What is an Emergency Evacuation Lift?


Ensuring Safe Evacuation – Understanding Emergency Evacuation Lifts

If a fire alarm goes off in a multi-story building, emergency evacuation lifts—also known as fire lifts or evacuation lifts—become lifelines for anyone who is unable to use the stairs. Evacuation lifts are engineered to operate reliably during emergencies, offering critical vertical transport in high-rise buildings, residential blocks, hospitals, and care homes.

At Tower Lifts, we know from experience the vital role these lifts play in building safety. As a UK provider with two decades of experience, we design, install, and maintain a range of emergency evacuation lifts, including firefighters’ lifts. We also assess existing lifts for potential upgrades to meet the latest safety standards.

This blog will provide a clear answer to the question ‘What is an emergency evacuation lift?’ We’ll cover their function, the standards they’re required to meet, their key design features, and how they operate in emergency scenarios. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how these essential systems contribute to building safety and regulatory compliance.


What is an Emergency Evacuation Lift?

Because emergency evacuation lifts are designed to offer a safe and reliable escape route for people who would find it difficult to use the stairs, they need to be engineered differently from standard passenger lifts. Advanced safety features are required to ensure they remain operational even in emergency conditions.

An emergency evacuation lift is a critical component of a building’s emergency plan, facilitating a managed evacuation. They are designed and manufactured using fire-resistant materials in order to be able to withstand high temperatures and prevent the spread of fire through the lift shaft. Ventilation systems are integrated, to keep the air in the lift breathable.

The most distinct difference between a standard lift and an evacuation lift is the inclusion of a dedicated emergency power supply. Should the mains power fail, the evacuation lift automatically switches to a backup power source to guarantee ongoing operations.


Regulations and Compliance for Evacuation Lifts

Emergency evacuation lifts are critical safety systems governed by strict regulations to ensure absolute reliability in life-threatening emergencies. These regulations go far beyond those for standard passenger lifts, because of the crucial role these lifts play in saving lives. Regular inspections, rigorous testing, and ongoing maintenance are mandatory, guaranteeing these lifts are always ready for immediate use.

The primary standards governing evacuation lift design, installation, and operation in the UK are currently outlined in BS 9991 and BS 9999. These British Standards provide comprehensive guidance on fire safety in buildings, including specific requirements for evacuation lifts.

BS 9999 defines an evacuation lift as one that “has appropriate structural, electrical and fire protection and is capable of being taken under control by a trained and authorised person.” This definition highlights the key features that distinguish these lifts from normal passenger lifts: enhanced structural integrity, robust electrical systems, and dedicated fire protection measures.

In 2025, the European standard BS EN 81-76 will be published. This focuses on the evacuation of persons with disabilities using lifts, is anticipated to bring further clarity and advanced safety measures.

Tower Lifts’ commitment to all these standards ensures that every evacuation lift we design, install, and maintain provides safety and reliability for building occupants during emergencies.


Emergency Evacuation Lift Operation

Standard passenger lifts automatically return to the ground floor and shut down when a fire alarm is triggered. Evacuation lifts, however, have a control switch that allows the evacuation team to take charge and put in practice the building’s evacuation plan.

A well-co-ordinated evacuation requires a trained team, including at least these two key roles:

Emergency Evacuation Lift Operation
  • The Operator – This person is responsible for controlling the lift’s movements and managing the evacuation using the lift. They are in direct control of the lift car.
  • The Assistant – Stationed on a specific floor, the assistant helps people safely access the lift and maintains ongoing communication with the operator. Their job is to relay information and co-ordinating the evacuation on their floor.

To guarantee readiness, emergency evacuation lifts are regularly checked. It’s recommended that the control switch be tested weekly by trained evacuation team members to ensure the lift’s operational status. Additionally, a full annual inspection by a qualified lift engineer is mandatory.


Evacuation Lift Design Features

The design of an evacuation lift is critical, given the emergency operation it is used for:

  1. Clear Labelling of Switch – The evacuation lift should have a clearly marked switch labelled ‘Evacuation Lift’ situated within 2 metres of the landing door, at the final evacuation exit level.
  2. Fire-Protected Communication System – This guarantees safe use of the lifts by the evacuation team. The communication system should connect the lift car, the main fire service access level, and each landing floor refuge space.
  3. Fire Resistant Construction – The building design should adhere to fire resistance requirements for the lift shaft, lift machine room, lift landing areas, and evacuation refuges.
  4. Secondary Power Supply – An emergency evacuation lift should be equipped with a secondary power supply connected to a separate substation or standby generator.
  5. Pictogram Signage – This should be prominently displayed, indicating the designated evacuation route leading to the lift.

Can You Adapt Your Existing Lift?

While some buildings require entirely new evacuation lifts, Tower Lifts can often upgrade existing lifts to meet these stricter safety standards. This upgrade typically becomes part of a broader lift modernisation project, improving your lift’s overall performance and efficiency.

Can You Adapt Your Existing Lift?

Upgrading existing lifts does present challenges though:

  • Secondary Power Supply – Evacuation lifts need a reliable backup power source in case of a main power outage. We’ll assess if your building can accommodate this crucial addition.
  • Refuge Areas – Evacuation lifts may require “refuge areas” on specific floors where people can wait safely for help if they become trapped between floors. We’ll evaluate whether your building layout allows for these designated areas to meet current regulations.

The Best Way Forward – A Site Visit

If you want to know if an existing lift can be upgraded, we only way to determine whether it’s possible is to schedule a free site visit. Our lift engineers will assess your current lift setup and the building design. This allows us to determine if your building can meet the essential standards for an emergency evacuation lift.


Tower Lifts for Building Safety

At Tower Lifts, we’re dedicated to making multi-story buildings across the UK safer for everyone. We work with architects, developers, and building managers, providing evacuation lift designs and installations.

Our commitment to quality, safety, and best practice is reflected in our accreditations:

  • ISO 9001:2015 Demonstrates our robust quality management systems and our commitment to continuous improvement.
  • ISO 45001Evidence that our management of occupational health and safety risks, prioritise the well-being of our employees and everyone involved in our working practices.
  • UKAS (LiftCert) Verifies our competence and compliance with industry best practices for lift installation and maintenance.
  • LEIA MembershipWe take pride in being a member of the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), the leading trade body in the UK, and we adhere to the highest industry recommendations and best practices.

To speak to a Tower Lifts engineer about an emergency evacuation lift installation or to arrange a site visit to assess an existing passenger lift, call us today on 01525 601099.


Tower Lifts carry out design and installation on a varied range of lifts throughout the UK including:

Domestic Lifts • Food Lifts • Bespoke Platform Lifts • Service Lifts • Platform Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts • Heavy Duty / Car Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • MRL Lifts • Fire lifts • Residential Lifts • low-Headroom Lift