BS 9999 provides fire-safety guidance for the design, management and use of buildings and includes provisions relating to evacuation lifts within Annex G.
An evacuation lift should not be considered as a conventional passenger lift that happens to remain available during an emergency. Its use needs to form part of the building’s wider evacuation strategy, with the lift, protected route, power arrangements, communication systems and management procedures all considered together.
BS 9999 is therefore relevant not only to the lift itself, but to the way the building is designed and how evacuation is intended to be managed in practice.
What Is BS 9999?
BS 9999 is a British Standard providing a framework for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.
It covers a wide range of fire-safety considerations, including means of escape, fire protection, building management and evacuation planning.
Within that wider framework, Annex G provides guidance on evacuation lifts and the supporting arrangements needed where lift-assisted evacuation forms part of the building’s strategy.
The standard should therefore be considered alongside the other requirements and guidance applying to the building rather than treated as a standalone lift specification.
What Does BS 9999 Say About Evacuation Lifts?
BS 9999 recognises the use of evacuation lifts as part of a managed evacuation strategy for people who may be unable to use stairs during an emergency.
The lift needs to be appropriately located and protected, and its operation needs to be coordinated with the building’s means of escape and emergency management arrangements.
The surrounding building provisions are fundamental to this. The protected route to the lift, lobby arrangements, fire protection, power supply and communication systems all affect whether the evacuation lift can perform its intended function.
The presence of a suitable passenger lift alone does not provide a complete evacuation lift solution.
The Role of Annex G
Annex G to BS 9999 provides guidance specifically relating to evacuation lifts.
It considers the lift as part of the wider evacuation process rather than simply as a piece of vertical transport equipment.
This means the project team needs to consider how people will reach the lift, where they can wait safely, who will manage or control the evacuation process and what happens if the lift becomes unavailable.
The lift therefore needs to be supported by both appropriate building design and clearly established management procedures.
Evacuation Lift Lobbies & Protected Routes
People using an evacuation lift need a protected route to reach it and an appropriately protected area in which they can wait during an evacuation.
The design of the evacuation lift lobby needs to be coordinated with the surrounding escape routes, protected stairs and the position of the lift itself.
The lobby is not simply a circulation space. It forms part of the protected evacuation arrangement and needs to be considered in relation to fire and smoke protection, access and the number of people who may need to wait for the lift.
The exact layout will depend on the building design and the applicable fire strategy.
Power Requirements for Evacuation Lifts
An evacuation lift intended to remain available during a fire needs a power arrangement suitable for its emergency function.
The power supply and associated electrical infrastructure need to be protected appropriately so that the lift can continue to operate under the conditions for which the evacuation strategy has been designed.
The provision should be coordinated with the wider building-services design rather than treated as a conventional lift electrical connection.
The precise arrangements will depend on the building, lift system and applicable design requirements.
Communication Systems
Communication is an important part of managed lift-assisted evacuation.
People waiting to use the lift may need to communicate with those responsible for managing the evacuation, while the people controlling or supervising the lift need clear information about where assistance is required.
The communication system should therefore be considered as part of the complete evacuation arrangement rather than as a separate lift accessory.
The equipment and interfaces required will depend on the building and the evacuation strategy adopted.
Who Operates an Evacuation Lift?
The operating arrangements for an evacuation lift need to be established as part of the building’s management plan.
The evacuation strategy should identify who is responsible for the lift during an emergency, how the lift will be controlled and how people waiting at different levels will be prioritised and assisted.
This is particularly important because evacuation lifts are intended to support people who may not be able to use stairs independently.
The management arrangements should therefore be developed alongside the physical lift and building design rather than left until the building is occupied.
Evacuation Lifts & People Who Cannot Use Stairs
Evacuation lift provision is particularly relevant where building occupants may not be able to use stairs during an emergency.
This can include wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments, but evacuation planning should also recognise that a person’s ability to use stairs may be affected by other physical, sensory, cognitive or temporary conditions.
The evacuation strategy should consider the people expected to occupy or visit the building and the assistance that may be required.
The lift provision should then be designed around the anticipated evacuation needs rather than assuming that one standard arrangement will be suitable for every building.
BS 9999 & BS EN 81-76
BS 9999 and BS EN 81-76 address different but related aspects of evacuation lift provision.
BS 9999 provides wider fire-safety and management guidance, including guidance on evacuation lifts within the context of the building’s evacuation strategy.
BS EN 81-76:2025 sets out additional requirements for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts intended to support the evacuation of persons with disabilities, including during a fire alarm.
