Background:
The Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act, 2008 was introduced to regulate the installation, use, and maintenance of lifts and escalators across the State, with the primary objective of ensuring public safety. The Act provides a legal framework for obtaining approval, licensing, and periodic inspection of lifts and escalators by the Chief Electrical Inspector. It sets out safety standards, operational requirements, and responsibilities of owners or occupiers to maintain the equipment in proper working condition. By establishing these controls, the Act aims to prevent accidents, promote accountability, and safeguard the lives of users in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
The Haryana Lifts and Escalators Rules, 2009 were framed under the Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act to regulate the installation, maintenance, and safe operation of lifts and escalators in the state. With rapid urbanization and increasing use of high-rise buildings, ensuring the safety of passengers became a critical necessity. These rules provide detailed procedures for obtaining licenses, regular inspections, technical standards, and responsibilities of owners as well as contractors.
Applicability:
The Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act, 2008 applies to all residential, commercial, industrial, and public buildings in the State where lifts or escalators are installed or proposed to be installed. It is binding on owners, occupiers, or developers who intend to erect, maintain, or operate such equipment. The Act requires prior permission from the Chief Electrical Inspector, adherence to prescribed safety standards, and regular maintenance to ensure safe operation. However, it does not cover temporary lifting devices used for construction activities or equipment not intended for passenger use.
Compliance Requirement Under Rules In Accordance with the Sections:
Every owner shall, within a period of one month after completion of the erection of a lift or escalator, apply for registration in Form A along with the prescribed non-refundable fee. Upon approval, a Registration Certificate shall be issued in Form D.
Every owner of a lift or escalator is required to submit each year a copy of the annual maintenance contract, or details of any alternative arrangement made for maintenance, to the Inspector. This ensures that a recognized lift or escalator maintenance company is engaged for the safe and smooth functioning of the equipment.
Every owner of a lift or escalator must furnish an annual safety certificate in the prescribed form and manner, certifying the smooth and safe operation of the lift or escalator.
For high-rise buildings over 15 meters (excluding group housing, domestic, or certain other buildings), the owner must install an emergency rescue device to bring the lift to a floor, stop it, and keep doors open during power failure to rescue passengers. For group housing, domestic buildings, or buildings below 15 meters, either an emergency or automatic rescue device may be installed to ensure passenger safety during power loss.
The owner is required to provide an alternative automatic power supply system to ensure that the lift resumes operation within 10 seconds of a power failure, maintaining uninterrupted safety and functionality.
The number of lifts or escalators to be installed in a premises, as well as the spacing between them, must be in accordance with the relevant codes of practice of the Bureau of Indian Standards and the National Building Code.
If an inspection under Section 7 reveals that a lift or escalator is in unsafe condition, the Inspector may direct the owner to undertake specific repairs or alterations within a prescribed timeframe. The Inspector may also prohibit the use of the lift or escalator until the issue is resolved to their satisfaction.
Upon completion of erection, every owner must obtain third-party insurance to cover risks to passengers using the lift or escalator. This insurance is a mandatory requirement to ensure safety and liability coverage.
The owner must maintain a log book for each lift and escalator, recording details of its operation, any breakdowns other than power failures, and accidents, if any.
If any accident occurs during the operation of a lift or escalator causing injury to a person, the owner must notify the Inspector within 24 hours by submitting full details in Form F. The lift or escalator must not be used again until written permission for resumption is obtained from the Inspector.
Where a lift or escalator in a building is decommissioned, the owner must inform the Inspector within three months of such decommissioning.
Every lift or escalator must be replaced after 20 years from the date of installation. The replacement is required to be completed within the 21st year, and the owner must apply for fresh registration under Section 4 after the replacement.
Owners must immediately report defects to the Inspector, obtain prior approval for alterations, and ensure safe usage by employing approved firms and trained operators. Unauthorized interference must be prevented, BIS-compliant materials and electrical laws must be followed, and all electrical work and testing must be carried out only by licensed professionals.
(a) owner shall forthwith report to Inspector any defect in operation of lift:
(b) owner shall not carry out any additions or alterations to a lift erected without obtaining permission in that behalf from Inspector as required under these rules;
(c) owner shall not use lift which is not in a safe condition and shall be solely responsible for safety and maintenance of lift;
(d) maintenance of lift shall be done by a manufacturer of lifts or Company of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers approved by Inspector;
(e) no other person shall wilfully interfere with any mechanism of lift;
(f) every lift operator, if appointed in case of manually operated lift, must have attained age of eighteen years and shall be a person who has been trained to operate lift;
(g) when a lift erected at any place ceases to be used as such, owner shall either remove it or maintain it in safe mechanical condition after disconnecting it entirely from electric supply, ell gates and doors shall be securely locked, so as to prevent accidental entry to lift way and to prevent inadvertent use.
(h) all electrical works in connection with erection of lift shall be carried out in accordance with provisions of Indian Electricity Act. 2003 (No. 36 of 2003) and Indian Electricity Rules, 1956;
(i) all apparatus and components of lifts shall be of sufficient ratings and of sufficient mechanical strength for duty which they may be required to perform undeat environmental conditions of installation and shall be constructed, insteed, protected, worked and maintained to ensure safety of human beings and property; the code of practices prescribed by Bureau, of Indian Standard including National Building Code, 2005 and National Electrical Code shall be followed in respect of lifts.
(k) material and apparatus used shall conform to prescribed specifications of Bureau of Indian Standards, and
(1) lift shall be tested in manner specified in specifications and Code, of Bureau of Indian Standards, and
(m) no electrical installation work, except such as replacement of lamps, fans, fuses, switches and fittings as in no way alters its capacity or character shall be carried out on behalf of owner of lift except by an licensed electrical contractor.
Punishment and Penalties
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