The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and Lift Emergency Telephones

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In short: a lift emergency telephone that connects over a mobile network (2G, 3G, 4G or VoLTE) is radio equipment. In the EU it must comply with the Radio Equipment Directive (RED, 2014/53/EU); in Great Britain it must comply with the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 and carry the UKCA mark. Since 1 August 2025, RED also brings cybersecurity obligations for network-connected devices. RED sits alongside the functional lift standard EN81-28 – you need both.

SafeLine Orion · Updated August 2026

What is the Radio Equipment Directive (RED)?

The Radio Equipment Directive (Directive 2014/53/EU, usually shortened to RED) is the EU framework that governs any product placed on the market that intentionally transmits or receives radio waves. It replaced the older R&TTE Directive and has applied since 13 June 2017. Equipment that meets RED can carry the CE mark and be sold across the EU and EEA.

RED is not lift-specific. It applies to the radio component inside a product – the cellular modem, Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth radio or wireless intercom – regardless of what the wider product does.

Does RED apply to lift emergency telephones?

Yes, whenever the telephone communicates over a radio network. A modern lift emergency telephone that dials out over a mobile connection contains a cellular radio module, and that makes the unit radio equipment under RED (in the EU) and the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (in the UK).

In a typical lift, RED-relevant equipment includes:

Emergency telephones and auto-diallers with a 2G/3G/4G/VoLTE connection;
Managed SIM-based communication units;
Wireless intercoms and radio-linked landing stations;
Bluetooth commissioning and configuration tools (for example, setting up a unit from an installer's phone).

Lift components that contain no radio transmitter – such as light curtains, variable-frequency drives or a legacy wired PSTN handset – do not fall under RED. But the PSTN units are exactly the ones being retired as analogue lines are switched off.

What must a compliant lift emergency telephone do?

RED sets out essential requirements that in-scope equipment must meet:

Article	Requirement
3.1(a)	Protection of the health and safety of people and property
3.1(b)	An adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
3.2	Effective use of the radio spectrum, to avoid harmful interference
3.3	Additional requirements activated by the European Commission – including support for access to emergency services (3.3(g)) and, from 2025, cybersecurity (3.3(d)–(f))

Article 3.3(g) is worth noting for emergency telephones specifically: it concerns features that support access to emergency services – the core purpose of the device.

The RED cybersecurity requirements from 1 August 2025

This is the newest and most commonly missed part of RED. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 activated three of the Article 3.3 requirements for network-connected radio equipment, and they became mandatory on 1 August 2025:

Article 3.3(d) – the equipment must not harm the network or its functioning;
Article 3.3(e) – safeguards for the protection of personal data and privacy;
Article 3.3(f) – protection from fraud.

A lift emergency telephone that is connected to a mobile network and carries voice calls will typically fall within 3.3(d) and 3.3(e). Manufacturers usually demonstrate conformity against the harmonised standards EN 18031-1, -2 and -3, which give a presumption of conformity for these cybersecurity requirements.

Why this matters for buyers: When you replace a PSTN lift phone with a 4G unit, you are placing a new, network-connected radio device into service. From August 2025, EU-market equipment of this type should demonstrate the cybersecurity requirements above – so it is a fair question to ask any supplier before you commit.

How RED fits with EN81-28 and EN 81-72

These standards are complementary, not alternatives:

RED / Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 govern the equipment: may the radio device be sold, is it safe, compatible and (in the EU) cyber-secure?
EN81-28 governs the function: the lift emergency alarm must provide two-way voice communication and an automatic test call at least every 72 hours. See our EN81-28 compliance guide.
EN 81-72 governs firefighter-lift communication in buildings that require it.

A lift emergency telephone can be fully EN81-28 capable and still need a RED/UKCA-compliant radio module to be placed on the market lawfully. Both layers have to be satisfied – particularly during the PSTN switch-off, when equipment is being replaced at scale.

UK and EU: UKCA and the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017

After Brexit, Great Britain uses its own route. The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/1206) carry across the same essential requirements as the EU RED, and compliance is shown with the UKCA mark rather than CE.

In practice:

Selling into the EU/EEA: CE marking under RED 2014/53/EU, including the August 2025 cybersecurity requirements.
Selling into Great Britain: UKCA marking under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017.