BS EN 81-76 supplements the general requirements applying to the lift itself, while the wider building environment and evacuation strategy still need to be addressed separately.
The standards should therefore be considered together with the applicable Building Regulations guidance and the fire strategy for the individual project.
BS 9999 Evacuation Lift vs Firefighting Lift
An evacuation lift and a firefighting lift have different primary functions.
An evacuation lift is intended to support the evacuation of people who may be unable to use stairs.
A firefighting lift is primarily intended to support fire and rescue service operations by providing protected vertical access within the building.
The design, operating arrangements and management procedures therefore differ according to the function of the lift.
For further information about firefighting lift requirements, visit our Firefighting Lifts page.
Can a Firefighting Lift Be Used for Evacuation?
In some circumstances, a firefighting lift can also form part of the evacuation arrangements for people who may be unable to use stairs.
Where this approach is adopted, the management plan needs to establish how the lift will be used during evacuation and what happens when the fire and rescue service arrives and requires the lift for firefighting operations.
The arrangement should therefore be established through the building’s fire and evacuation strategy rather than assumed simply because a firefighting lift is present.
Can BS 9999 Evacuation Lift Guidance Be Applied to Existing Buildings?
Existing buildings can present additional challenges when evacuation lift provision is being considered.
The available shaft, protected routes, lobby arrangements, electrical supplies, structural conditions and existing fire protection all need to be assessed.
In some cases, the building alterations required to create the necessary protected environment may be more significant than the lift installation itself.
The appropriate solution should therefore be established for the particular building and fire strategy rather than assuming that a new-build arrangement can be transferred directly into an existing property.
Management Is Part of the Evacuation Lift Provision
An evacuation lift depends on more than technical compliance.
The building management arrangements need to establish how the lift will be used, who is responsible for operating or supervising it and how occupants requiring assistance will be identified and supported.
Maintenance, testing and staff training also need to reflect the emergency function of the lift.
A well-designed lift installation without a workable management plan does not provide a complete evacuation strategy.
How BS 9999 Relates to Current Evacuation Lift Guidance
Current Approved Document B guidance continues to refer to Annex G of BS 9999 for guidance on the design and use of evacuation lifts.
At the same time, BS EN 81-76:2025 now provides a current standard addressing additional requirements for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts used to support evacuation of persons with disabilities.
Projects should therefore be designed using the standards and statutory guidance that apply to the building at the relevant stage of the work.
Current and forthcoming changes to Approved Document B should also be checked as part of the project design rather than relying on historic evacuation lift guidance.
Evacuation Lift Design & Installation
New Lift Solutions provides evacuation lift systems for projects where lift-assisted evacuation forms part of the building’s emergency strategy.
We can work with architects, fire engineers, contractors and other members of the project team to establish the lift specification and coordinate the requirements of the lift with the protected route, electrical provision and wider building design.
Early coordination helps ensure that the lift and the supporting evacuation provisions are developed together rather than treated as separate elements of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions About BS 9999 Evacuation Lifts
Does BS 9999 require an evacuation lift in every building?
No. Evacuation lift provision depends on the building, its occupants, the fire and evacuation strategy and the applicable guidance. BS 9999 provides guidance on the design and use of evacuation lifts where lift-assisted evacuation forms part of the strategy.
What is Annex G of BS 9999?
Annex G contains guidance relating to evacuation lifts, including how they should be considered as part of the building’s evacuation arrangements. The lift, protected environment and management procedures all need to be coordinated as part of the complete provision.
Is BS 9999 the same as BS EN 81-76?
No. BS 9999 provides wider fire-safety and management guidance for buildings, while BS EN 81-76:2025 specifies additional requirements for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts used to support the evacuation of persons with disabilities. Both may be relevant to the same evacuation lift project.
Does an evacuation lift need a protected lobby?
An evacuation lift needs to be incorporated into an appropriately protected evacuation arrangement. The lobby and protected access requirements should be established from the building design, applicable guidance and fire strategy for the project.
Who is responsible for managing an evacuation lift during an emergency?
The building’s evacuation management plan should identify who is responsible for the lift, how it will be controlled and how people requiring assistance will be managed during an evacuation. These arrangements need to be established before the building is occupied.
Discuss Your Evacuation Lift Requirements
If your project includes an evacuation lift, New Lift Solutions can work with your project team to establish the lift specification and coordinate its requirements with the building’s evacuation strategy and associated design provisions.