Lift Module H1 Certification

Module H1 is the conformity assessment route defined in Annex XI of the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU, based on full quality assurance plus design examination. It relies on the installer managing all its processes, from design to installation, final inspection and testing, with a quality system approved by a notified body.

Short answer: It is the most flexible route for companies that install regularly, design their own lifts and want to build lifts of different types and capacities. In return, it requires a strong quality system and technical staff able to take on design responsibility.

What Is Module H1?

Under H1, approval is given not to individual lifts but to the company’s quality system. The notified body assesses and approves the quality system; the company then draws up the EU declaration of conformity for every lift it installs within this approved system and affixes the CE marking together with the notified body’s identification number.

This route is not tied to a model lift or an EU type-examination. As a result, the company can build electric and hydraulic lifts of different types and classes without design restrictions. This flexibility is the key feature that distinguishes H1 from type-based routes such as Module B+E and Module B+D.

What Does the Quality System Cover?

The Module H1 quality system covers design, manufacture, assembly, installation, final inspection and testing. It usually includes:

• design and design verification: calculations, drawings, standards applied and design checks,
• purchasing and supplier control; tracking the certificates of the safety components used,
• manufacturing, assembly and installation instructions and the related records,
• final inspection and test instructions, test reports and calibrated measuring equipment,
• nonconformity, corrective action and document management,
• personnel competence and training records.

H1 is not simply an ISO 9001 certificate. An ISO 9001 quality management system can be a good foundation; however, the technical requirements specific to the Lifts Directive, project checks, installation and test records must be evidenced within the quality system.

Design Examination

If the design of a lift does not fully comply with the harmonised standards (EN 81-20 and EN 81-50) — for example with reduced headroom, an insufficient pit or low headroom in the machine room — the company applies to the notified body for a design examination of that design.

The notified body examines the design and the related risk assessment and, if it is found compliant, issues an EU design-examination certificate. A separate examination is carried out for each risk topic, and the design examination is obtained from the body that approved the H1 quality system.

Which Companies Can Obtain Module H1?

H1 does not suit every company. The assessment usually looks at:

• whether the company employs mechanical and electrical engineers able to take on design responsibility,
• the organisation and record-keeping structure to maintain the quality system,
• a regular installation volume that covers the cost of the system,
• the need for lifts of different types and special designs.

Employing engineers and maintaining the quality system bring a fixed cost to the company. The monthly number of installations is therefore a decisive criterion in the H1 decision.

How Does the Module H1 Process Work?

1. Gap analysis: The company’s organisation, technical staff and existing procedures and records are reviewed; gaps are identified.
2. Documentation: The quality manual, procedures, design and installation instructions, inspection and test forms are prepared.
3. Implementation: The quality system is put into operation; records are created on installations.
4. Application and audit: An application is made to the chosen notified body. After the document review, a quality system audit is carried out; the auditors inspect on site one of the installations made in accordance with EN 81-20 and EN 81-50.
5. Closing nonconformities: The nonconformities found are corrected and reported to the notified body. If a situation threatening life safety is found on a lift, the audit may be cancelled or repeated.
6. Approval and surveillance: After approval, the notified body checks that the quality system is maintained through regular (usually annual) surveillance audits and may make unannounced visits.

Significant changes to the quality system are reported to the notified body in advance; the body assesses whether the change affects the approval.

Module H1 Compared with Other Routes

Route	What is approved?	Design flexibility
Module H1	The company’s full quality system	No type limit; non-standard designs through design examination
Module B+E / B+D	Model lift + quality system	Limited to the approved model scope
Module G	Each lift separately	Flexible per lift, with a new application each time

For a general comparison of the routes, see our Lift Certification Modules guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an ISO 9001 certificate required for Module H1?

An ISO 9001 certificate alone does not replace H1 approval; the H1 quality system must meet the lift-specific requirements of Annex XI. An existing ISO 9001 system, however, can be a good starting point for H1.

Can any lift be built with an H1 certificate?

There is no model limit for lifts within the scope of the approved quality system. For designs that do not fully comply with the harmonised standards, a separate design examination is required for that design.

Can the design examination be obtained from a different notified body?

No. The design examination is obtained from the notified body that approved the H1 quality system.

Legal Basis

For the current scope and annexes, refer to the Lifts Regulation (2014/33/EU) (in Turkish) and the consolidated text of Directive 2014/33/EU.