Lifts
Due to the danger of the power supplies to a
lift being affected by a fire, lifts not specifically
designed as ‘firefighting’ or ‘evacuation’ lifts are
not normally considered acceptable as a means
of escape. However, where a lift and stairway
for a means of escape are incorporated in a
fire-resisting shaft which has a final exit from
it at the access level, and the lift has separate
electrical supply to that of the remainder of the
building, then that lift, subject to an agreed fire
risk assessment, may be acceptable as a means
of escape in case of fire.
Lifts are housed in vertical shafts that interconnect
floors and compartments, therefore precautions
have to be taken to protect people from the
risk of fire and smoke spreading from floor
to floor via the lift shaft. Such precautions
may include:
• separating the lift from the remainder of
the storey using fire-resisting construction
and access via a fire door;
• ensuring the lift shaft is situated in a
protected enclosure which may also be
a stairway enclosure; and
• providing ventilation of at least 0.1m2 at the
top of each lift-well to exhaust any smoke.