Vacuum Lifter Safety Standards: What EN 13155 Requires

A vacuum lifter holds its load with air pressure rather than a mechanical grip, so the question every buyer and safety officer asks is direct: what stops the load from falling? The answer is largely written into EN 13155, the European standard for non-fixed load lifting attachments, which sets out specific requirements for powered vacuum lifting devices. This article explains the main ones and what they mean on site. For the underlying mechanism, see how vacuum lifting works; here the focus is on the safety rules around it.

A safety factor built into the rating

EN 13155 requires a vacuum lifter to hold significantly more than its rated load. The device must be able to retain at least twice the working load limit at the least favourable point of its working range. In other words, a lifter rated for a given load is designed to hold double that figure before the seal is expected to let go, and the rating already accounts for the worst position, not the best.

This margin matters because vacuum holding force depends on the pad area and the vacuum level, both of which can vary with the surface and the seal. Designing to twice the working load limit gives a buffer against the everyday variation of real loads and real surfaces. It is also why the certified working load limit, not a theoretical maximum, is the number to work to.

Holding the load when power fails

The requirement that most directly addresses the fear of a dropped load concerns power failure. Under EN 13155 a powered vacuum lifter must be able to hold the load for at least five minutes if the power supply is interrupted. That window is there to let the operator lower or land the load safely rather than lose it instantly.

Meeting this depends on stored vacuum and back-up power. A vacuum reservoir holds reserve vacuum so the seal does not collapse the moment the pump stops, and back-up batteries keep the warning and control systems live. The detail of how a lifter sustains the seal through an interruption is covered separately in what happens if power fails.

Warning the operator early

A vacuum lifter is required to warn the operator before the situation becomes dangerous. EN 13155 calls for a clearly perceptible signal, both visual and audible, that activates when the vacuum approaches the danger range. The purpose is to give the operator time to react and set the load down while the seal still holds, rather than discovering a problem only when the load moves. The signal must be noticeable in the working environment, which is one reason quieter electric lifters can be an advantage where audible alarms have to compete with site noise.

Releasing the load on purpose, not by accident

Picking up safely is only half the cycle. The standard requires that releasing the load takes a deliberate, two-step action, so the vacuum cannot be vented by a single accidental movement of a control. This prevents the obvious failure mode of an operator brushing a lever and breaking the seal while the load is still suspended. The release sequence is designed to be intentional.