When is a Lift Required in a Residential Building?

Lift Requirements in Apartment Buildings

With the UK’s population steadily rising and land becoming increasingly scarce, high-rise living has become an ever more popular option. As evidenced by the latest UK census, 5.4 million households now call flats, maisonettes, and apartments home. This skyward trend naturally raises a crucial question: when is a lift required in a residential building?

For over two decades, Tower Lifts has partnered with architects and developers to integrate lifts into luxury apartment blocks and high-rise buildings across the UK. Our expertise lies in creating vertical transport solutions that not only enhance accessibility and convenience but also elevate the overall living experience of residents.

What Are The Passenger Lift Requirements For a Residential Building?

Ensuring equal access for all residents is critical in any modern residential building. In the UK, passenger lift regulations play a crucial role in achieving this goal. For managed housing exceeding two floors, a passenger lift is mandatory, (BS8300 – 2:2018) guaranteeing accessibility for those with limited mobility.

In larger buildings, the need for accessibility extends beyond the basic requirement. The BS8300 – 2:2018 Code of Practice states that when a building has more than 30 apartments above ground floor, the installation of two passenger lifts should be carefully considered. The provision of 2 lifts ensures that even if one lift is unavailable for maintenance or repairs, the other remains accessible, minimising disruptions and maintaining a uninterrupted transport for residents.

Two lifts not only enhance the convenience and value of the property but also demonstrate the developer’s commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible living environment for all.

What Types of Lifts Should be Installed in Residential Buildings?

The recommendation of Part M of the Building Regulations is that passenger lifts are the most suitable form of access for apartment or residential high-rise buildings. The type of passenger lift should take into account the need for firefighting and evacuation procedures.

Platform lifts offer accessibility solutions for low-rise buildings. These compact options provide convenient vertical access for residents with limited mobility, ensuring equal access to all floors.

Goods lifts can be invaluable for managing waste disposal or transporting bulky items like furniture or luggage. If your building features underground storage, consider lifts designed for bikes or bins.

When is a Firefighting/Evacuation Lift Required?

Standard passenger lifts are EN 81-73 compliant This means they are linked to the fire alarm for the building. If the fire alarm sounds, the lift will travel automatically to the ground floor, the doors will open and remain open. No calls for the lift will be answered.

Under British Standard BS9999 Code of Practice for Fire Safety any residential building with floors more than 18 metres above, or 10 metres below the fire service access level is required to install a firefighter lift. A firefighter lift, as defined by BS EN81-72:2020, is a specialised lift system exclusively designated for the use of the fire service during fire emergencies. Its primary function is to transport firefighters and their equipment to the required floors of a building affected by a fire.

Key features of firefighter lifts include:

• Direct link to the building’s fire detection and alarm system
• Trap doors and ladders for rescue operations
• Emergency uninterrupted secondary power supply to the lift
• Water-protected electrical components
• Emergency intercom system
• Raised sills and/or water pumps in the pit
• Typically designed to accommodate 8 or 13 people.

What Kind of Lift Can Be Used for Evacuation?

A standard passenger lift cannot be used to evacuate people. Evacuation lifts have similar features to firefighter lifts to provide a rated number of transportations on uninterrupted secondary power supply to facilitate emergency evacuation. Firefighter lifts can be used as part of a managed plan for the evacuation of residents in wheelchairs, with limited mobility, or any disability that means they cannot use the stairs.

Firefighter/evacuation lifts operate like a passenger lift normally, and switch to an emergency role when necessary.

Why Choose Tower Lifts?

Established in 2006, Tower Lifts has abundant experience installing passenger lifts, firefighter/evacuation lifts, platform lifts and goods lifts for residential buildings in London and across the UK. Our expertise ensures your lifts run efficiently, safely, and provide an excellent experience for all passengers.

Our installation engineers guarantee technical excellence, compliance with safety requirements, and with LOLER regulations. Tower Lifts is an ISO9001:2008 Lift Cert and UKAS approved company adhering to all current Lift Regulations.

We are experts for lift design, installation, and maintenance for residential facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Give Tower Lifts a call today to talk to an expert about your project 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