The Lifts Regulations 1997

3.    Quality assurance system U.K.

(3.1) The installer must lodge an application for assessment of his quality assurance system with a notified body of his choice. The application must include:

• all relevant information for the lifts,

• the documentation concerning the quality assurance system,

• the technical documentation of the approved type and a copy of the EC type-examination certificate.

(3.2) The quality assurance system must ensure compliance of the lifts with the requirements of the Directive that apply to them.

• All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the installer of a lift shall be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. The quality assurance system documentation must permit a consistent interpretation of the quality programmes, plans, manuals and records.

• It must contain in particular an adequate description of:

  • the quality objectives and the organizational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to the quality of the lifts,

  • the manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used,

  • the examinations and tests that will be carried out before, during and after installation(1),

  • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc.,

  • the means to monitor the achievement of the required lift quality and the effective operation of the quality assurance system.

(3.3) The notified body must assess the quality assurance system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in Section 3.2. It presumes conformity with these requirements in respect of quality assurance systems that implement the relevant harmonized standard(2).

• The auditing team must have at least one member with experience of assessment in the lift technology concerned. The assessment procedure must include an inspection visit to the installer’s premises.

• The decision must be notified to the installer. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the reasoned assessment decision.

(3.4) The installer must undertake to discharge the obligations arising from the quality assurance system as approved and to ensure that it is maintained in an appropriate and efficient manner.

• The installer shall keep the notified body that has approved the quality assurance system informed of any intended updating of the quality assurance system.

• The notified body must assess the modifications proposed and decide whether the modified quality assurance system will still satisfy the requirements referred to in Section 3.2 or whether a re-assessment is required.

• It must notify its decision to the installer. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the reasoned assessment decision.

(1)

These tests include at least the tests provided for in Annex VI, Section 4(b).

(2)

This harmonised standard will be EN 29002, supplemented where necessary to take account of the specific nature of the lifts.