What Happens If Your Lift Doesn’t Meet Current Australian Standards?
A lift that falls short of current AS1735 exposes the owner to enforcement, insurance problems and personal liability, even while it still runs. The three outcomes, and how to avoid them.
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In this article 3 sections
In this article
Quick summary
A lift that does not meet current AS1735 requirements exposes the building owner to regulatory enforcement, insurance complications and personal liability — regardless of whether the system still operates. AS1735 has evolved since your lift was certified. Passing routine elevator maintenance inspections is not the same as meeting current AS1735.
Three outcomes. None of them simple.#
When a lift does not meet current AS1735 requirements, one of three things eventually happens.
A regulator identifies the gap and issues an improvement or prohibition notice. The lift is taken out of service immediately. The building owner manages an unplanned, reactive remediation without the ability to time, specify or competitively tender the works. The cost premium of unplanned over planned remediation is always significant.
An incident occurs. The investigation examines the documented compliance position of the system at the time of the event. Was the gap known? Was it on a maintenance report? What did the building owner do when they became aware of it? A building owner who cannot answer from independent documentation is materially exposed. For a detailed breakdown of how liability is apportioned in these circumstances, see our article on who is responsible when a lift accident occurs.
An insurance claim is made and the insurer examines the compliance position. Non-disclosure of a known compliance issue — whether deliberate or through absence of independent verification — can affect claim validity.
None are recoverable cheaply once in motion. All are avoidable.
Why AS1735 applies to lifts that have already been certified#
| Compliance element | What current AS1735 requires | Common gap in older systems |
|---|---|---|
| Levelling accuracy | ±6mm floor-to-floor under AS1735.2 | Older systems frequently exceed tolerance as components wear |
| Door protection | Specific edge sensing and reversal force limits | Requirements have been tightened in successive revisions |
| Emergency communication | Current trapped-passenger communication specifications | Many older systems predate current specifications |
| Safety device specifications | Parts 2 and 3 requirements for overspeed governors and safety gear | Older safety gear predates current requirements |
| DDA accessibility | AS1735.12 references current DDA provisions | Dimensions, controls and signage often non-compliant |
AS1735 is Australia’s national standard for lifts, escalators and moving walks. It is periodically updated. A lift installed fifteen years ago was certified against the version of AS1735 in force at that time. The standard changed. The lift did not change with it. The compliance gap that creates legal and regulatory exposure grows wider with each revision cycle.
For the difference between an AS1735 compliance audit and a routine maintenance inspection — which building owners consistently confuse — see our article on lift compliance audits: costly expense or essential insurance?
What closing the gap looks like#
Some gaps are addressable through targeted elevator maintenance or specific component replacement. Others require a structured elevator modernisation — or for escalators, an escalator modernisation — to close properly. An independent compliance assessment identifies which is which, without any commercial interest in the size of the remediation scope.
Not having an independent AS1735 compliance assessment does not mean the building is non-compliant. It means the building owner cannot establish their compliance position from a source that is independent of the contractor who services the system — which is the standard regulators and courts apply.
ILCPL provides independent AS1735 compliance assessments for building owners, strata managers and property managers across Australia. Reports establish the current compliance position, identify gaps with priority ratings and provide a structured remediation plan.
Call 0417 784 245 to arrange an independent AS1735 compliance assessment.