The UK's wider product-security regime is developing separately, so the exact UK cybersecurity obligations for a given device should be confirmed for your market and product type.

How to check your lift emergency telephone is compliant

Look for a CE mark (EU) or UKCA mark (Great Britain) on the unit.
Ask the supplier for the Declaration of Conformity and keep it on file – it lists the directives/regulations and standards the product was assessed against.
For network-connected units placed on the EU market from August 2025, check that cybersecurity (RED 3.3) is addressed, typically via EN 18031.
Confirm the unit is also EN81-28 capable (two-way voice, automatic test calls).
Do not modify the housing or antenna in a way that could affect radio performance – this can invalidate the Declaration of Conformity.

SafeLine Orion: SafeLine's mobile-connected lift communication – the SL6 emergency telephone with a managed multi-network SIM – is built for the shift from PSTN to 4G/VoLTE, combining radio-equipment compliance with EN81-28 functionality in one platform.

This guide is general information, not a formal conformity assessment. The exact directives, regulations and standards that apply to a specific product depend on its design and intended markets, and should be confirmed against the manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity or with a notified body (EU) or approved body (UK).

Frequently asked questions

Is a lift emergency telephone classed as radio equipment?

Yes, if it connects over a mobile network. A lift emergency telephone that uses a 2G, 3G, 4G or VoLTE connection contains a cellular radio module, which makes it radio equipment under the EU Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU) and the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017. A purely wired PSTN telephone with no radio transmitter is not radio equipment, but those units are being retired as the PSTN is switched off.

Does RED apply to lift emergency telephones after the PSTN switch-off?

More than before. As lines move from the analogue PSTN to mobile networks, most replacement lift emergency telephones use a cellular connection and therefore fall squarely under RED (EU) or the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (UK). The move to 4G/VoLTE makes radio-equipment compliance a core requirement of the upgrade, not an afterthought.

What is the difference between RED and EN81-28?

They govern different layers. RED (and the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017) certify that the radio equipment itself is safe, electromagnetically compatible, uses the spectrum correctly and, since August 2025 in the EU, meets cybersecurity requirements, so it may be placed on the market. EN81-28 is the functional lift standard that defines what the emergency alarm system must do, such as providing two-way voice communication and an automatic test call at least every 72 hours. A compliant lift emergency telephone must satisfy both.

Do the RED cybersecurity requirements from August 2025 apply to lift emergency telephones?

Typically yes for equipment placed on the EU market. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 activated Articles 3.3(d), (e) and (f) of RED from 1 August 2025, covering network protection, personal-data and privacy safeguards, and protection from fraud. A network-connected lift emergency telephone that carries voice calls usually falls within 3.3(d) and 3.3(e). Conformity is commonly shown against the harmonised standards EN 18031-1, -2 and -3.

Does RED apply in the UK after Brexit?

In Great Britain the equivalent law is the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, evidenced by the UKCA mark rather than CE. It carries across the same essential requirements as the EU RED. Products sold into the EU still need CE marking under RED, including the August 2025 cybersecurity requirements. UK product-security rules are evolving, so confirm the current UK obligations for your specific product.

Who is responsible for RED compliance, the manufacturer or the building owner?

The manufacturer or importer is responsible for placing compliant radio equipment on the market, affixing the CE or UKCA mark and issuing a Declaration of Conformity. Building owners and lift companies should specify equipment that carries the correct marking, keep the Declaration of Conformity on file, and avoid modifying the housing or antenna in a way that could affect radio performance.

Does a lift emergency telephone need UKCA marking?

In Great Britain, yes if it uses a radio connection. A mobile-connected lift emergency telephone is radio equipment under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, so it should carry the UKCA mark. Units also placed on the EU market need CE marking under RED. Non-radio lift components with no transmitter fall outside these radio-equipment rules.

Which harmonised standards apply to RED for a lift emergency telephone?

Manufacturers use harmonised standards to give a presumption of conformity. For a cellular lift telephone this typically includes EMC standards for radio (for example the EN 301 489 series), the relevant radio standards for the cellular bands (such as EN 301 511 for GSM and EN 301 908 for 4G/LTE), a safety standard, and, for the August 2025 cybersecurity requirements, EN 18031-1, -2 and -3. The exact standards are listed in the product's Declaration of Conformity.