DD CEN/TS 81-76:2011

This standard DD CEN/TS 81-76:2011 Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts. Particular applications for passengers and goods passenger lifts is classified in these ICS categories:

• 91.140.90 Lifts. Escalators

1.1 Use of the lift

This Technical Specification gives rules for the intended use of the lift by persons with disabilities in order to assist the evacuation of a building. To achieve this objective, the selected lift(s) should be incorporated within an overall building design that includes all the usual stairs and escape routes without any reduction in their quantity or capacity.

It specifies the special provisions and safety rules to assist persons with a disability to safely evacuate a building using lifts in relative safety with the help of suitably trained evacuation assistants.

This specification does not define the number and size of lift required, or the size of door openings that shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the building designer in line with applicable national regulations.

1.2 Application of this Technical Specification

This Technical Specification can be applied to permanently installed new:

1. electric lifts, with traction or positive drive (as defined in EN 81-1);

2. hydraulic lifts (as defined in EN 81-2).

1.3 Requirements of this Technical Specification

This Technical Specification defines requirements to allow safe lift use where:

1. the building has not sustained structural damage e.g. from explosion, flood, lightening strike, earthquake, storm etc.

2. the well and car are safe for persons to use. e.g. free from smoke, etc.

3. a fire resisting structure for the lift provides suitable protection;

4. some form of fire detection is provided at least at the lift and safe areas;

5. power supplies are secure and reliable, the provision of a secondary supply is not essential but the cable providing power to the lift shall be fire protected to the same fire protection level as given to the lift well structure;

6. a building secondary supply is not called for by national rules or provided, the lift shall have a provision to allow the lift to be recovered electrically to an adjacent safe area (floor);

7. responsibility for safe evacuation rests with and is in the control of trained persons located at the building premises.

1.4 Assumptions

The following assumptions are made:

1. The building is provided with a means to protect the lift from the effects of fire and smoke e.g. safe area directly outside lift door, fire resistant structure etc.

2. In addition to the requirements stipulated in this document, the lift shall also meet the requirements of EN 81-1 or EN 81-2 as applicable, and EN 81-70 and EN 81-73 as applicable.

3. There is an individual person available in the building who is responsible for managing any evacuation in addition to the person assigned to assist the disabled person and/or drive the lift. This should be included in the evacuation plan.

4. The lift will not be used for general evacuation as it is assumed those without a disability will use the stairs.

5. The lift–is for normal use. In the case of an emergency, it becomes a tool only for the evacuation of persons with disabilities and is not considered a general escape route.

6. A means of communication is available to people on each landing to enable them to speak with those in charge of the evacuation.

7. Those with a disability will be evacuated with the help of specially trained persons with the physical ability to assist those persons who require assistance.

8. Any alarm or fire detection system is operating as intended.

9. The lift–size is appropriate for the intended purpose e.g., evacuation of wheelchairs, beds, stretchers, walking aids etc.

10. A safe area (see definition in 3.14) is provided at each level adjacent to the lift for persons to wait in safety.

11. The building is designed to minimise the risk of flooding into the lift or lift well. To this end, sprinkler discharge, burst pipes, fire hose etc. should not be located to discharge towards the lift and any water close to the lift should be directed away from it by sloping floors etc.

12. The lift is in normal service and is operating correctly.

13. The lift is maintained and the evacuation operation is tested at suitable regular intervals.

14. Negotiations have been made between the owner/customer and installer concerning:

    1. the intended use of the lift;

    2. the building evacuation strategy;

    3. the design of the lift to fulfil the requirements of the evacuation strategy e.g. attendant control with visual signals and verbal announcements, automatic doors etc.

    4. environmental conditions;

    5. civil engineering problems;

    6. any other aspects related to the place of installation;

    7. interface requirements and responsibilities for detection systems and any building management systems etc.

NOTE Developers and architects will need to take account of national building regulations.

1.5 Consideration of type of disability

Since not all people with disabilities need a lift in order to evacuate a building this Technical Specification deal principally with the use of lift(s) for evacuation of people with impaired mobility (see definition in 3.10).

1.6 Combinations of disabilities

After detailed study, it has been determined that not all combinations of disability can be addressed just by lift design, especially cases of severe mental disability. However, the use of trained evacuation assistants to help those with a disability to use the lift permits persons with multiple or severe disabilities to also evacuate from the building when required.

1.7 Type of evacuation being considered

This document considers only the evacuation using the lift for persons with impaired mobility assisted by a specially trained person (assisted evacuation).

As soon as the rescue service, i.e. firefighters, arrive on site, they will determine the most appropriate way to continue the evacuation if necessary. See Annex A.