
Evacuation Lift As Defined By BS 9999
BS 9999 defines an evacuation lift as a lift used as part of the evacuation plan for persons with disability and people requiring assistance, which has relevant structural, electrical, fire protection and is capable of being taken under control by a trained and authorised person”
Modenisation of Lifts for Evacuation
BS 8899:2016; improvement of firefighting and evacuation provisions in existing lifts. BS 9999 has not significantly changed since first described in BS 5588-8 in 1988. BS 8899 recommends lifts should be in accordance with BS 9999. Including building related issues. To be considered a fully functional evacuation lift.
There are many considerations that must be addressed when any divagation from BS 9999

Use of Lifts Not Originally Designed For Evacuation
BS999:2017 allows alternatives to a separate evacuation lift, as follows;
- A firefighters lift that fully meets BS EN 81-72 may be used prior to the fire services arrival for evacuation purposes if agreed with the fire service department.
- For a firefighters lifts a communication system is not required for each landing, but for an evacuation lift it is so this would need to be included for a firefighter lift intended to be used for evacuation
- BS 9999:2017 45.9 allows for an non designed evacuation lift, may be used as an evacuation lift, if it provides the same functionality. Its recommended a suitable fire risk assessment should be carried out to determine if the recommendations in Annnex G are met.
BS 9999 stats all features of fire protection in the building should be considered in the risk assessment. i.e. lift areas and lobby’s remain smoke free during evacuation. Examples include:
- Lift control system, fire detection and fire alarm system, supports the evacuation management strategy.
- Automatic control of the lift
- Adequate power supply for evacuation
- Suitable communication systems
Automatic Evacuation Lift Control use in non-evacuation Lifts
If the lift is intended to have some form of automatic control but is not a fully designed to BS 9999. Careful consideration need to be implicated into the risk assessment, emergency plan and the buildings fire and evacuation strategies. Issues to consider include the following:
- Lift contractor maybe reluctant to offer a solution which diverges from BS9999
- Justification is required for the need for automatic controls for the building and users
- Where only certain floors require evacuation, ensuring all floors are suitable future proof the building
- When multiple lifts are required for a building specify them all for evacuation has many obvious benefits faster evacuation for everyone future proofs the building and removes issues with non-available lifts
- Using the lift without building management supervision has implications for fire protection. Fire detection and alarm systems are required in lift well lobbies machinery spaces etc which can remove the lift from evacuation service if required
- Specification of an automatic mode requires training for users who need to use the lift for self-evacuation. Other occupants likewise need to be trained not to use the lift in evacuation. More achievable when the users are residential to the building, when users frequently change can make training problematic.
- After the fire alarm the lift should be available as quickly as possible
- When the height of the building may require more general evacuation then there are more things to consider.
Priority of landing calls in evacuation mode should be considered and support the overall evacuation strategy. A more sophisticated system may be required to monitor the traffic of the lift car.
- Once a Fire and Rescue team arrive controls are required for them to take over control of the lift as per BS 9999
- Sufficient audible and visual indication should be provided to inform those waiting for the lift for self-evacuation
- In many buildings it may be appropriate to priorities the lift, by detection of the location of the fire. So the lift serves the fire floor first, then floor above, then floor below.
These are some brief issues that might arise if a lift other than an evacuation lift as described in BS 9999 is considered for use for evacuation. Lift contractors may be reluctant to provide a solution that doesn’t comply with BS 9999.
Lift contractors can only advice on lift related issues, the responsibility falls with the building designer/owner to ensure solutions had suitable approvals.
Using Lifts For General Evacuation In High Rise Buildings
The International Standards Organization (ISO) have undertaken a study of the possible implications of using lifts for evacuation of everyone. They found it to be complex and expensive.
ISO/TS 18870 has not been published as a standard in the UK. It is advised to consult it and note the following
- It provides guidance should a building designer decide to op for General Evacuation. A lift engineer can advise on lift related issues, they are not building designers or fire engineering experts.
- Careful consideration needs to be made implicating those with impaired mobility, when using a lift for general evacuation.
- Consideration of ISO/TS 18870 requirements may deviate from harmonized standards such as BS EN 81-20. These would need to be resolved and a Notified Body approval obtained.
- Research shows many people would be reluctant to use lifts in emergency