How is it that you cant use a lift in the event of a fire?

Answer 1

Lifts are linked to the fire alarm system and are pre-programmed to go down to the ground floor in the event of fire and not respond to the call buttons. This is so that if there are people in the lift at the time the fire is detected, those people can evacuate safely and quickly. It also reduces the risk of people being trapped in the lifts.

So if you're up on an upper level and are trying to call a lift in an emergency, chances are you'll be waiting a forever for the lift to come because the lift is programmed not to respond - time better spent going down the stairs.

Another reason is that some lifts are dedicated fire fighting lifts, where the power supply and lift equipment are protected, and the lift is equipped with a fire fighter's switch (you can tell that a lift is a fire fighting lift if you see a clunky red metal switch above or near the lift door at ground floor). In a tall building, the fire fighting lift saves time by helping to get fire fighters closer to the floor that is on fire quicker than it would take them to go up the stairs. Using the lifts in this instance to escape would obviously get in the way of the fire fighters.

Answer 2

You hear the fire alarm in a big building, how do you know where the fire is? could be on the ground floor by the lifts. You jump in the lift, press the button for the ground floor and end up with the doors opening onto a raging inferno. Fire exits usually give you two choices, you go down the stairs to the ground floor, and find the fire near the lifts, you should have another option to go back and get out of the building a different way.

Also lifts run on electricity. When you hear the fire alarm how do you know what type of fire it is? if its electrical you could end up being trapped in the lift in fume filled building. Not a good Idea

Answer 3

The first thing that is done in a fire is to shut off the power to the building. The elevator runs on this power, so would be disabled if the power is turned off. If you are stuck in the elevator, it'd be a heck of a time getting you out, not to mention the possibility of the support aparatus burning up, which could drop the elevator, or at least cause falling debris in the shaft. The emergency break would trip on the elevator, but there is no quarantee that it will hold.

Answer 4

Well in my experience in Malaysia we CAN use the lifts in the event of a fire. Because in Malaysia, fires are more common and more destructive in tall buildings. take fore instance the Petronas twin Towers. We can evacuate 20,000 people in 20 minutes because of the elevators. This is possible because we use concrete not steel for our buildings. The concrete absorbs the heat better than steel because it is not a conductor of heat. The wires for the elevators are kept in a special steel tube that runs along the elevator shaft. It is also covered by concrete. This is the usual Asian standard security measure. As for fire detection, for safety it is not kept inside the towers but kept in a secret location somewhere in Kuala Lumpur. As for other buildings in other countries, It depends on the regulations in that particular area. Fire can melt the protective coating of rubber and PVC around the wires thus exposing them to the naked heat of the fire.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

If the fire burns through some wires a pops the fuse then you will be trapped in the lift.

Answer 7

The building is on fire. The wires melt and/or short circuit. The power goes out. You are stuck in the elevator. Are you going to burn to death because you can't get out. What if the fire fighters can't get to you either because you are between floors? Dude, I would rather take my chances with the stairs.

Answer 8

this is because, due to the heat around the lift, the electrical systems might fail and the lift might fall
or the metal cage of the lift being a metal, might get very hot and roast anyone who is inside.

Answer 9

In addition to the answers above, smoke and flames tend to rise, and a lift shaft is an ideal conduit for them.

Answer 10

Never use the elevator.
Always use the stairs,
when there's a fire,
when there's a fire.
Elevators can get stuck and
you'll get trapped inside.
if there's a fire,
if there's a fire.
Use the stairs!
Use the stairs!
Use the stairs!
Use the stairs!