Firefighting Lifts & EN 81-72 Requirements
A firefighting lift is provided to support fire and rescue service operations within a building during an emergency. Unlike a conventional passenger lift, it forms part of a protected firefighting access route and incorporates additional provisions intended to allow it to be used under specified emergency conditions.
The lift needs to be considered alongside the building’s wider fire strategy, including its location, protected shaft and lobby arrangements, power supplies, controls, communication systems and measures associated with water management.
EN 81-72 sets out requirements relating to firefighters lifts, while the complete requirements for an individual project depend on the building design, applicable building regulations and fire strategy.
Firefighting Lift Design & Compliance
The specification of a firefighting lift needs to be coordinated with the building design and fire strategy from an early stage. Requirements can vary according to the height, use and layout of the building and the protected firefighting access arrangements being provided.
New Lift Solutions can work alongside the project design team to establish the lift requirements and coordinate the lift specification with the relevant structural, electrical and fire-safety provisions.
For existing buildings, the available shaft, structural conditions and existing services also need to be assessed before the appropriate solution can be established.
Firefighting Lift Safety & Operational Features
Firefighting lifts can include a range of specialist safety and operational features designed to support emergency service access during a fire incident.
Fire-Resistant Construction
Lift shafts, landing doors and associated components designed to provide fire-resistant protection during emergency operation.
Protected Electrical Systems
Electrical systems protected against heat, smoke and water ingress to help maintain lift operation during emergency conditions.
Secondary Power Supply
Emergency backup power provision allowing continued lift operation in the event of primary power failure.
Firefighter Controls & Communication
Dedicated firefighter control systems and emergency communication functions to support fire service operation.
Firefighting Lift Installation
Firefighting lift installation needs to be coordinated with the building structure, fire strategy and the supporting services required for the complete installation.
Depending on the project, works can involve the lift installation itself together with builder’s work, electrical provision, protected lobby and shaft requirements, drainage or water-management measures and final testing and commissioning.
Early coordination with the project team helps establish the responsibilities and requirements surrounding the lift before installation begins.
Building Requirements for Firefighting Lifts
Firefighting lifts require both compliant lift systems and supporting building infrastructure to operate safely during emergency conditions.
Requirements can include protected firefighting lobbies, secondary power supplies, water management measures and compliant access arrangements surrounding the lift installation.
The information below provides a general overview of common building and electrical considerations associated with firefighting lift installations. Final system design requirements should always be confirmed by the project design team and fire engineer.
Typical Applications of Firefighting Lifts
Commercial Buildings
High-rise office buildings, shopping centres and commercial developments where firefighting lifts form part of the building fire strategy.
Residential Complexes
Apartment buildings and residential developments where protected emergency access for fire and rescue services forms part of the building fire strategy.
Public Buildings
Hospitals, schools and public buildings where firefighting lift provision may form part of the building compliance requirements.
Industrial Buildings
Factories, warehouses and industrial sites where protected emergency access may be required within the building design.
Electrical Requirements
A permanent secondary power supply should be provided within a protected fire-resistant area equivalent to the protection level of the lift shaft.
In the event of failure of the primary supply, the secondary emergency supply should remain unaffected and switch automatically to maintain lift operation.
Switching between primary and secondary power supplies should incorporate an appropriate delay to ensure the lift system correctly identifies the power source change.
Water Management
Water Around Firefighting Lift Lobbies
Water management measures should help prevent water entering the lift shaft through landing entrances during firefighting operations.
This can include threshold ramps, drainage gullies or floor gradients designed to direct water away from the lift entrance and towards designated drainage areas.
Water Within the Lift Shaft
Drainage arrangements may also need to be considered within the lift shaft depending on the building layout and firefighting strategy.
The appropriate drainage arrangement depends on the lift design, shaft construction and wider water-management requirements of the project.
Note: Any associated third-party electrical equipment may also require secondary power provision depending on the system design.
Our Firefighting Lift Range
Firefighting lift systems for projects requiring protected fire and rescue service access, specified around the requirements of the building and fire strategy.
NLS Ignis
Firefighting passenger lift designed for buildings requiring protected emergency service access and EN81-72 compliant operation.
Firefighting Lift vs Evacuation Lift
Firefighting lifts and evacuation lifts serve different purposes within a building’s fire and evacuation strategy.
| Firefighting Lift | Evacuation Lift |
|---|---|
| Primarily supports fire and rescue service operations | Primarily supports the evacuation of people who may be unable to use stairs |
| Provides protected vertical access for firefighters during an incident | Provides a means of vertical evacuation during an emergency |
| Designed around firefighting operational requirements | Designed around the building’s evacuation procedures |
| Supporting provisions are coordinated with the building’s fire strategy | Supporting provisions are coordinated with the building’s evacuation strategy |
| Requirements include provisions applicable to firefighting lift operation | Requirements include provisions applicable to evacuation lift operation |
The appropriate lift provision depends on the building, its fire and evacuation strategy and the applicable requirements. Some projects may need to consider both firefighting and evacuation provision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Firefighting Lifts
A standard passenger lift is primarily designed for normal movement between floors. A firefighting lift incorporates additional protection, controls and supporting provisions to allow it to support fire and rescue service operations under specified emergency conditions.
EN 81-72 is the European standard covering firefighting lifts. It outlines the technical and safety requirements for lifts intended to support fire and rescue service access during emergency situations.
Firefighting lifts are commonly installed within high-rise residential buildings, commercial developments, hospitals, public buildings and other environments where emergency service access forms part of the building fire strategy.
In some cases, firefighting lifts can be integrated into existing buildings depending on the structural layout, shaft dimensions and wider fire strategy requirements of the property.
Requirements vary depending on the building type, height and fire strategy. In many high-rise and public buildings, firefighting lifts may form part of the compliance requirements determined by building regulations and fire engineering assessments.
Yes. Regular servicing, testing and inspection are required to ensure firefighting lifts remain operational, compliant and ready for emergency use at all times.
Yes. In most buildings, firefighting lifts operate as standard passenger lifts during normal day-to-day use before switching to firefighting control mode during an emergency situation.
Firefighter control mode allows emergency service personnel to take manual control of the lift system during an incident, helping ensure safe and controlled operation throughout the building.
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Discuss Your Firefighting Lift Project
Contact our team to discuss your building, fire strategy and firefighting lift requirements. We can help establish the appropriate lift specification and installation requirements for your project.