Cableway installations for passengers

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2016/424 — cableway installations

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

• It sets out rules on the essential safety requirements, design, construction and entry into service of new cableways carrying passengers.
• These ensure passenger safety and enable the equipment to be sold and used throughout the EU.
• The regulation replaces Directive 2000/9/EC.

KEY POINTS

• The legislation applies to new cableway installations*, to modifications to existing cableway installations which require authorisation and to subsystems* and safety components* for cableways installations. They must all meet the essential safety requirements contained in Annex II of the regulation.
• Annex II contains essential requirements that cover all aspects of cableway installations, including maintenance and operability, ranging from dimensions and assembly to towing and control devices.
• The national person or authority responsible for cableway installations must carry out a comprehensive safety analysis of each planned installation and include the results in a safety report.
• EU countries must:
  • ensure no operating cableway installation is liable to endanger the health or safety of people or property when they are properly installed, maintained and operated according to their intended purpose;
  • set procedures for authorising the construction and entry into service of cableways installations under their jurisdiction;
  • allow cableway installations to remain in operation only if they comply with the conditions in the safety report.
• Manufacturers of subsystems and safety components must:
  • ensure these are designed and made according to the essential requirements set out in Annex II;
  • keep technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity for 30 years;
  • give them an identifiable type, batch or serial number;
  • indicate their contact details;
  • provide easily understandable use and safety information;
  • inform national authorities immediately if a subsystem or safety component presents a risk.
• Obligations are placed on importers and distributors to ensure that the subsystems or safety components satisfy the essential requirements.
• EU countries inform the European Commission of the various bodies which are authorised to carry out the conformity assessment tests.
• The Commission organises exchange of experience between national authorities.
• EU countries must have penalties in place for any violations of the law by 21 March 2018.
• The legislation does not apply to:
  • lifts covered by separate EU legislation (Directive 2014/33/EU);
  • pre-1 January 1986 cableways still operating and considered to be of historic, cultural or heritage interest, that have not had not any significant changes in design or construction, including subsystems and safety components specifically designed for them;
  • installations used for agricultural or forestry purposes;
  • cableways transporting goods and specifically designated people to mountain shelters and huts;
  • leisure equipment in fairgrounds and amusement parks;
  • mining and industrial installations;
  • waterborne installations.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It applies from 21 April 2018, apart from certain articles dealing largely with notification bodies and procedures. These apply from 21 October 2016.

BACKGROUND

• The legislation covers cablecars, funiculars and chairlifts carrying people, particularly in high-altitude tourist resorts, urban transport and sport facilities.
• Traction by cable and passenger transport are the 2 essential criteria determining whether a cableway installation is covered by the legislation.
• For more information, see:
  • ‘Cableways’ on the European Commission's website.

* KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2016/424 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on cableway installations and repealing Directive 2000/9/EC (OJ L 81, 31.3.2016, pp. 1-50)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2016/424 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 13.12.2016