Safety is not a feature — it is the foundation. We break down the international codes, local regulations and inspection requirements that govern every elevator operating in Kenya and Tanzania.
An elevator is a building system that people trust with their lives dozens of times a day. Yet in East Africa, many building owners treat it as a commodity purchase — lowest price, quickest install, worry about it later. This approach is not only dangerous; it is increasingly expensive when regulators, insurers and tenants begin asking hard questions.
At Skymax Elevators, we have been maintaining, installing and inspecting elevators in Kenya and Tanzania for over 40 years. In that time we have seen firsthand what happens when safety is treated as optional. This article explains what the standards actually require, who is responsible for compliance, and what building owners need to do right now to protect their tenants and their investment.
EN 81-20
Primary EU/international safety standard
NCA
Kenya regulatory authority
Annual
Minimum inspection frequency required
450+
Compliant Skymax installations
The International Framework: EN 81 and What It Covers
The global benchmark for elevator safety is the EN 81 series — a set of standards developed by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and adopted widely across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In Kenya, the NCA (National Construction Authority) references these standards as the basis for elevator safety requirements.
EN 81-20 covers the safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts. It specifies requirements for the car, the shaft, the machine room (or machine room-less compartment), doors, safety devices, buffers, overspeed governors and electrical systems. EN 81-50 covers the tests and examinations. Together, they define what a safe elevator looks like from the moment the first bolt is tightened.
Key safety devices required under EN 81-20
- Overspeed governor — triggers the safety gear if the car descends faster than rated speed
- Progressive safety gear — grips the guide rails to stop an uncontrolled descent
- Buffer system — absorbs energy in the event of the car or counterweight reaching the pit floor
- Door interlock — prevents the car from moving unless all landing doors are fully closed and locked
- Emergency lighting and alarm — activates automatically on power failure
- Two-way communication — allows trapped passengers to speak directly to a rescue team
- Automatic rescue device (ARD) — moves the car to the nearest floor on power failure
Kenya's Regulatory Landscape
In Kenya, the primary regulatory bodies governing elevator installations are the National Construction Authority (NCA), the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS) under the Ministry of Labour, and county governments for planning approvals. Each plays a distinct role.
DOSHS is the body most directly concerned with elevator safety in operation. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cap 514), any lifting appliance in a workplace — including passenger elevators in commercial buildings — must be examined by a competent person at least once every twelve months. The examination must be recorded and the certificate retained on the premises.
Who is a 'competent person'?
Under Kenyan law, a competent person for elevator inspection is an individual with certified technical knowledge and experience in elevator systems — not simply any engineer. Skymax employs certified lift inspectors who are authorised to carry out statutory examinations and issue the required certificates.
The Building Owner's Responsibilities
Many building owners assume that once an elevator is installed and handed over, safety becomes the tenant's or managing agent's responsibility. This is incorrect. The duty of care sits with the building owner or their appointed facility manager, regardless of who occupies the building.
What the law requires of building owners
- Ensure the elevator is installed by a qualified, registered contractor
- Obtain and retain all commissioning documentation and test certificates
- Arrange and document annual statutory inspections by a competent person
- Maintain a preventive maintenance contract with a qualified service provider
- Act immediately on any defect or unsafe condition identified during inspection
- Ensure emergency communication is functional and monitored at all times
- Keep a logbook of all inspections, maintenance visits and repairs on the premises
The Most Common Safety Failures We See
In over four decades of operating in this market, certain safety failures appear repeatedly — not because the technology is at fault, but because maintenance is deferred or handed to unqualified technicians.
- Door interlocks worn or bypassed — the single most dangerous elevator defect
- Overspeed governors out of calibration — undetectable without proper testing equipment
- Emergency lighting batteries dead or missing — discovered only during actual power failure
- Pit flooding damage to buffers and electrical components — common in Nairobi's wet seasons
- Brake wear beyond safe limits — often indicated by creeping or slight movement at standstill
- Control boards with bypassed safety circuits — sometimes done to 'keep the elevator running'
Bypassing safety circuits is a criminal offence
We occasionally encounter elevators where a previous technician has bypassed a safety device to avoid a costly repair. Under Kenyan law this is a criminal act that exposes the building owner to prosecution and unlimited liability in the event of injury. If you suspect your elevator has been tampered with, contact a certified inspector immediately.
What a Proper Annual Inspection Covers
A statutory inspection is not the same as a maintenance visit. Maintenance keeps the elevator running. Inspection verifies that it is safe. A competent annual inspection should cover at minimum:
- Full test of overspeed governor and safety gear — including tripping the governor under load
- Buffer compression test in the pit
- Door interlock testing on all landings
- Emergency stop, lighting and alarm verification
- Brake test under rated load
- Guide rail alignment and lubrication check
- Electrical insulation resistance measurement
- Load test to 110% of rated capacity
- Review of all previous maintenance records
If your current maintenance provider cannot demonstrate that all of the above are checked annually, your building may not be in legal compliance — and your tenants may not be safe. Contact our team for a no-obligation safety review.
Book a Safety Inspection
Skymax offers statutory annual inspections carried out by certified lift inspectors. We issue the legally required certificates and provide a written report on any remedial work required. Call us or fill in our contact form to arrange yours.
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