Lift safety in UK buildings may be at risk because manufacturers have not updated capacity limits to reflect rising obesity levels, according to a recent conference. An expert revealed that current signs showing maximum passenger numbers are now outdated, potentially leading to longer journey times and safety hazards. This oversight also risks stigmatising individuals by suggesting more people can fit comfortably than is realistic.
Weight Trends Over Time
In the mid-1970s, the average weight of a man in the UK was 75kg, and for a woman, it was 65kg. Today, these averages have risen to approximately 86kg for men and 73kg for women, experts said.
Research Findings
Professor Nick Finer, president of the International Prader Willi Syndrome Organisation, analysed data from 112 lifts across seven European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Finland. The lifts, manufactured by 21 companies between 1970 and 2024, were assessed for average weight allowance per person, calculated by dividing maximum weight by maximum passenger number. This was compared to average adult weight from the UK National Health Survey for corresponding years.
Between 1972 and 2002, lift maximum weight correlated with increasing population weight. However, after 2002, there was no significant increase in the assumed average weight of lift users. Manufacturers continued to assume an average weight of 75kg, while the actual average population weight reached 79kg.
Professor Finer stated at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey: “The failure of lift manufacturers to adapt to rising levels of obesity and body size means that lift capacities are overestimated, meaning that journey times are likely to be increased and that safety could be compromised. What’s more, suggesting more people can fit in a lift than is comfortable is stigmatising people living with obesity.”
In an abstract presented to the conference, he concluded that manufacturers were not adjusting lift capacities to reflect secular increases in population average weights. According to the NHS, 30% of adults in England were obese in 2024, and 66% were either overweight or obese.
