Till last year, lifts and escalators were counted just like any other electrical installations with building owners permitted to install and operate them as long as they wish on securing just a one-time permission.
But all that changed with the enforcement of the Kerala Lifts and Escalators Rules that made licence subjected to a set of stringent provisions mandatory for installing and operating lifts and escalators.
Until then Kerala didn’t have an exclusive law governing the installation and operation of lifts and escalators unlike many other States in the country.
Toddler’s deathA toddler died on Sunday after she accidentally slipped out of the hands of her mother on an escalator in a mall in the city. The news came amidst reports that over thousand lifts and escalators in the district operate without licence.
Insurance coverage for users was made one of the key conditions for obtaining the mandatory licence. The building owner has to take insurance depending on the capacity of the lifts and escalators while approval from the local body concerned for the building plan has also been made mandatory. If earlier a one-time permission was enough to operate lifts and escalators, the new rules restricted the validity of the licence to a year after which the building owner has to get it renewed by applying in a prescribed form with a fee of Rs. 1,000.
Insurance policy documents have to be produced at the time of renewal of licence as well.
In fact, the licence should be renewed three months prior to its date of expiry. On failing to do which, an additional fee of Rs.100 for each lift or escalator will be charged for the delay of each month.
The power supply to the lift or escalator will be disconnected if the licence is not renewed unless the licencee file an application in form “G” along with a fee of Rs. 2,000 for each lift or escalator.
The quality of lifts and escalators has also come under the scanner.
Earlier a lift or escalator made by any manufacturer could be installed whereas now the product of a manufacturer approved by the Department of Electrical Inspectorate alone is allowed. Besides, the installation should be done by a contractor licensed by the Kerala State Electricity Licensing Board.
The rules hold the licencee solely responsible for the operation of unsafe lifts and escalators while no addition or alteration is permitted without the permission of the inspector.
