirements for safety gears intended to stop and hold an overspeeding lift car or counterweight on the guide rails.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! The choice between instantaneous and progressive safety gear is strictly dictated by the lift's rated speed as per Clause 5.
! The overspeed governor (covered in IS 14671) and the safety gear are a matched pair; they must be designed and certified to work together.
! During testing, the condition of the guide rails (e.g., lubricated or dry) significantly affects the stopping distance and must match the manufacturer's specification.
EN 81-20:2020CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
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
Specifies safety requirements for the entire lift system, with safety gear requirements detailed in section 5.6.2.
EN 81-1:1998+A3:2009CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighWithdrawn
Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Part 1: Electric lifts
The direct European contemporary to the IS code, providing detailed requirements for safety gears for electric lifts.
ISO 8100-1:2019ISO (International Organization for Standardization), 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 persons
An international standard technically aligned with EN 81-20, covering safety gear design and performance within the overall lift system.
ASME A17.1-2019 / CSA B44-19ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) / CSA (Canadian Standards Association), USA/Canada
MediumCurrent
Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
Covers all elevator safety components, including safety gears (safeties), but with different type classifications and testing criteria.
Key Differences
≠IS 14668:1999 permits the use of instantaneous type safety gear for rated speeds up to 1.0 m/s, whereas EN 81-20 and its predecessor EN 81-1 restrict their use to speeds not exceeding 0.63 m/s.
≠IS 14668 is a standalone standard dedicated solely to safety gears. In contrast, international standards like EN 81-20 integrate the requirements for safety gears as a subsection within a comprehensive standard for the entire lift installation.
≠The certification and type-approval process under the Indian standard is governed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), while in Europe, it involves Notified Bodies according to the Lifts Directive, leading to different administrative and marking procedures (ISI mark vs. CE mark).
≠Modern standards like EN 81-20 include specific requirements for safety gears intended for use with flexible or non-conventional guide systems, which are not addressed in the 1999 version of the IS code.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 14668 and international standards like EN 81-20 mandate that the safety gear must be actuated by an overspeed governor, ensuring activation in a down-travel overspeed condition.
≈The fundamental classification of safety gears into 'instantaneous' (for lower speeds) and 'progressive' (for higher speeds) types is a common principle across all standards.
≈For progressive type safety gears, both the Indian and European standards specify that the average retardation of the car with its rated load shall be within the range of 0.2 g to 1.0 g (where g is standard gravity).
≈All standards require the safety gear design to undergo a rigorous type-testing procedure, including a free-fall drop test with a specified mass, to verify its performance and obtain certification before it can be used.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Max. rated speed for instantaneous safety gear
≤ 1.0 m/s
≤ 0.63 m/s
EN 81-20:2020
Average retardation range for progressive safety gear
Between 0.2 gn and 1.0 gn
Between 0.2 g and 1.0 g
EN 81-20:2020
Maximum car floor tilt after actuation
Not specified in this standard (system performance parameter)
Shall not exceed 5% of its normal position
EN 81-20:2020
Minimum overspeed governor tripping speed
≥ 115% of rated speed (as per governor standard IS 14665)
≥ 115% of rated speed
EN 81-20:2020
Testing condition of guide rails for type test
Shall be in a 'greasy condition'
Manufacturer must specify if guides should be clean/degreased or lubricated for the test.
EN 81-50:2020
Action on counterweight
Mandatory for counterweight if there are accessible spaces below the pit.
Mandatory for counterweight if there are accessible spaces below the pit.
EN 81-20:2020
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Maximum rated speed for instantaneous safety gear0.63 m/s
Rated speed above which progressive safety gear is mandatory> 0.63 m/s
Acceptable average retardation for progressive safety gear0.2g to 1.0g
Minimum tripping speed of overspeed governor115% of rated speed
Force to be exerted on safety gear operating rod for trippingnot less than 300 N
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Permissible use of safety gear for various rated speeds
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - General Requirements
Clause 5 - Permissible Use of Various Types of Safety Gear
Only for lifts with a rated speed not exceeding 0.63 m/s (Clause 5.2.1).
What is the required retardation for a progressive safety gear?+
The average retardation must be between 0.2g and 1.0g for the car with its rated load (Clause 6.2).
Does the counterweight need a safety gear?+
Yes, if there are accessible spaces under the pit, the counterweight must be fitted with a safety gear (Clause 4.3).
How is a safety gear type-tested?+
It is tested via a free-fall drop test on a dedicated test rig to verify stopping distance, retardation, and structural integrity as per the methods in Clause 10.