Fire fighting Lifts Building and Lift Requirements

Firefighting Lifts Building and Product Requirements

Firefighting lifts have a number of requirements, we have been asked many questions regarding this and will be working to help all the industries involved to understand more. iKONIC Lifts face a number of challenges with not only the existing buildings but also new builds where building requirements for firefighting lifts are not considered. iKONIC has proven solutions to tackle this. but feel it would be beneficial to help others understand the requirements. Below are some bullet points to consider when a Firefighter Lift is required. We have also included a link to a recent case study, where a number of items are highlighted. Along with more information on the New London Plan and Evacuation Lifts.

Firefighting Lifts

Firefighting lifts are required when the lift needs to travel more than 18m above or 10m below fire service vehicle access level.

Building Requirements For Fire Fighting Lifts

Separate (secondary) power supply

• Must be fire protective
• Must be located away from the mains power supply
• Fire assessor would give advice of the best place to locate

Means of water egress from the lift shaft pit – water management  

The main challenge is how to remove the water from the lift pit, this is more challenging in existing buildings due to the lack of design being incorporated for lift pit drainage.

Firefighting lobby for any building unless serving apartments with a common corridor

Outlets from a fire main located in the firefighting lobby or in the case of a lift shaft serving apartments, in the firefighting stairway. These are required on all floors that are designated as a firefighting floor

Air speed into the lift shaft needs to be minimised to avoid excessive swaying of travelling cable or compensation means

Any landing doors which are not intended to be used by firefighters and which does not have a safe area shall be protected by a fire shutter or a fire door. Which should be linked to a fire alarm.

Firefighting lift to be in dedicated lift shaft

Firefighter Lift Requirements

• Emergency intercom system and lift operation
• Lift car minimum size 1100mm x 1400mm
• Clear entrances for the lift car landing doors minimum 800mm
• If the fire fighter lifts are to include evacuation, lift car minimum 1100mm x 2100mm 1000kg
• Lift to be able to operate safely for 2 hours
• If travelling distance between floors is greater than 7m, intermediate doors are required
• Lifts to reach the top floor within 60 seconds, however for lifts with higher travel more than 200m, this time to reach the highest landing may be increased by 1 second for each 3m additional travel
• Electrical devices on landings designed to work correctly in an ambient temperature range of 0°C to 65°C
• Emergency trap door fitted to the car roof with minimum size measuring 400mm x 500mm operated by an electrical switch
• Ladder housed within cabinet built into lift car.
• Ladder housed on the back of the lift car for firefighters use
• Fire fighter lift switch located on fire service access floor
• IPX3 rated electrics including landing operating panels.

When Specifying a Fire Fighter lifts

Once a fire fighter has be determined the following specs are required, it highly recommended to seek consultation with a lift specialist or lift consultant at an early stage, to obtain traffic analysis to determine the number of lifts required for the building, and to ensure all is considered. Such as Additional lift standards required such as Evacuation, Anti-vandal, if the lift has adequate access for the firefighters, as additional features may be required at the landing, what secondary power source is available.

As the requirements or features should be included once you have requested a firefighter lift, the lift company you are purchasing from will need the following information to ensure a successful installation

1. Number of Lifts required
2. Size of lift shaft or area
3. Speed requirements of the lift
4. Standards need to be required
5. Secondary Power Source
6. What number of firefighting access floors are required?
7. Additional Standards Required

iKONIC Lifts can help determine this information contact us today for more information or request a free no obligation consultation, with one our lift experts or VT engineers.