Evacuation & Fire-Fighting Lifts

Lifts that you can rely on when it really counts

Nobody likes to think about worst-case scenarios, but you can be safe in the knowledge that our passenger lifts won't let you down if the worst happens.

We've extensive experience installing fire-fighting and evacuation lifts, providing the right solution for our customers. We can even upgrade an existing lift into an emergency lift.

Our firefighting lifts comply to fire fighting lift regulations (BS EN81-72: 2020) and help firefighters access all areas to help tackle a blaze.

Our evacuation lifts ensure the passenger lift can be used as a means of escape for building occupants in an emergency. These lifts operate as normal passenger lifts with the capability to switch into an emergency state if required.

While lift shaft and lift car sizes remain the same as those in our standard passenger lift range, every emergency lift can be uniquely configured. So it’s always worth contacting the Stannah technical team to discuss further.

The difference between fire-fighting & evacuation lifts

	What is a firefighters lift?
Helps comply with	BS EN81-72:2020 Safety rules for the construction & installation of lifts – Firefighters lifts
Description	Exclusive use of a passenger lift by the fire service to carry firefighters and their equipment to the required floors in the event of a fire. Fire fighting lifts are required in housing where the building has a floor more than 18m above or more than 10m below fire service vehicle access level.
Features	Interface between the lift control, fire detection and alarm system Trap doors and ladders for rescue operations Electrical components in the shaft and on the car are protected against water Emergency intercom system and lift operation Separate power supply (supplied by builder) to enable the lift to remain in use
Lift sizes	Typically 8 or 13 person passenger lifts

	What is an evacuation lift?
Helps comply with	BS9999 and BS9991 which are an overall building standards that may include the lift as part of an evacuation strategy
Description	Enables a designated warden's use of a passenger lift in an evacuation strategy to evacuate those less ambulant.
Features	Interface between the lift control system, fire detection and alarm system to support the evacuation management strategy Emergency intercom system and lift operation Separate power supply to the lift (supplied by builder) to enable the lift to remain in use throughout the evacuation process Post handover, additional procedures by owner are put in place and trained staff must be designated to manage the use of the lift
Lift sizes	Available from 8 person and up, but more commonly used in larger capacity passenger lifts for movement of disabled users, beds and stretchers.

Can normal passenger lifts be used in the event of a fire and for evacuation?

Generally, passenger lifts are not used in the event of a fire, and definitely not platform lifts. Most passenger lifts go to ground level and shut down in the event of an alarm (in accordance with British Standard EN81-73: 2020; Behaviour of lifts in the event of a fire). However, these special lifts can aid the fire and rescue service and/or emergency evacuation.