The European standard specifying supplementary requirements for firefighters' lifts that remain operational during a building fire for emergency rescue and evacuation.
Full Definition
EN 81-72:2020 defines the additional requirements a passenger lift must meet to be designated a firefighters' lift: a protected lobbied shaft with fire-rated walls; dedicated power supply independent of the main electrical supply; landing doors with 90-minute fire resistance; a fireman's switch at the designated floor for Phase 1 automatic recall; an in-car key switch for Phase 2 manual operation by firefighters; two-way communication between the car and a fire command point; and a minimum car size to accommodate a fully equipped fire team with a stretcher. The lift must reach any floor from the designated floor within 60 seconds. Height thresholds triggering the requirement vary by national building code — commonly 18 m (two-storey storey rule) in EU countries.
