EU adds 8 per cent costs

Developers could face surprise bills if jobs run late or they fail to install and commission new lifts by next summer due to an EU directive.

From 1 July all lifts must comply with the EU Lifts Directive on safety and installation standards. If not commissioned by then developers could pay up to 8 per cent extra for enforced upgrades.

The accreditation process has been thrown into disarray because details of the bodies that will carry out the vetting have not yet been announced.

Bill Evans, director of sales and marketing with liftmaker Otis, welcomed the new certification process for installation. He said it would remove "less competent" installers. Derek Smith, also of Otis, believed there "will be panic on the odd job or two," in the coming months.

"There's bound to be some manoeuvring by those who are picking up the bill," said Smith.

The directive calls for: safety devices to stop lifts being used if overloaded or if machinery overheats; two-way communication; an extra safety device to prevent the lift being jolted by the counterweight if a hoist cable breaks; and third-party certification covering installation unless the liftmaker can meet detailed accreditation requirements.