Important directives and standards for scissor lift tables: An overview

• 1. What are directives, laws & standards?
  • 1.1 Directives
  • 1.2 Laws
  • 1.3 Standards
• 2. What are the key standards for scissor lift tables?
  • 2.1 Standards by product type
  • 2.2 General standards
  • 2.3 Are additional standards relevant?

Both manufacturers and operators of scissor lift tables must comply with a range of legal requirements and standards. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the most important standards and directives related to scissor lift tables. Additionally, we explain the relationship between directives, laws and standards using the Machinery Directive as an example.

When manufacturing and operating lift tables, various legal frameworks must be considered, including directives, laws and standards. But what exactly is the difference between these terms?

The central directive for the manufacturing of scissor lift tables is the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. This directive was established to ensure that machines meet essential safety requirements. It contains guidelines that manufacturers must adhere to in the design and construction of their machines.

Like other European directives, the Machinery Directive is issued by the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the European Parliament. Unlike regulations, however, directives do not have immediate legal force. Instead, they must be transposed into national law by the EU member states. Due to the lack of direct enforceability, member states have some flexibility in the individual implementation of the respective directive.

In Germany, the Machinery Directive is transposed into national law through the Product Safety Act. The Product Safety Act is not limited to the Machinery Directive alone but also includes the implementation of other important EU directives, such as:

• General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC): This directive aims to ensure a high level of consumer protection by guaranteeing the safety of products.
• Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC): This directive sets out safety requirements for pressure equipment.
• Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU): This directive applies to electrical equipment used within the low voltage range.

It is only through the transposition of these European directives into national laws that their application becomes binding for various market participants, including manufacturers, distributors and operators.

European directives, such as the Machinery Directive, cover a wide range of applications. The Machinery Directive, for example, applies to machinery, safety components, lifting accessories and even partly completed machinery.

To narrow down this scope and create clarity, the general requirements of the directives are specified in specific standards for particular applications and types of machinery. An example of this: 
The Machinery Directive merely requires that no hazards should arise when using pressure fluids. The standard EN 1570-1 (Safety Requirements for Lift Tables) goes further and specifies specific requirements, such as the minimum burst pressure of hydraulic hoses.

A special role is played by so-called harmonized standards. These standards are directly commissioned by the European Commission and subsequently published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Compliance with harmonized standards leads to the presumption that the requirements of the overarching directive are also met, which significantly facilitates the manufacturing and marketing of compliant products.

After discussing the relationship between directives, laws and standards, we now want to focus on the essentials: Which standards directly influence the design of various scissor lift platforms and column lifts?

The greatest influence comes from standards specifically developed for each product type. These standards often contain very specific requirements, such as how a guardrail on a lift table platform should be designed or the performance level that certain control components must meet.

DIN EN 1494 
This standard addresses mobile or moveable lifting devices and associated equipment. It specifically sets out safety requirements, such as braking devices or mechanisms to prevent free fall, which are crucial for the safe operation of such equipment.

DIN EN 1570-1 
DIN EN 1570-1 is likely the most frequently applied standard in our industry. It serves as the safety standard for lift tables that can reach up to two levels. To ensure the safest possible product, this standard includes very detailed requirements, such as the design of foot protection on movable lift tables or platform guardrails on loading lift tables.

DIN EN 1570-2 
As the name suggests, this standard is closely related to DIN EN 1570-1. This safety standard covers lift tables that can reach more than two levels. It also deals with safety-related details such as safety distances, guardrails, gates and so on.

DIN EN 280 
Another commonly applied standard is DIN EN 280. It serves as the foundation for mobile elevating work platforms and addresses, among other things, the calculation of the stability of these devices.

DIN EN 1915-1 
If a scissor lift table is used as part of ground support equipment at an airport, the application of DIN EN 1915-1 may be required. This standard deals with the general requirements for ground support equipment used at airports, ensuring that these devices meet the specific safety and operational requirements in this environment.

DIN EN 528 
In a high-bay warehouse, the application of DIN EN 528 for storage and retrieval machines is relevant. This standard sets out the safety requirements and test procedures for storage and retrieval machines to ensure safe operation in automated warehouse environments.

In addition to product-specific standards, there are a number of other standards that deal with safety. These standards complement the specific product standards and are also applicable. Examples include:

DIN EN ISO 12100 
DIN EN ISO 12100 addresses the safety of machinery. It not only establishes general design principles but also provides guidelines for risk assessment and risk reduction.

DIN EN ISO 13857 
DIN EN ISO 13857 also focuses on the safety of machinery and work environments. The main focus of this standard is on preventing access to hazardous areas by body parts. It specifically sets out the required safety distances to minimize the risk of injury.

DIN EN ISO 4413 
If you take a closer look at our website, you'll quickly notice that we specialize in the production of hydraulic lift tables. Therefore, DIN EN ISO 4413 is of great importance for our products. This standard deals with the general safety requirements for hydraulic systems and hydraulic components.

DIN EN 894-1 to -4 
This series of standards mainly deals with the ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control devices. The aim is to improve the usability and safety of machinery by optimizing the design of human-machine interfaces.

In this article, we have deliberately focused on ten standards that are frequently considered in the construction of scissor lift tables. However, these standards are by no means sufficient to achieve a fully compliant product.

Special operating conditions may require additional standards. For example, if a lift platform is used as an ATEX scissor lift, the standards of the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU must also be observed. Additional specific standards may be necessary if the scissor lift table comes into direct contact with food or is used in other special cases.

But it’s not only product design that is influenced by numerous standards; within manufacturing as well, there are relevant standards that address various production processes, such as different welding procedures.

As you can see, the topic of directives and standards is so extensive that it could easily lead to an entire series of articles ...