Lift Industry News
Summer 2026 | Q3 Issue 17

Reading Between the Lines

Why lift standards demand more than a literal interpretation

Standards exist to ensure the safest outcomes, not to provide a one-size-fits-all rulebook. We spoke to Jamie Colquhoun, Technical Director at International Lift Equipment, about why context matters, why parts should never be read in isolation, and why applying sensible engineering expertise and judgement are as important as understanding the wording itself.

Standards aren’t black and white

There is a misconception that every standard provides a definitive answer to a particular engineering solution. However, that was never their purpose. Standards are written to establish a minimum safety or performance requirement across a wide variety of installations, from listed buildings to high-rise towers, hospitals, industrial sites – anywhere you find a lift. Every site is different, and if standards were overly prescriptive, innovation would be stifled and many projects simply couldn't be delivered.