Lifts at risk as outdated weight limits clash with rising obesity

Experts warn that lifts across the UK and Europe may be unsafe due to outdated weight capacity signs that fail to account for rising obesity rates. A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul revealed that manufacturers have not updated weight limits since 2002, despite average body weights increasing significantly in the past two decades.

The 20-year weight limit freeze

Professor Nick Finer of the International Prader Willi Syndrome Organisation examined 112 lift weight limit signs across seven European countries, manufactured between 1970 and 2024. His research found that while the average weight allowance per person increased from around 62kg to 75kg between 1972 and 2002, this limit has remained unchaanged since then, according to the report. This is despite the average weight of British men rising from 75kg in the mid-1970s to 86kg today, and women from 65kg to 73kg.

Overloaded lifts: A hidden danger

Lifts are required to display signs showing the maximum number of people they can carry, but these have not been updated for over two decaes. As a result, lifts are increasingly at risk of being overloaded even when transporting the number of passengers they were supposedly built for, the conference heard. Professor Finer noted that US scientists proposed raising the standard to 80kg in the 2020s, but this was not widely adopted.

Outdated assumptions about body shape

Manufacturers' assumption that each person fills a floor area shaped like a small oval is also outdated, as bulging waistlines mean many are now big and round, Professor Finer added. This mismatch between outdated standards and current body sizes could pose a significant safety risk,as lifts may be overloaded without passengers realizing it.

Who is responsible for updating lift standards?

The report raises questions about who is responsible for updating lift standards to account for changing body sizes. While manufacturers have not updated their weight limits, it is unclear whether regulatory bodies have the authority or resources to enforce such updates. Additionally, the report does not address whether building owners or maintenance companies are aware of the potential risks posed by outdated weight limits.