BS EN 1709:2019

What is BS EN 1709 about?  

BS EN 1709 sets the safety requirements that need to be met in relation to pre-commissioning inspections and the instructions for maintenance and operational inspections and checks of cableway installations designed to transport persons. BS EN 1709 is applicable to the various types of cableway installation and takes into account their environment. 

NOTE: BS EN 1709 does not apply to cableway installations for the transportation of goods or to lifts. 

Who is BS EN 1709 for? 

BS EN 1709 on cableway installations is relevant to: 

• Cableway designers and installers 
• Quality and performance testing authorities 
• Maintenance and operational inspection authorities 
• Mechanical and electrical engineers 
• Civil engineers 

Why should you use BS EN 1709? 

Cableways are an important means of transport that allow people easy access to steep or hilly regions at a fraction of the time. However, lack of adherence to quality and safety standards by cableway operators may lead to hazardous situations, resulting in the loss of human life. Thus, BS EN 1709 enables the user establish and assess the actual condition of installation giving instructions about operational inspection and checks for employee protection and safe transportation of passengers.  

Safety requirements under BS EN 1709 equips the user with methods to avoid or limit hazardous scenarios such as: 

• Lack of compliance of the physical construction of the installation with the documents presented 
• Defective interaction of individual components with each other and with their local environment 
• Defects as a result of long-term operation, prolonged stoppages or repeated and sustained 
• Unfavourable operating conditions 
• Use of insufficient suitably qualified personnel 
• Operation with the installation or its components in a defective condition 
• Lack of measures for maintaining or re-establishing the specified condition of the installation or its components 
• Hazards stemming from the environment 
• Absence, unsuitability or non-compliance of a procedure 

Adopt the best practices guidance with BS EN 1709 that offer optimal operational efficiency and safety protocols from the maintenance and inspection perspective, for cableways. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 1709:2019 supersedes BS EN 1709:2004, which is withdrawn. Significant technical changes between BS EN 1709:2019 and BS EN 1709:2004 are: 

• Scope of the standard was changed from “Maintenance and operational inspections” to “Instructions for maintenance and operational inspections” 
• The requirements for civil engineering works are generally applicable and have been expanded to include all parts of the installation 
• The requirements for documenting maintenance work have been combined and extended in one place