The TÜV association has noticed a significant increase in elevator defects. Almost two thirds of the systems examined last year had minor defects, according to the association’s system safety report. That is more than four percentage points more than in the previous year and almost 22 percentage points more than in 2023. The association cites this as the main reason Cybersecurity deficiencies.
Elevators in residential and commercial buildings are increasingly being controlled digitally and are therefore potential attack targets for criminals. Operators have been obliged to implement protective measures and document them for several years. If proof is missing, this counts as a minor defect. “Manufacturers and, above all, operators should Cybersecurity take them seriously and fulfill their obligations,” said the TÜV association.
Thousands of elevators shut down due to dangerous defects
In total, the TÜV tested almost 723,300 elevator systems last year. The inspectors found dangerous defects in 0.8 percent of the systems – around 5,800 elevators. 3,000 of these systems were immediately shut down because they posed a danger to life and limb, including because of worn support cables.
“Serious accidents occur again and again,” said the TÜV association. The number of accidents can be kept to a minimum through regular maintenance, independent inspections and official monitoring. The association appealed to operators to consistently fulfill their maintenance and documentation obligations.