suggested solution
In order to fulfill the above fire safety objectives, the following solutions have been suggested.
5.1. Transfer floor and transfer passageway
(1) Transfer floor and transfer passageway should be designed and there should be no combustibles inside the transfer
lobby on the transfer floor. Independent mechanical smoke exhaust system or natural smoke exhaust system with opening
area not less than 5% of the room area should be installed to secure the safety of the occupants during evacuation through
the transfer floor. Rooms connecting to the transfer lobby should be protected by class B fire door[3].
(2) On the transfer floor, the staircase and fire lift should be designed for two way evacuation[4-5].
(3) Signs to indicate the location of the fire lift on the transfer floor and continuous evacuation signs should be installed
along the transfer passageway. Emergency light should also be provided. The transfer passageway should be in a straight
line.
(4) Fire wall with at least 3.0 h fire resistance rating should be used to separate the transfer passageway from the adjacent
elevator shafts, staircases, corridors and apartments. If there are openings in the fire wall, the openings should be protected
with Class A fire door.
(5) The steel truss of the transfer floor should be fire protected to ensure the safety of the steel structure.
5.2. Staircase and lobby
(1) To separate the lobby of the fire lift from that of the scissor staircase by fire wall, and provide smoke prevention
measures according to the related national standards[6-7], see Fig.4 for details. If there are openings in the fire wall, the
openings should be protected by Class A fire door. No room should be permitted to have doors open to the staircase so as to
prevent smoke from spreading to the staircase.
(2) Natural lighting and smoke exhaust facilities should be provided in the staircase;
(3) If the lobby can’t be provided with natural lighting and smoke exhaust, mechanical smoke prevention system should
be installed and liability and effectiveness should be ensured.
(4) Lobby and transfer passageway should be finished with non-combustibles, no combustibles and other articles that
may not guarantee the safe evacuation of the occupants should be permitted in the lobby and the transfer passageway;
(5 Family doors should be protected by Class A fire door;
(6) If the lobby can’t be provided with natural lighting and natural smoke exhaust, emergency lighting and evacuation
indicating signs should be installed, especially in the transfer passageway.
5.3. Other solutions
(1) Linkage measures should be taken to ensure that the fire lifts of upper and lower parts of the building can
automatically descend to the lowest floor (the transfer floor for the fire lifts of the upper parts and the first floor for the
lower parts) in case of fire;
(2) The ducts inside the fire lift shafts should be fire stopped at each floor. Maintenance doors should be protected by
Class C fire door.
(3) Fire extinguishers should be installed in the lobby and each apartment, which can be used to put out early stage fires.
Linkage measures should be taken to ensure that the fire lifts of upper and lower parts of the building can automatically
descend to the lowest floor (the transfer floor for the fire lifts of the upper parts and the first floor for the lower parts) in case
of fire;