News

Vertical transportation safe evacuation standard launched

The British Standards Institute has launched a new European Standard that provides a framework for the safe evacuation of persons with disabilities using lifts during emergencies, such as fires. It introduces a more inclusive and technically advanced approach to evacuation planning, with direct implications for building design, lift specification, and operational strategy.

Conventionally, evacuation lifts were used only with the assistance of trained staff, as outlined in BS 9999.

BS EN 81-76 expands this by defining three operational modes for evacuation lifts, offering more flexible emergency responses:

01 Assisted evacuation (conventional)
A trained person (lift car driver now referred to as driver assisted) assists individuals with disabilities during evacuation.

02 Automatic evacuation
The lift operates normally to transport people to safety, without needing a driver.

03 Remote-controlled evacuation
A trained operator controls the lift remotely to facilitate evacuation.

These new modes of operation are designed to improve occupier safety during emergencies, especially in buildings where staff may not always be present or immediately available.
BS EN 81-76 provides technical and operational requirements for building designers, facility managers, and emergency planners to implement these systems effectively.

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There are several key risks to consider when implementing this new strategy.

01  Misalignment with fire strategy
Failing to align the evacuation lift specification with the building’s fire and evacuation strategy can lead to non-compliance and the inappropriate selection of lift classification (Class A or B).

02  Lack of early multidisciplinary coordination
Delayed engagement with fire engineers, architects, and MEP designers can result in spatial conflicts, missed regulatory requirements, and costly redesigns during later project stages.

03  Inadequate power supply provisioning
Misapplication or omission of secondary power supply requirements may compromise lift functionality during an evacuation.

04  Shaft and car space limitations
Insufficient shaft dimensions can prevent compliance with requirements such as minimum car size and trap door size.

05  Complex technical compliance requirements
BS EN 81-76 introduces detailed operational requirements for each evacuation mode, including complex systems for communication, control logic, signal prioritisation, and suspension of normal operations, etc.

06  Insufficient inclusive evacuation planning
A lack of coordinated planning for the evacuation of persons with reduced mobility—, especially backup procedures in the event of lift failure, poses significant safety, operational, and regulatory risks.

07  Unmitigated environmental hazards
Inadequate protection against water ingress (e.g. from firefighting or sprinkler discharge) can render the lift inoperable. This risk must be mitigated through appropriate detailing, such as drainage or ramping.

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Hoare Lea can help you mitigate against these risks in several ways.

Strategic compliance
Provide expert guidance on the application of BS EN 81-76 and related standards, helping the design team navigate complex technical obligations and compliance pathways from early stages to final delivery.

Early-stage design coordination
Advise architects, fire engineers and other relevant disciplines during early RIBA stages on evacuation lift classification, shaft sizing, car dimensions, and EEL locations, which are correctly and suitably embedded in the spatial design and align with the evacuation strategy.

Power supply and resilience planning
Collaborate with MEP engineers to define appropriate primary and secondary power arrangements, including load duration, redundancy, and compatibility with evacuation lift operation.

Shaft and car design advisory
Review spatial constraints and advise on shaft sizing, car dimensions, and trap door integration, to support compliant lift configurations.

Accessibility and inclusive design support
Contribute to the development of inclusive evacuation strategies by advising on lift capacity, car type selection, and recommended accessibility provisions for persons with reduced mobility.

Technical coordination across disciplines
Act as a specialist interface between architectural, structural, fire, and other related disciplines to resolve potential design conflicts and align complex technical requirements.

Client-focused design optimisation
Support the client in balancing compliance, operational performance, and futureproofing considerations, helping to deliver a solution that is technically robust and commercially viable.

For more information, please contact Matt Grantham-Hill.