BS EN 81-72 sets out additional requirements for passenger and goods-passenger lifts intended to support fire and rescue service operations under firefighters’ control.
The standard deals specifically with firefighters lifts. It needs to be considered alongside the general requirements applying to the lift and the wider fire safety provisions provided by the building.
This distinction is important. A firefighting lift is not created simply by selecting a particular lift model or adding a firefighter control. The lift, protected environment, power arrangements, communication systems and surrounding building provisions need to work together as part of the complete installation.
What Is BS EN 81-72?
BS EN 81-72:2020 is the British adoption of the European standard covering firefighters lifts.
It specifies additional or different requirements to those contained in EN 81-20 for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts that can be used for firefighting and evacuation purposes under firefighters’ control.
The standard addresses the additional conditions created when a lift needs to remain available for controlled fire and rescue service use during an incident.
It should not be treated as a complete fire strategy for the building. Matters such as whether firefighters lifts are required, how many are needed and which floors they need to serve are established through the wider building design, fire strategy and applicable Building Regulations guidance.
What Does EN 81-72 Apply To?
EN 81-72 applies to new passenger and goods-passenger lifts intended to operate as firefighters lifts where the necessary supporting building conditions are provided.
The standard is based on the lift being installed within an appropriately protected environment. This means the design of the building around the lift is fundamental to the way the system is specified.
Among the matters that need to be considered are protection against fire, heat and smoke, measures to limit water entering the lift well, the reliability and protection of the electrical supply and the arrangements used to support firefighter operation.
The firefighters lift is also not intended to form an escape route in its own right.
How Is a Firefighting Lift Different From a Standard Passenger Lift?
A standard passenger lift is designed primarily for normal movement between floors during everyday building operation.
A firefighters lift incorporates additional provisions so that fire and rescue service personnel can take control of the lift and use it under the emergency conditions for which the installation has been designed.
This affects more than the controls within the lift car. The complete installation can involve additional requirements relating to:
- the lift well and machinery spaces
- fire protection around the lift
- firefighter controls and operating modes
- communication systems
- electrical supplies and cable protection
- water management
- landing and access arrangements
- maintenance and verification
A firefighters lift may still operate as a conventional passenger lift during normal use. Its additional emergency function is activated when the lift is required for fire and rescue service operations.
The Building Is Part of the Firefighting Lift System
One of the most important aspects of EN 81-72 is the relationship between the lift and the surrounding building.
The standard assumes that the lift well and associated environment are designed to restrict fire, heat and smoke from affecting the lift and the areas required for its operation.
The lift well and surrounding environment also need an appropriate level of fire protection. These provisions are part of the wider firefighting shaft design and cannot be provided by the lift equipment alone.
In England, Approved Document B also deals with the design and construction of firefighting shafts and identifies the firefighting lift, lift well, machinery space, control system and communication system as parts of the firefighting lift installation.
This is why early coordination between the lift specialist, architect, fire engineer and building-services designers is important.
Power Supply Requirements for Firefighting Lifts
A secure and reliable power supply is fundamental to a firefighters lift installation.
The electrical arrangements need to be designed so that the lift can perform its intended emergency function under the conditions established for the project.
The protection of the cables supplying the lift also needs to be considered alongside the protection provided to the lift well and surrounding building structure.
The precise electrical design and any secondary supply arrangements should be coordinated with the building-services and fire-safety design rather than considered as a standard lift electrical connection.
Water Management Around a Firefighting Lift
Water introduced during firefighting operations can present a particular risk to lift equipment.
EN 81-72 therefore assumes that the building design includes measures to limit the amount of water entering the lift well.
The appropriate arrangement depends on the building and firefighting shaft design. Considerations can include the layout and levels around landing entrances, drainage provision and measures intended to prevent firefighting water from collecting within areas containing lift equipment.
Water management should therefore be considered during the building design rather than after the lift has been installed.
Firefighter Controls & Lift Operation
A firefighters lift requires dedicated operating arrangements that allow fire and rescue service personnel to take control of the lift during an incident.
During normal building operation, the lift may operate as a passenger lift. When firefighter operation is activated, its control behaviour changes so that the lift can be operated in accordance with its emergency function.
The controls, operating sequence and associated interfaces need to be incorporated into the lift specification from the outset.
These arrangements should not be confused with the ordinary fire recall behaviour of a standard passenger lift. A conventional lift may be recalled or removed from normal service when a fire signal is received without being suitable for subsequent use as a firefighters lift.
Communication Requirements
Reliable communication forms part of the firefighters lift installation.
The communication arrangements need to support the operation of the lift by fire and rescue service personnel and should be coordinated with the wider emergency communication provisions within the building.
The precise equipment and interfaces will depend on the lift system and project requirements.
