IPAF Official Statement – Misuse of Transport Platforms Outside EN Standards
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is a not-for-profit organisation owned by its members, which include manufacturers, rental companies, distributors, contractors and users of powered access. IPAF has members in more than 80 countries, who operate the majority of the MEWP, MCWP and Construction Hoist rental fleet worldwide and manufacture about 85% of machines on the market.
IPAF promotes and enables the safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide through providing technical advice and information, by influencing and interpreting legislation and standards, and via its safety initiatives and training programmes.
It has come to the attention of IPAF that certain construction hoist manufacturers are marketing equipment, described as ‘transport systems’ or other similar terminology, that look like transport platforms, but with operating speeds and passenger capacities that exceed the limits set for a transport platform in the European standard EN 16719.
The EN 16719 standard specifies safety requirements for transport platforms used for the vertical transportation of goods and passengers on construction sites under defined limits such as a maximum speed of 0.2 m/s and a maximum of 7 persons, ensuring safe use under these conditions. In contrast, EN 12159 applies to construction hoists designed to carry passengers and materials, which can operate at higher speeds and greater personnel capacities, because they have stringent safety features, including fully enclosed cabins and automatic landing systems. Each standard ensures equipment is used appropriately according to its intended purpose and risk profile.
The suppliers of the aforementioned machines, which do not comply with the EN 16719 standard for transport platforms (such as speed or personnel restrictions) or the EN 12159 standard for passenger hoists (such as requisite safety features), claim that these products have been ‘approved’ and certified by a Third Party.
IPAF considers this to be a dangerous and unacceptable practice, and we wish to inform and warn all relevant stakeholders across the industry about the following:
- Safety is being compromised
This practice puts users at significant risk. EN 16719 for Transport Platforms and EN 12159 for Passenger Hoists were developed precisely to define safe operating parameters for such equipment. Any machine operating outside the provisions of these standards, particularly in terms of speed and capacity, falls outside what is considered safe practice. The deliberate deviation of these standards does not eliminate risk, it increases it. - Legal implications
Presenting such equipment as outside the scope of current standards using a Third-party certificate does not shield manufacturers, suppliers, rental companies, and duty holders from potential legal consequences. In the event of an accident, the use of a machine not compliant with established European standards could lead to serious legal liability, including criminal prosecution, civil claims, or invalidation of insurance coverage. - Damage to the reputation of the industry
The improper use and classification of lifting equipment can have serious repercussions for the reputation of the entire construction hoist industry. One serious incident resulting from this type of practice could undermine decades of work to promote safety, responsibility, and professionalism across the sector.
IPAF urges all members of the industry (manufacturers, rental companies, and contractors) to respect and comply with the applicable standards for lifting equipment. We call on all stakeholders to reject ambiguous or misleading classifications of equipment, and to use transport platforms in accordance with the speed and capacity conditions established by European standards.
Should such practices persist, IPAF will be left with no alternative but to pursue formal measures to ensure compliance with the applicable standards. This may include reporting specific cases of non-compliance to the relevant national safety authorities in the countries where misuse of transport platforms outside the scope of EN standards is identified.
For further information, contact IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, Brian Parker at brian.parker@ipaf.org
