Lifts, Stairwells, and Escape Routes in a High-Rise Fire

Evacuation from a high-rise building during a fire requires different decisions than evacuation from a low-rise building. The height involved, the shared escape route infrastructure, and the building's fire compartmentation design all change what is safe and what is dangerous. Making the wrong decision — particularly about whether to use a lift or which stairwell to take — can be fatal.

Why You Must Never Use a Lift in a Fire

This is the most critical rule of high-rise fire safety:

Reason	Explanation
Lift shafts act as chimneys	Smoke travels rapidly up lift shafts; you could be exposed to lethal smoke concentrations inside the car
Power failure	Fire can cause power failure, trapping you in the lift between floors
Lift opens at the fire floor	Automatic systems can call lifts to fire floors; doors may open into flames or smoke
Fire service override	Fire services take control of lifts on arrival; civilian use conflicts with this
Rescue complexity	Trapped person in lift during a fire requires specific rescue that delays fire fighting

⚠️ Never use a lift to evacuate during a fire — even if it appears to be working. The only exception is evacuation lifts in modern buildings specifically designed and marked for fire evacuation use (these are rare in residential buildings and clearly signed). If you are unsure whether a lift is an evacuation lift, do not use it.

If you are in a lift when a fire alarm sounds: Press the button for the next floor, exit as soon as the doors open, and use the stairwell.

Stairwell Evacuation — How to Do It Safely

Before You Open Your Front Door

1. Feel the door with the back of your hand before opening — if it is hot, do not open it. Heat behind the door means fire or extreme heat in the corridor.
2. Look at the gap under the door — if smoke is visible coming under, do not open it.
3. If neither is present, open the door slowly and check the corridor before fully opening.

In the Stairwell

1. Close all doors behind you — every door you close reduces smoke spread; fire doors are designed for this purpose and should never be propped.
2. Stay low if smoke is present — smoke rises; the clearest air is at floor level.
3. Hold the handrail — the stairwell may be dark, crowded, or affected by smoke; the handrail is your guide.
4. Move to the side — allow emergency services to pass on the central line; they may be moving upward as you move downward.
5. Keep moving — do not stop to wait for others if the stairwell is clear; the goal is to exit.
6. Count the floors as you descend — in smoke with limited visibility, counting confirms when you reach ground level.

If Smoke Is in the Stairwell

Smoke Level	Action
Light smoke, clearly moving (good flow)	Continue descending, staying low
Heavy smoke, visibility < 3 metres	Do not proceed; return to your flat
Smoke coming from a door on a specific floor	Skip that floor; keep moving; do not open that door
Smoke filling the entire stairwell	Return to flat or find an alternate stairwell

Do not attempt to descend through heavy smoke — toxic smoke inhalation can incapacitate you within seconds. A person incapacitated in a smoke-filled stairwell is extremely difficult to rescue.

Using Alternative Stairwells

Most high-rise buildings have more than one stairwell. If one stairwell is smoke-affected:

1. Return to your floor and use a fire door to access the corridor.
2. Move to the alternate stairwell via the corridor — staying low.
3. If the corridor is also smoke-filled, return to your flat and implement defend-in-place procedures.

Descending with Mobility Impairment

Stairwells in high-rise buildings are not accessible to wheelchair users during fire evacuation. Procedures:

Situation	Action
Wheelchair user	Identify Evacuation Chair location on your floor (should be marked); ask a neighbour for assistance; or move to the refuge area near the stairwell
Refuge area	A fire-rated lobby or protected space at the top of the stairwell designed as a safe waiting area for people who cannot descend
Building staff	Building fire wardens should be briefed on who needs assistance on each floor
Emergency services	Alert the fire brigade immediately that you require assistance; they have trained procedures for this

Refuge areas in modern high-rise buildings have a two-way communication device that connects to a fire control point or directly to fire services. Use it.

If You Cannot Evacuate — Staying in the Stairwell Landing

If you become trapped in a stairwell (smoke above and below, or heat at ground level):

1. Stop on a landing between floors — not in the stairwell itself (keeps passage open for firefighters)
2. Close any stairwell fire doors around you to limit smoke
3. Call 999 — give your exact location (building name, floor, stairwell number/letter)
4. Stay low and alert — conserve oxygen; call for help when you hear firefighters

At the Assembly Point

On exiting the building:

1. Do not re-enter for any reason until fire services confirm it is safe.
2. Move away from the building — falling debris and smoke are hazards at the base of a high-rise fire.
3. Report to the building warden or fire services — confirm you have evacuated; this helps fire services account for occupants.
4. Alert fire services of anyone known to be still inside and their last known location.

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Quick Reference

Situation	Action
Fire alarm sounds	Do not use the lift; use stairwell
Door feels hot or smoke under door	Do not open; stay in flat; call 999
Stairwell clear	Close doors behind you; hold handrail; count floors
Smoke in stairwell	Stay low; if heavy smoke, return to flat
Lift moving when alarm sounds	Exit at next floor; use stairwell
Cannot descend (mobility)	Move to refuge area; use communication device; call 999
Exit building	Move away; report to warden; do not re-enter