Scissor jacks in the Trade Inspection laboratory: 11 of 15 models failed the load test under PN-EN 1494+A1:2009, 13 models were questioned in total
On 2 October 2026 Poland’s competition and consumer protection office UOKiK published the results of a Trade Inspection check of 15 scissor jack models with a rated capacity of up to 2 tonnes, carried out from May to July 2026. Laboratory tests of strength under the declared load (clause 6.2.2 of PN-EN 1494+A1:2009) failed 11 models; the load-bearing structure, the crank or the lifting mechanism were damaged.
- The check was carried out by the regional Trade Inspection offices in Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań and Warsaw at wholesalers and large-format stores. It covered jacks that are neither vehicle equipment nor original spare parts; 12 models came from China and 3 from Poland.
- Marking and documentation were deficient for 11 of the 15 models: a missing or incorrect declaration of conformity (11 cases), required markings missing on the device, such as the manufacturer’s name and address or the year of construction (9), deficient instructions (9) and incorrect CE marking (1). In total 13 models were questioned: 9 with design and formal defects, 2 with design defects only and 2 with formal defects only.
- According to the summary of results (as of 25 August 2026), some jacks were damaged even before reaching the rated capacity or before the load was fully lifted. The questioned products are to be withdrawn from the market (in one case with formal defects only, the business took corrective action), the Trade Inspection will notify law enforcement authorities with a view to fines, and UOKiK reports dangerous products to the EU Safety Gate system.
- According to the Polish Committee for Standardization catalogue, PN-EN 1494+A1:2009 “Mobile or movable jacks and associated lifting equipment” adopts EN 1494:2000+A1:2008, was published on 21 January 2009 and replaced PN-EN 1494:2002; amendment A1 added Annex ZB linking the standard to the essential requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.