Electrical Safety in Lifts & Elevators: What You Thought You Knew Might Be Outdated 

Electrical Safety in Lifts & Elevators: What You Thought You Knew Might Be Outdated

by Ohm Engineering Works | Jul 19, 2025 | Electric Company

When you step into a lift, do you ever wonder what’s happening behind the shiny buttons and sliding doors? Most people don’t — but electrical safety in lifts is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied areas in the building industry.

Now, with the latest updates in Draft IS 3043 (India’s standard for earthing), and IS 17900 (Safety code for lift installations), there’s a major shift in how we should wire, protect, and ground these vertical transport systems.

Here’s what every builder, consultant, facility manager — and even curious property owner — needs to know:

⚠️ Myth #1: “Each Lift Needs Its Own Earth Pit”

Truth: Not only is this outdated, it's now explicitly called out as a violation.

🛑 Draft IS 3043 clarifies: Separate earth pits for individual lifts are not required. In fact, such a practice can introduce dangerous potential differences between systems.

✅ What’s Correct? All lifts should be connected to a common, low-impedance protective earthing system that ensures equal potential and reliable disconnection during faults.

🧯 Myth #2: “Normal Earthing is Enough for Passenger Safety”

Truth: Nope. For the car’s electrical supply (like lights, fans, display panels), you need more than basic protection.

🧠 New requirement: 30 mA Type A RCD must be installed for any single-phase supply to the lift car.

Why? Because this is additional protection against electric shock — especially for passengers inside a metal enclosure suspended mid-air!

🔄 Fault Protection: It’s All About Quick Response

The system must automatically disconnect during a fault — within milliseconds — to save lives and equipment.

There are two acceptable ways:

1. OCPD-based disconnection (like MCBs/ MCCBs) — but only if the earth fault loop impedance is verified to meet standards.

2. RCD-based protection with higher ratings (e.g., 100 mA, 300 mA, or 500 mA), depending on the fault current expected.

✅ Verification is key — it’s not enough to just install a device; you must test the disconnection time.

⚡ Type B RCD: When It Becomes Essential

If your system includes modern drives, VFDs, or inverter-based lifts (which is the norm in new buildings), then:

🧠 You must use a Type B RCD — it detects smooth DC currents that other types (A or AC) can’t.

Skipping this may leave your passengers exposed to silent, undetectable earth faults.

🚀 What Does This Mean for You?

* For Builders & Developers: Rethink your lift electrical design before it fails an audit — or worse, endangers lives.

* For Consultants & Contractors: Align with IS 3043 Draft + IS 17900. Stop legacy practices that no longer protect your clients.

* For Facility Managers: If your lift is old, consider upgrading the protection system. It’s not just about compliance — it’s about life safety.

🎯 Bottom Line: Safe Lift = Shared Earth + Right RCD + Verified Disconnection

In a vertical world, lift safety isn’t just mechanical — it’s deeply electrical. Ignoring updated standards like IS 3043 and IS 17900 can cost more than just money.

📌 Want to Audit Your Building's Lift Electrical Safety?

We can help you verify your lift’s earthing, fault loop impedance, and RCD protection — as per 2025 standards.