As many as 140,000 lifts across the UK could still require emergency communication upgrades ahead of the retirement of the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on 31 January 2027, according to estimates from the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA).
LEIA is issuing an urgent call to building owners, property managers, and facilities management professionals to check their lift emergency alarm systems before the switch-off.
The retirement of the PSTN means that lifts still relying on traditional analogue telephone lines may no longer be able to connect passengers with emergency assistance unless suitable alternative communication systems are in place.
The consequences of failing to act could be serious. If an emergency communication system stops working, passengers trapped in a lift may be unable to use its alarm system to contact the designated rescue service.
LEIA warns that building owners should not assume their existing systems will continue to function after the switchover. With the deadline approaching, there is an urgent need to identify affected installations, arrange suitable upgrades, and ensure replacement systems are fully tested.
LEIA is also reminding building owners that digital communication systems may depend on a local power supply. Appropriate backup arrangements are therefore essential to ensure emergency communications remain available during a power failure.
Micky Grover-White, head of technical at LEIA, said: “With an estimated 140,000 lifts potentially still requiring upgrades, this is a significant challenge that building owners and facilities managers cannot afford to ignore.
“Lift emergency communications are a vital safety feature. If someone becomes trapped in a lift, they need to be confident that pressing the alarm button will connect them to someone who can help. The January 2027 deadline is fast approaching, and our concern is that some building owners may not realise their lift alarm systems are affected until it is too late.
“Our message is simple: check your lift emergency communications now. Don’t wait until the switchover to discover that your system no longer works.”