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Anyone working in rigging knows that choosing an electric hoist means more than evaluating capacity, speed, and dimensions. It also means - above all - understanding which safety regulations the hoist must comply with, in which contexts it can be used, and what responsibilities its use entails.
Electric hoist safety regulations are not bureaucratic details: they are the technical and legal framework that defines how these tools must be designed, certified, and used to protect operators, technicians, and the public.
In this guide, we cover the main regulatory references in Italy and Europe, and explain what they mean in practice when choosing and using electric hoists.
Why Electric Hoist Regulations Matter
Electric hoists operate in high-risk environments. Theatres, concerts, trade fairs, television studios, permanent installations: in all these settings, suspended loads are often directly above people — technicians, operators, audiences. A structural failure, a brake anomaly, or a configuration error can have extremely serious consequences.
Regulations exist precisely to reduce this risk, through precise requirements covering machine design, integrated safety devices, load factors, inspection procedures, and operator training.
Knowing them is not just a legal obligation: it is a technical competency that makes a real difference when selecting the right equipment for each project.
The Main Regulatory References
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC — which will be replaced on 20 January 2027 by Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, known as the Machinery Regulation — is the baseline European regulatory reference for any machine placed on the market of the European Union, including electric hoists.
It establishes the essential health and safety requirements that every machine must meet before it can be sold. In practice, an electric hoist that complies with this directive must be designed to minimise risks to operators, must be accompanied by a CE declaration of conformity, and must bear the CE marking.
This is the starting point: without compliance with the Machinery Directive, a hoist cannot be legally sold or used in Europe. However, the directive alone is not sufficient to define the specific requirements of the entertainment sector — which is why more detailed standards exist.
EN 17206 - The Entertainment-Specific Standard
EN 17206 is the harmonised standard that specifically governs lifting systems in the entertainment industry: electric hoists, winches, and rigging systems. It was introduced to replace the various national standards with a unified set of criteria across Europe.
Compared to the Machinery Directive, EN 17206 goes into much greater detail on the specific technical requirements for entertainment applications. It defines, among other things, the required safety factors, the characteristics of braking systems, the requirements for load monitoring, and testing procedures.
A hoist compliant with EN 17206 provides significantly more specific guarantees than CE marking alone, and is today the essential technical reference for anyone working in theatres, live events, and professional installations across Europe.
BGV/DGUV D8, D8+ and C1 - The German Classifications
The BGV/DGUV D8, D8+, and C1 classifications originated in Germany as standards from the German insurers' association (DGUV), but over time have become the international de facto reference for categorising hoists used in events and entertainment. They are now integrated into EN 17206 and recognised across Europe.
They define three distinct safety levels, each designed for a specific use case. Understanding the differences between these three levels is essential for selecting the right hoist.
D8, D8+ and C1: What Changes and When to Use Them
D8 - For Static Rigging
The D8 category hoist is designed for lifting structures during the setup phase: trusses, audio systems, lighting, scenography.
Key characteristics:
- 5:1 safety factor
- single braking system
- not suitable for maintaining suspended loads above people without secondary safety systems
D8 is the base category, suitable for most setup operations where the load is lifted, positioned, and then mechanically secured before people access the area below.
D8+ - For Permanent Suspensions and Installations Above People
The D8+ category introduces a significantly higher level of safety, designed for situations where the load remains suspended above people for the entire duration of the event, without additional secondary systems.
Key characteristics:
- minimum 8:1 safety factor on the chain
- dual independent braking system
- does not permit dynamic movements during the show
D8+ is the correct choice for permanent theatre installations, suspended lighting, and all applications where the load remains at height with people present below, but without the need to be moved during the event.
The difference from D8 is not only technical: it is a difference in responsibility. Using a D8 hoist in an application that requires a D8+ is not only a safety risk — it is a regulatory non-compliance with all the consequences that follow.
C1 - For Dynamic Movements During the Show
The C1 category represents the highest level of safety and the only category that permits dynamic load movements above people in real time, during the performance. It must always be paired with a dedicated control system.
