The European standard covering safety requirements for construction hoists—temporary lifting devices used on building sites.
Full Definition
EN 12159 specifies safety requirements and test methods for construction hoists (also called builder's hoists or site elevators) used for the temporary transport of persons and materials on building and civil engineering sites. It covers mast-climbing work platforms, rack-and-pinion hoists, and rope hoists. Key requirements include: mechanical strength of the mast and cage, anti-fall devices, speed governors, limit switches, and electrical protection. Construction hoists fall under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC rather than the Lifts Directive. EN 12159 replaces earlier national standards across EU member states. Regular inspection by a competent person and compliance with LOLER is also required in the UK.
