Rescue Elevators - In Case of Fire Use Elevator? The past and future of Rescue, or Emergency Evacuation Elevators.

1. PRESENTS
“Rescue Me”
Part One

2. Back in the day…

3. …everyone agreed…

4. …to
use the
stairs…

5. …and not
the
elevators…

6. …in
case of
fire.

7. Then came September 11, 2001…

8. …and we started to look at
things differently.

9. Could
more
lives be
saved…

10. …if the
elevators
were
utilized
after all?

11. And what about people who
can’t take the stairs?

12. Before 9/11,
serious
consideration
was not given to
the idea that a
whole building
might have to
be evacuated at
once.

13. Elevators were
used for
fighting fires,
not emergency
egress of
occupants.

14. Flame, heat
and water can
cause
elevators to
malfunction.

15. The possibility
of elevator
system failure
during
evacuation of
occupants
seemed too big
a risk.

16. But World Trade
Center Two was
able to evacuate
3000 occupants
because they
used the elevator
in the 16
minutes between
the first and
second strikes.

17. As a result, World
Trade Center Two
had 108 survivors
per minute, while
World Trade
Center One had
just 73 survivors
per minute.

18. It seemed elevators might help
provide a safe and rapid means of
egress in an emergency after all.

19. But if elevators
weren’t
considered safe
for emergency
evacuation of
occupants
before, why
would they be
safe now?

20. Many have been considering that
same question.

21. What
have they
come up
with?

22. Hardened
Elevator
Lobby
Operator Interfaces
Fire Service Access Elevators
Appropriate
Training
for
Operators
Illuminated
Hoistways
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms

23. Phase III Fire
Service
Emergency
Egress
Systems
Rescue
Elevator
Emergency Evacuation Elevator
Hardened
Elevator
Lobby
Sheet Metal Covers on Car Tops
Operator Interfaces
Fire Service Access Elevators
Appropriate
Training
for
Operators
Illuminated
Hoistways
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms

24. Emergency
Egress
Systems
Phase III Fire
Service
Rescue
Elevator
Emergency Evacuation Elevator
Hardened
Elevator
Lobby
Sheet Metal Covers on Car Tops
Operator Interfaces
Illuminated
Hoistways
Fire Service Access Elevators
Appropriate
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms
Training
for
Lobby
Separate
Operators
Status
Indicator
Machine
Rooms
Protection from Fire, Heat,
Smoke, Water, Power Loss
and Overheating
Functional
Integrity and
Survivability

25. Many sources, many
suggestions!

26. The fire
fighting
community
has weighed
in…

27. …as well as
the
elevator
community.

28. It has been
suggested
that
elevators
could
become
“Electric
Lifeboats”…

29. …to be used
for emergency
evacuation of
occupants
BEFORE the
arrival of first
responders.

30. And perhaps
operated by the
building
occupants
themselves.

31. An illuminated
green light and
the message
“ELEVATORS
AVAILABLE FOR
OCCUPANT
EVACUATION”…

32. … would
indicate that
elevators are
operating
normally even
though a fire
alarm is active
in the building.

33. An illuminated
red light and
the message
“ELEVATORS
OUT OF
SERVICE, USE
EXIT
STAIRS”…

34. …would indicate
elevators are in
Phase I
emergency
recall and no
longer available
for occupant
evacuation.

35. Training in how to use
the elevator system, and
practice drills to
demonstrate
understanding, would
seem necessary to
successful
implementation.

36. The elevators and elevator lobbies would
be “hardened” against both the effects of
catastrophes…

37. …and the effects of the means used
to mitigate the catastrophe.

38. Protection against water…

39. …and smoke.

40. These will bring
about changes in
the way
buildings are
planned and
constructed.

41. When will
these
changes
happen?

42. And how will
they affect
us?

43. No one is sure yet.

44. At HKA we’re
keeping our ear
to the ground.

45. Stay tuned...

46. 23211 South Pointe Drive
Laguna Hills, CA
949-348-9711
3765 E. Sunset Rd., Ste. B-5
Las Vegas, NV
702-319-9711
15811 32nd Ave. NE
Lake Forest Park, WA
206-954-1821