A fire safety strategy that maintains positive air pressure in the elevator shaft to prevent smoke infiltration and protect evacuation routes.
Full Definition
Hoistway pressurisation systems use mechanical fans to supply fresh air into the elevator shaft, creating positive pressure relative to adjacent fire compartments. This prevents smoke from entering the shaft and spreading between floors in a fire event. Pressurisation is a key element of firefighter lift design under EN 81-72 and is also used in smoke control strategies for tall buildings under EN 12101. Pressure sensors and dampers regulate airflow to maintain the required pressure differential across the landing doors while allowing them to open and close normally.