Key characteristics:
- safety factor of 8:1 or higher on the chain, often 10:1
- dual braking system
- safety limit switches
- continuous load monitoring with load cell
C1 is used in advanced theatrical automation, in large live productions where scenic elements or structures move during the performance, and in all contexts where the hoist must operate with people below moving loads.
SIL3 compliance is particularly significant: it indicates that the safety control system has an extremely low probability of dangerous failure, according to the criteria of IEC 61508 and IEC 62061. It is the most stringent requirement applied to hoists in the entertainment sector and guarantees a level of reliability appropriate for the most critical applications.
Chain Standard for Hoists (Grade T - Type DAT): EN 818-7
EN 818 is one of the fundamental standards in the lifting sector. It covers short-link chains for load lifting and related chain slings.
Part 7 — EN 818-7 — applies specifically to calibrated chains used in electric lifting hoists and defines:
- link dimensions
- dimensional tolerances
- mechanical characteristics
- load test requirements
- metallurgical requirements
- safety factors
Chains such as 4×12 mm, 5×15 mm, 6.3×19 mm, and 8×24 mm must be designed and tested according to these requirements when used as load-bearing chains in a hoist. They must also be identifiable and traceable at every stage of their lifecycle.
Leading chain manufacturers stamp the following information on the links at regular intervals:
- Inspection logo of the manufacturer
- Chain type - e.g. "DAT"
- Class/grade - e.g. grade 8, grade 10, DAT
- Production number (Serial No.)- e.g. "D24"
- Batch number (Batch No.)- e.g. "002"
- Manufacturer - e.g. "RUD"
This information allows tracing the chain back to its origin, verifying its compliance, and ensuring full traceability in the event of inspections or incidents.
Legislative Decree 81/2008 - Italian Regulations
For those operating in Italy, the European regulatory framework is supplemented by Legislative Decree of 9 April 2008, No. 81 - the Consolidated Law on Health and Safety in the Workplace.
The decree does not only concern machine design: it governs the responsibilities of employers and operators in the use of lifting equipment. In particular, it requires:
Mandatory commissioning registration for electric chain hoists with a capacity exceeding 200 kg (currently handled via the INAIL CIVA online portal).
Documented periodic inspections: lifting equipment must be subject to regular checks, recorded in a register that must be kept and made available to regulatory authorities upon request.
Annual overhaul by accredited bodies: hoists with a capacity exceeding 200 kg (not manually operated) must undergo an annual overhaul by notified bodies or INAIL-accredited organisations. Equipment below this threshold — such as our Divo One 200 kg — is not subject to this specific obligation, although it remains subject to the general maintenance and inspection requirements incumbent on the employer.
Operator training: anyone using lifting equipment must receive adequate, documented, and up-to-date training.
Failure to comply with Legislative Decree 81/2008 exposes employers and safety officers to administrative and criminal penalties, as well as civil liability in the event of accidents.
How to Choose the Right Hoist Based on Regulations
The choice of the correct category - D8, D8+, or C1 - always depends on the specific operational context. The questions to ask are:
Will there be people below the suspended loads? If yes, D8 is not sufficient: at least a D8+ is required.
Do the loads need to move during the event with people present below? If yes, C1 is mandatory.
What safety factor is required by the venue or organiser? Some venues and events have requirements stricter than the legal minimum.
Is the hoist compliant with EN 17206? This is the European technical reference specific to entertainment and must be verified independently of CE marking alone.
Answering these questions correctly is not just a matter of regulatory compliance: it is the starting point for designing safe, reliable, and professional installations.
Divo Hoists and Regulatory Compliance
The Divo range of electric hoists by Unirig is certified in categories D8, D8+, and C1, in compliance with EN 17206 and the requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Every model is designed to meet the specific requirements of its reference category, with integrated safety devices — brakes, limit switches, load cells, encoders, control systems — that do not require external additional units.
If you are unsure which category best suits your project, the Unirig team is available for technical consultation.
Contact us to find the right Divo for your next show. Write to us at info@unirig.it or call us at +39 0543 783578.