EN81.72 Fire Fighting Lifts

With increasing building height, firefighting lifts are becoming more prevalent in building design. BuildingTec Elevators, have the technical expertise and Know Khow to carry out any relevant installations. In the current Newsletter we will examine some basic principals of Firefighting lifts and we will address the most common misconceptions.

The most common misconception is that the elevator is not getting burned at all. The purpose of the standard is not the manufacturers to manufacture an indestructible total fire proof elevator which will stand functional after the whole building will be burned.

The Standard applies to the exclusive use of a passenger (or passenger/goods lift) by the fire service to carry firefighters and their equipment to the required floors, in the event of a fire.

National Building Regulations give guidance on the number of Firefighting Lifts, and their location within the building and are an important tool for firefighting and rescue purposes, transporting firefighters and equipment and for evacuation under the control of the firefighters.

A Firefighting Lift, unlike a normal lift, should be designed to operate for as long as is practicable when there is a fire in the building.

If the fire will be uncontrolled and spread across the building eventually the elevators as long as the rest of the building it will be burned and destroyed.

Below is a guide to the key requirements for Firefighting Lifts, for full details please refer to the standard:

Lift design

Some of the key elements which need to be included within the Firefighting Lift design are:

  • The minimum rated load of the lift is to be 630kg.
  • The minimum interior lift car dimensions is required to be 1100 mm wide by 1400 mm deep.
  • The minimum clear opening entrance width is 800 mm.
  • If the lift is to be used also as an evacuation lift (i.e. often required in hospitals, residential care buildings), and the use of a stretcher or bed, then the minimum rated load is 1000 kg. In addition for this the minimum interior dimensions are 1100 mm wide by 2100 mm deep.
  • The lift is capable of reaching the top floor within a time of 60 seconds (for travels up to 200 m).
  • All electrical equipment within the lift well is protected against water ingress to the appropriate IP rating.
  • A trap door is provided in the lift car roof for purposes of escape from the lift car by firefighters.
  • Additional ladders are provided to facilitate escape from the lift car.
  • Additional lift control system features are required above that which would be incorporated on a non¬Firefighting lift.

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