Inspections

5-Year EWP Certification & Inspection

Plenty of owners search for a "5-year EWP certification" for their cherry picker, boom lift, truck-mounted EWP or bucket truck — so it is worth being straight about what that means in Australia. There is no legislated five-year major inspection here. The mandated major inspection falls at ten years, with routine and annual inspections and periodic testing carried out in between.

That does not make the five-year mark meaningless. It is a sensible point for a mid-life structural check, and some owners and manufacturers schedule additional assessments around it. This page explains the real inspection regime, what a mid-life check involves, and how we keep your machine certified through its whole life rather than promising a certificate that does not exist.

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Major Inspection Planning Guide (PDF)

Who It's For

Built For

Owners searching for '5-year' certification who want the accurate picture
Cherry picker, boom lift and truck-mounted EWP operators
Bucket truck owners planning maintenance around mid-life
Hire fleets budgeting inspection and rebuild costs over time
Asset managers building a realistic inspection schedule

Scope

Equipment & Coverage

Cherry pickers and truck-mounted EWPs
Telescopic and knuckle boom lifts
Bucket trucks
Scissor lifts and spider lifts
Insulated EWPs and trailer-mounted lifts

How It Works

The Process

Understand your obligation

We confirm the machine's age and history and set out what is actually required under AS 2550.10 — routine and annual inspections, periodic testing, and the 10-year major inspection.

Plan a mid-life check

Around the five-year mark a mid-life structural assessment is a sound investment. We scope what to inspect based on how the machine has been used and any manufacturer guidance.

Inspect, test & report

The assessment can include structural inspection, NDT of welds and pins, and load and stability testing, with an engineering report where sign-off is needed.

Rebuild assessment

If wear or fatigue is found, we give you an honest rebuild assessment so you can plan repairs early rather than face a bigger bill closer to the 10-year major inspection.

Compliance & Standards

In Australia, elevated work platforms are inspected and maintained under AS 2550.10 and designed to AS/NZS 1418.10. The recognised regime is routine and annual inspections, periodic testing suited to the unit, and a major inspection when the machine reaches ten years. There is no legally mandated five-year major inspection — where the term appears it is search terminology or an owner-scheduled mid-life check. We will always describe your obligations honestly and will not invent an interval to make a sale.

Why EWP Australia

A straight answer on what '5-year certification' really means in Australia
A mid-life structural check that catches problems before they escalate
NDT and load testing available where the structure needs verification
Engineering reporting and honest rebuild assessment when required
A realistic schedule through to the 10-year major inspection

Compare

Annual Inspection vs Mid-Life Check vs 10-Year Major

Scope and purpose only — this compares what each assessment is for, not price or duration.

Assessment	Trigger	Purpose	Typical scope
Annual inspection	Yearly, under AS 2550.10	Confirm the machine is safe to keep operating	Structural, hydraulic, mechanical and safety systems checked and logged
Mid-life check (approx. 5 years)	Owner or manufacturer scheduled — not legally mandated	Catch wear and fatigue early and plan ahead	Focused structural assessment, NDT where warranted, condition report
10-year major inspection	Machine reaches ten years, then periodically after	Comprehensive verification of an ageing machine	Strip-down, NDT, load testing and recertification to AS 2550.10

Figures are indicative of typical equipment classes, not a specific unit. Confirm exact specifications for any machine before hire or purchase.

FAQs

Common Questions

Is there a mandatory 5-year EWP certification in Australia?

No. There is no legislated five-year major inspection in Australia. The mandated major inspection falls at ten years under AS 2550.10, with routine and annual inspections and periodic testing in between. If you have seen a 'five-year' requirement, it is usually search terminology or an owner-scheduled mid-life check rather than a legal interval.

Do cherry pickers need a 5-year inspection?

A cherry picker follows the same regime as other EWPs — annual inspections, periodic testing and a 10-year major inspection. Many owners still schedule a mid-life structural check around five years, which is a sensible way to catch wear early, but it is a maintenance decision rather than a legal five-year certification.

What about 5-year certification for boom lifts and truck-mounted EWPs?

It is the same across boom lifts, truck-mounted EWPs and bucket trucks: the mandated major inspection is at ten years. A mid-life check around the five-year mark can include structural inspection and NDT, and we can carry that out and document it — we just describe it honestly as a mid-life assessment, not a mandated five-year certificate.

What does a mid-life check involve?

It is a focused structural assessment scoped to how the machine has been used. Depending on the unit it can include inspection of the structure, NDT of key welds and pins, load and stability testing, and an engineering report. The aim is to find wear or fatigue early so repairs can be planned before the 10-year major inspection.

Should I do a mid-life check on a bucket truck?

If the truck works hard or carries insulated components, a mid-life check is well worth it. It gives you a documented condition picture and an early warning of any structural or dielectric issues, so you can budget rebuild work rather than discover it when the machine is due for its major inspection.

Can a mid-life check turn into a rebuild?

It can. If the assessment finds significant wear, corrosion or fatigue, we provide an honest rebuild assessment covering what needs repair, weld inspection, NDT and load testing to recertify. Planning that work early is almost always cheaper and less disruptive than reacting to it later.