(Photo: © VFA-Interlift e.V.)
June 2026
The publication of EN ISO 8100-1 and -2 represents the continuation of a development that has characterised lift standardisation for several years: the greater international harmonisation of technical codes.
LIFTjournal asked Achim Hütter, Chairman of the VFA, to assess this development from the point of view of the association.
A similar development was already observable upon the introduction of EN 81-1 as we now see with EN ISO 8100-1 and -2. At that time, the harmonisation of many European component manufacturers simplified access to new markets and business contacts within Europe.
In principle, the VFA also perceives opportunities for many SME component manufacturers in the current developments. If technical requirements become more similar internationally, this could also facilitate access to global markets and reduce differences between regional codes.
At the same time, it is important to realise that the ISO standard to a great extent is based on familiar European standards, especially EN 81-20 and EN 81-50. Consequently, the basic safety-related principles are preserved but presented to a greater extent in an international context.
The VFA sees the increasing time pressure on the sector and SMEs in particular as the greatest challenge. Thanks to the multitude of participants in the various committees, large international companies can already work on the further development of their products during the drafting stage. By contrast, SMEs often have to wait until publication of the draft to be able to implement the main changes in the standard in their products and services.
A current example illustrates this situation clearly: there are already calls for tenders in the private and public sector for lifts according to ISO 8100 although the standard is not yet even available in its final form. This then faces manufacturers with the very practical question of the basis on which they are to select a reliable technical design or calculation. This creates considerable planning pressure for SMEs.
SME cooperation normally occurs via national standardisation committees and trade associations. Practical experience from development, production and use can in this way be brought into European and international standardisation work.
Members of the VFA also occupied themselves intensively with various draft versions of the standard in the case of ISO 8100 and contributed their technical advice to the international working group via the national standardisation committee.
The draft standard was analysed at an early stage within the VFA and commented on from the perspective of the SME lift sector. A corresponding analysis of the draft standard was begun at that time on the initiative of Wolfgang Adldinger inside the VFA.
Technical support of the further development of the standard occurs as part of the normal standardisation of the VFA.
The increasing internationalisation of standardisation work means that it will be even more important but also more expensive to contribute the expertise of SMEs at an early stage and in a coordinated fashion. Associations and technical committees will play a central role here by bundling participation, returning information from the international committees to the sector and in this way facilitating wide cooperation.
At the same time, the increasing internationalisation of standardisation faces SMEs with new organisational challenges. Cooperation in international committees demands time, personnel resources and continuous presence in the corresponding working groups. These conditions are of course more difficult to meet for small and medium-sized companies than for large international groups.
Consequently, the international harmonisation of lift standards is less a break with existing regulatory codes than a further development of the previous European standardisation work in a global environment. What will be decisive is that the practical experience of the sector is also able to flow into these processes in future, especially involving development, production and operation.
More informations: vfa-interlift.de/en
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