Fire Protection Around the Lift
The performance of a firefighters lift depends heavily on the protection provided by the surrounding building.
The lift well, machinery areas and associated safe or protected areas need to be considered within the building’s fire-resistant construction.
Protection also needs to extend to services that are necessary for the lift to operate. Electrical supplies, controls and communication systems cannot be considered independently from the fire protection provided to the shaft and associated infrastructure.
This is another reason why the lift specification should be developed alongside the building fire strategy rather than after the shaft and surrounding structure have already been designed.
Firefighting Lobbies & Access
The firefighters lift forms part of a wider protected access arrangement.
Approved Document B describes firefighting lifts and firefighting stairs being approached through firefighting lobbies in the circumstances covered by its guidance.
The position of the lift, access from the relevant floors and relationship with the firefighting stair therefore need to be coordinated as part of the firefighting shaft design.
The lift specialist can provide the requirements relating to the lift installation, but the overall arrangement needs input from the wider design and fire-safety team.
Does EN 81-72 Decide How Many Firefighting Lifts Are Required?
No. EN 81-72 does not determine how many firefighters lifts a building requires or which floors those lifts need to serve.
Those decisions are made through the wider building design and applicable fire safety requirements.
For buildings in England, Approved Document B provides guidance on the circumstances in which firefighting shafts containing firefighting lifts should be provided.
For a more detailed look at these requirements, see our guide: When Is a Firefighting Lift Required?
Can EN 81-72 Be Applied to Existing Lifts?
EN 81-72:2020 is written around additional requirements for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts intended for firefighters’ use.
Existing buildings therefore require careful assessment. An existing passenger lift should not simply be described or converted into a firefighters lift without considering the lift itself and the supporting provisions required within the building.
Existing shaft dimensions, fire protection, protected access, electrical supplies, water management, controls and communication arrangements may all affect what can realistically be achieved.
Where a firefighting lift is being considered within an existing building, the requirements should be established for the specific project before a solution is selected.
Maintenance & Verification
A suitable maintenance and verification regime is an important part of a firefighters lift installation.
The lift has an emergency function that may not be used routinely, so servicing and testing need to consider the systems and operating functions required when the lift is placed under firefighters’ control.
Maintenance requirements should be established around the lift system, associated equipment and the wider responsibilities applying to the building.
EN 81-72 & the Wider Fire Strategy
EN 81-72 provides the requirements relating to the firefighters lift itself, but it does not replace the building fire strategy or other applicable guidance.
The lift needs to be coordinated with the firefighting shaft, protected access, electrical infrastructure, fire-resistant construction, water management and other building provisions that allow it to perform its intended function.
For that reason, a firefighting lift project normally requires coordination between several disciplines rather than being treated as an isolated lift installation.
Early involvement of the lift specialist allows the lift requirements to be incorporated into the building design while there is still sufficient flexibility to coordinate the shaft, services and surrounding structure.
Firefighting Lifts from New Lift Solutions
New Lift Solutions provides firefighting lift systems for projects requiring protected fire and rescue service access.
We can work with architects, fire engineers, contractors and other members of the project team to establish the lift specification and coordinate its requirements with the wider building design.
For projects at an early design stage, discussing the lift requirements before the shaft and associated services are finalised can help identify the structural, electrical and operational requirements that need to be allowed for.
Frequently Asked Questions About EN 81-72
What is the current version of EN 81-72?
The current British Standard is BS EN 81-72:2020. It covers additional requirements for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts intended to be used for firefighting and evacuation purposes under firefighters’ control.
Does every passenger lift need to comply with EN 81-72?
No. EN 81-72 applies specifically to lifts intended to function as firefighters lifts. Conventional passenger lifts are subject to their own applicable lift requirements but should not be assumed to provide a firefighting function.
Does EN 81-72 require a secondary power supply?
A firefighters lift requires a secure and reliable power arrangement appropriate to its emergency function. The electrical design and protection of the supply need to be coordinated with the lift installation and the wider fire strategy for the building.
Does EN 81-72 cover the firefighting shaft?
EN 81-72 sets requirements relating to the firefighters lift and assumes that appropriate protection is provided by the building. The complete firefighting shaft, including its structural and fire-safety provisions, therefore needs to be designed in conjunction with the applicable building guidance and fire strategy.
Is EN 81-72 the same as the Building Regulations?
No. EN 81-72 is a lift standard covering firefighters lifts. Building Regulations and associated guidance address the wider requirements applying to the building, including when firefighting shafts and lifts may need to be provided. The two need to be considered together as part of the project design.
Discuss Your Firefighting Lift Requirements
If your project requires a firefighters lift, New Lift Solutions can work with your project team to establish the lift specification and coordinate its requirements with the building design, fire strategy and associated services.