ELEVATOR DESIGN FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: DESIGN CRITERIA FOR ELEVATORS WHEN USED AS THE PRIMARY MEANS OF EVACUATION DURING FIRE EMERGENCIES*

The elevator for use in the 21st century must be designed for safety under all conditions that may be expected in the building in which they are to be installed. The integration of smoke control systems and fire protection sys-tems along with evacuation procedures for the use of elevators systems during fire emergencies are discussed. A total approach for the safe use of elevators for occupant evacuation during fire emergencies is cxamincd, and recommen-dations are made to bring elevator systems to a level of safety that can permit their use during fire emergencies. It is suggested that by introducing a number of existing and practical safety measures, elevators can become the primary means of egress, as well as the primary means of ingress to a building. Elevators transport more people, and do this with a safety record that surpasses any other means of transportation. The utilization of today’s high-rise buildings is feasible only because modern, fast moving, reliable elevators pcrmit access to and egress from upper stories. Persons who are physically limited, in particular, require the use of elevators for access to stories above thc ground floor, It is essential lhat the clcvalor industry provitlc clcv;i(ors I ha1 i irc;is sitl’c ( 0 1 cvilc\l i \ I i ( l l l during a fire cmcrgcncy as lhcy arc [‘or riorinir l ctilry. I juI oiic r i i i ~ ; l ~ l irlso ask why only for lhc physically limited'! Shouldn’L cvcryoric tx provitlcd wilh Siil‘c ‘Ihis articlc is bascd on a prcscntalion mi &;I ( thc IO01 1:irc S;iI’cIy Ilirrctors Asociation olGrciitc