Many owners ask about lift licensing and Civil Defense requirements. Here we write only what official sources support, and we say what we could not confirm.
Who regulates lifts?
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issued the Technical Regulation for Electrical Lifts in Buildings and Facilities. It was published in the Official Gazette in 2017, and SASO news says it became mandatory in March 2018.
It applies to electric lifts for general use in buildings, and to their safety components.
Inspection before use
After installation, an accepted inspection body must issue an inspection report for the lift. The lift must not enter service until it is registered with the competent authority, based on that report.
The regulation also requires the inspection body to be accepted by SASO and accredited by a recognised accreditation body.
The yearly inspection
The inspection certificate is renewed each year after the periodic inspection results are assessed. A copy is displayed outside the lift car.
Periodic inspection and tests are carried out at least once every year.
The owner's duties
The regulation gives the owner three duties:
- Meet the shaft and space requirements of the Saudi Building Code.
- Keep the lift under a maintenance contract while it is in service.
- Register it with the competent authority.
The maintenance company must keep a record for each lift, and maintenance firms are licensed by the competent authorities. Read what a good annual maintenance contract should hold.
What is not allowed
The regulation bars making, importing, installing or displaying lifts or components that do not conform. We state no penalties, because we did not read the amounts in the source.
Civil Defense
Civil Defense publishes lists of licensed and accredited companies for lift and escalator inspection on its website. Check them before you pick an inspection body.
We do not list other detailed Civil Defense requirements here, because we could not confirm them from an official source.
Home lifts
Be careful here. The regulation applies to lifts for general use. It does not name home lifts and does not exclude them. So it depends on the type of building and its use.
The safest step is to confirm with the competent authority before installation or use. It also helps to pick a company that answers this plainly, which is what five questions for choosing a company is for.
Sources
- SASO, Technical Regulation for Electrical Lifts in Buildings and Facilities, Edition 1, Amendment 1 (Articles 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15 and 18): saso.gov.sa
- SASO news on the start of mandatory compliance for lifts, March 2018: saso.gov.sa
- Civil Defense, lists of licensed lift inspection companies: 998.gov.sa
This is general information, not legal advice. Details vary by building, so confirm with the competent authority.
Ask us about your lift on WhatsApp, and we will point you to the next step.
