rescue me - part one, rescue, or emergency evacuation elevators
DESCRIPTION
Rescue Elevators - In Case of Fire Use Elevator? The past and future of Rescue, or Emergency Evacuation Elevators.TRANSCRIPT
PRESENTS
“Rescue Me”
Part One
And what about people who can’t take the stairs?
Before 9/11, serious
consideration was not given to the idea that a whole building might have to
be evacuated at once.
Elevators were used for
fighting fires, not emergency
egress of occupants.
Flame, heat and water can
cause elevators to malfunction.
The possibility of elevator
system failure during
evacuation of occupants
seemed too big a risk.
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.
As a result, World Trade Center Two had 108 survivors per minute, while
World Trade Center One had just 73 survivors
per minute.
It seemed elevators might help provide a safe and rapid means of egress in an emergency after all.
But if elevators weren’t
considered safe for emergency evacuation of
occupants before, why
would they be safe now?
Hardened Elevator Lobby
Fire Service Access ElevatorsIlluminated Hoistways
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms
Operator Interfaces
Appropriate Training
for Operators
Phase III Fire Service
Emergency Evacuation Elevator
Rescue Elevator
Hardened Elevator Lobby
Fire Service Access ElevatorsIlluminated Hoistways
Sheet Metal Covers on Car Tops
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms
Emergency Egress
Systems
Operator Interfaces
Appropriate Training
for Operators
Phase III Fire Service
Emergency Evacuation Elevator
Rescue Elevator
Hardened Elevator Lobby
Fire Service Access ElevatorsIlluminated Hoistways
Sheet Metal Covers on Car Tops
No Fire Sprinklers in Machine Rooms
Emergency Egress
Systems
Operator Interfaces
Appropriate Training
for Operators Separate
Machine Rooms Protection from Fire, Heat,
Smoke, Water, Power Loss and Overheating
Lobby Status Indicator
Functional Integrity and Survivability
…as well as the
elevator community.
It has been suggested
that elevators
could become “Electric
Lifeboats”…
…to be used for emergency evacuation of
occupants BEFORE the
arrival of first responders.
And perhaps operated by the
building occupants
themselves.
An illuminated green light and the message “ELEVATORS
AVAILABLE FOR OCCUPANT
EVACUATION”…
… would indicate that elevators are
operating normally even though a fire
alarm is active in the building.
An illuminated red light and the message “ELEVATORS
OUT OF SERVICE, USE
EXIT STAIRS”…
…would indicate elevators are in
Phase I emergency
recall and no longer available
for occupant evacuation.
Training in how to use the elevator system, and
practice drills to demonstrate
understanding, would seem necessary to
successful implementation.
The elevators and elevator lobbies would be “hardened” against both the effects of
catastrophes…
…and the effects of the means used to mitigate the catastrophe.
These will bring about changes in
the way buildings are planned and constructed.
No one is sure yet.
23211 South Pointe DriveLaguna Hills, CA949-348-9711
3765 E. Sunset Rd., Ste. B-5Las Vegas, NV702-319-9711
15811 32nd Ave. NELake Forest Park, WA206-954-1821