The landscape of fire safety in the UK is evolving, and so are the standards that govern it. One such standard is the newly revised BS 9991:2024, which is due to be published soon, and will outline key changes to the design, management and use of evacuation lifts in residential buildings. These updates aim to improve the safety of occupants during fire emergencies and contribute to creating safer living environments. We look at what some of these changes are in relation to evacuation lifts.
What is BS 9991?
BS 9991 is a British Standard that sets out a code of practice on fire safety in residential buildings. The 2024 revision reflects lessons learnt from real-world fire incidents and addresses the increasing need for more stringent fire safety regulations. The changes being introduced in BS 9991:2024 are expected to inform best practices within the lift industry, particularly in supporting improved evacuation planning.
Key changes to BS 9991:2024
1. Expansion of the type of residential building
Evacuation lifts will be required in a broader range of residential buildings, including flats, houses, student accommodation, and care homes – specifically to address the needs of vulnerable occupants. This requirement will apply to buildings up to 100 metres in height.
2. When evacuation lifts are needed
Under BS 9991:2024, evacuation lifts will be required in the following circumstances:
- Where a building has a passenger lift, an evacuation lift must be provided to offer a safe means of escape in the event of a fire.
- One evacuation lift is required per staircase within a building.
- In buildings with floors above 50 metres, and where a “stay put” strategy is in place (where residents are advised to stay in their flats during a fire), lifts should be designed as a firefighters lift but must also function as an evacuation lift.
- An evacuation lift must always be provided where lifts are intended to be used for building escape.
3. Dimensions and landing door requirements
- Evacuation lifts must have a minimum internal car size of 1400 mm deep by 1100 mm wide, with a door opening width of 900 mm.
- Landing doors must be fire doors, although they are not required to be labelled as such. However, appropriate signage must be provided at the designated evacuation exit floor.
4. Design updates
Many of the changes in the standard relate to the overall design of buildings, however, several updates specifically apply to evacuation lifts. These include:
- Secondary power supplies are required for evacuations lifts, communication systems (between lift occupants and the fire service) and for lighting in the lift car and lobby.
- Lift shafts must be constructed as a protected shaft, with the minimum levels of fire resistance and appropriate ventilation.
- Lift wells must be enclosed with fire-resistant materials along their entire height, unless they are located within a protected stair enclosure.
- Access to the evacuation lift must be step-free and include a temporary evacuation waiting area measuring at least 1500 mm by 2100 mm.
- Evacuation lift lobbies must be protected against smoke ingress and equipped with venting systems that do not extract smoke directly from within the lobby.
What this means for the industry
This revised guidance on evacuation lifts signals a shift in regulatory expectations and requires the lift industry to comply with the updated code of practice. This applies to those involved in designing, installing or maintaining evacuation lifts. The forthcoming EN 81-76 standard will also include specific requirements for the design of evacuation lifts, further supporting the need for stricter fire safety measures.
BS 9991:2024 represents a decisive move toward creating safer environments in residential buildings. With evacuation lifts playing a central role, it is critical to understand the new requirements and ensure they are implemented with the appropriate skills and competencies.
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