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IS 1860:1980 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for installation, operation and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts. This code provides guidelines for the installation, operation, and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts. It specifies architectural and spatial requirements like pit depths, machine room dimensions, clearances, and operational safety protocols. It has been largely superseded by the IS 14665 series.
Provides guidelines for the safe installation, operation, and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts (commonly referenced for older installations).
Overview
Status
Superseded — superseded by IS 14665 Series, then IS 17462 Series
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
Covers fundamental safety rules for new passenger and goods lifts, which is the core scope of IS 1860.
ASME A17.1-2019 / CSA B44-19ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) / CSA (Canadian Standards Association), USA/Canada
HighCurrent
Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators
Comprehensive safety code for new lift installations, operation, and maintenance, similar in intent to IS 1860.
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 passenger lifts
Harmonized international standard, largely based on EN 81-20, covering safety for new lift installations.
BS EN 81-80:2019BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
MediumCurrent
Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Existing lifts - Part 80: Rules for the improvement of safety of existing passenger and goods passenger lifts
Focuses on upgrading safety for existing lifts, relevant to lifts originally installed under older codes like IS 1860.
Key Differences
≠IS 1860:1980 is withdrawn and superseded by IS 14665 (for installation/maintenance) and IS 15259 (for operation), which are more aligned with modern practices. International standards like EN 81-20 are regularly updated with the latest technology and safety data.
≠Modern standards mandate Unintended Car Movement Protection (UCMP) to prevent the car from drifting from the landing with doors open. This requirement was absent in IS 1860:1980.
≠Door protection in IS 1860:1980 relied on mechanical safety edges. EN 81-20 requires non-contact light curtains or multi-beam sensors, providing significantly higher passenger safety during door operation.
≠Emergency communication in IS 1860:1980 was limited to an alarm bell. Current international standards require a two-way, hands-free voice communication system connected to a 24/7 rescue service.
≠Safety spaces (refuges) in the pit and headroom are vaguely defined in IS 1860, whereas modern codes specify precise volumetric dimensions (e.g., for standing or crouching postures) to protect maintenance personnel.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental principle of using a speed governor to mechanically trip a safety gear and stop the car in an overspeed condition is a core concept in both IS 1860 and all modern international standards.
≈Both IS 1860 and modern standards require buffers (either energy dissipating or accumulating type) in the pit to provide a final, emergency stop for the car and counterweight if they travel beyond their normal limits.
≈The requirement for electromechanical interlocks on all landing doors to ensure the lift cannot operate unless all doors are closed and locked is a foundational safety principle common to all standards.
≈All standards, including IS 1860, specify procedures for overload testing (e.g., at 125% of rated load) during commissioning and periodic inspections to verify the integrity of the brake, ropes, and safety systems.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Car Door Protection
Mechanical safety edge (requires physical contact to reopen door).
Non-contact protective device (e.g., light curtain) covering the opening up to a height of 1600 mm.
EN 81-20:2020
Emergency Communication
Alarm device (bell) audible outside the hoistway.
Two-way voice communication system with connection to a permanently manned rescue service.
EN 81-20:2020
Pit Safety Space (Refuge)
General clearance required for a person to crouch (e.g. 500x600x1000mm).
Defined refuge spaces with specific dimensions for standing or crouching postures (e.g., 0.5m x 0.7m area with 1.0m height for crouching) and a mandatory pit stop switch.
EN 81-20:2020
Unintended Car Movement Protection
Not required.
Mandatory. A system to detect and stop/hold the car if it moves away from the landing unintentionally.
EN 81-20:2020
Car Illumination (Normal)
Sufficient lighting, no specific lux level defined.
Minimum 100 lux at the control panel and 1m above the floor.
EN 81-20:2020
Fire Resistance of Car Walls/Floor/Ceiling
General requirement for fire-resistant materials.
Specific material classifications required based on fire propagation (EN 13501-1), e.g., C, s2, d1 for walls.
EN 81-20:2020
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use