Failure of the fire elevator drainage facilities caused firefighting water to backflow into the hoistway during a fire, resulting in a short circuit and shutdown of the elevator.
Fire elevators are critical equipment in a building's fire protection system. When a fire occurs, they carry the important task of enabling firefighters to quickly reach the fire floor and evacuating occupants. The design, construction and acceptance of fire elevators involve multiple disciplines including civil, electrical, plumbing and fire protection, and must strictly comply with the provisions of GB 55037-2022 "General Code for Fire Protection of Buildings and Structures" and GB 50016-2014 "Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings."
Article 2.2.8 of GB 55037-2022 stipulates that residential buildings with a building height greater than 33 m and public buildings with a building height greater than 32 m shall be equipped with fire elevators, with no fewer than one unit per fire compartment. Section 7.3 of GB 50016-2014 sets out specific requirements for the number, location, dimensions and drainage of fire elevators. GB 7588-2003 specifies the control function requirements for fire elevators returning to the service floor.
The technical requirements for fire elevators include: the rated load shall not be less than 800 kg, with 1000 kg or more recommended to accommodate firefighting equipment and personnel. The car dimensions should not be less than 2.0 m by 1.5 m to allow firefighters carrying equipment to enter and exit. The travel time from the ground floor to the top floor shall not exceed 60 seconds to meet rapid response requirements. Car interior finish materials shall be Class A non-combustible materials. Power supply shall use dual sources with automatic switching at the end, with a switching time not exceeding 15 seconds.
Fire elevator control functions include fire priority recall and firefighter operation mode. After a fire signal is triggered, all fire elevators cancel floor calls and return directly to the ground floor with doors open, awaiting further action. Firefighters switch to fire mode at the ground floor via a dedicated key switch. No access control system shall be installed on fire floor doors. A dedicated fire telephone or intercom device shall be provided in the car. A drainage sump with a capacity of not less than 2 cubic meters and an associated drainage pump shall be provided at the bottom of the hoistway.
Key construction and acceptance points include: a fire partition wall with a fire resistance rating of not less than 2.00 hours shall be provided between the fire elevator hoistway and other hoistways. The lobby area shall be not less than 6 square meters for public buildings and not less than 4.5 square meters for residential buildings. Hydrants shall be provided in the lobby, with cabinets not occupying the effective width of the lobby. Class B fire doors shall be used for lobby doors. Power supply cables shall be mineral-insulated cables with a fire resistance duration of not less than 180 minutes. Drainage facilities shall be verified by full-water tests.
Engineering experience shows that fire elevator landing doors should be waterproofed to prevent firefighting water from flowing into the hoistway. Drainage pumps should have a standby pump, with one duty and one standby, automatically switched. The fire elevator machine room should be provided independently or separated by fire compartmentation. It is recommended that the fire elevator speed be not less than 2.5 m/s. Test the fire recall function monthly and the firefighter operation function quarterly. Test-run the drainage pump once a month. Test the standby power switching monthly.
Regular testing and maintenance records of fire elevators shall be incorporated into the annual inspection report of the building's fire protection facilities. Test items include the fire recall function, firefighter operation function, automatic startup of drainage pumps, dual power source switching and fire telephone communication quality. For high-rise hotel buildings, the fire elevator lobby should be equipped with a firefighter protective equipment storage cabinet for storing self-contained breathing apparatus, fire hoses and other equipment. The hydrant cabinet in the lobby should be equipped with dedicated fire nozzles and hose couplings to ensure firefighters can access them immediately upon arrival. The fire elevator machine room should be provided with a water-stop threshold to prevent backflow of firefighting water, and the machine room floor should have a drainage slope of not less than 2% toward the floor drain.
The full life-cycle management of fire elevators should be considered holistically across the four stages of design, construction, acceptance and operation and maintenance. In the design stage, the building height and functional requirements should be fully assessed to reasonably determine the number, load and speed of fire elevators. In the construction stage, the dimensional accuracy of the hoistway and the quality of waterproofing construction should be strictly controlled, and the installation of fire elevators shall comply with the fire service requirements of GB 7588. In the acceptance stage, comprehensive functional testing should be carried out, including fire recall function testing, firefighter operation function testing, drainage facility performance testing and dual power source switching testing. In the operation and maintenance stage, a regular testing and maintenance plan should be established: the drainage pump should be automatically started once a month, the fire recall function tested once a month, and the firefighter operation function tested once a quarter. Maintenance records of fire elevators should be filed separately and managed differently from ordinary passenger elevators. The integrity of supporting facilities such as hydrants, fire extinguishers and fire doors in the fire elevator lobby should also be included in the scope of daily inspections to ensure that fire elevators can be reliably put into use during a fire. Regular maintenance of fire elevators should be undertaken by professional units qualified for fire protection facility maintenance, and maintenance personnel should be familiar with the special control logic and operating requirements of fire elevators. Through refined full life-cycle management, ensure that fire elevators can perform their due role at critical moments.
The full life-cycle management of fire elevators should be considered holistically across the four stages of design, construction, acceptance and operation and maintenance. In the design stage, the building height and functional requirements should be fully assessed to reasonably determine the number, load and speed of fire elevators. In the construction stage, the dimensional accuracy of the hoistway and the quality of waterproofing construction should be strictly controlled, and the installation of fire elevators shall comply with the fire service requirements of GB 7588. In the acceptance stage, comprehensive functional testing should be carried out, including fire recall function testing, firefighter operation function testing, drainage facility performance testing and dual power source switching testing. In the operation and maintenance stage, a regular testing and maintenance plan should be established: the drainage pump should be automatically started once a month, the fire recall function tested once a month, and the firefighter operation function tested once a quarter. Maintenance records of fire elevators should be filed separately and managed differently from ordinary passenger elevators. The integrity of supporting facilities such as hydrants, fire extinguishers and fire doors in the fire elevator lobby should also be included in the scope of daily inspections to ensure that fire elevators can be reliably put into use during a fire. Regular maintenance of fire elevators should be undertaken by professional units qualified for fire protection facility maintenance, and maintenance personnel should be familiar with the special control logic and operating requirements of fire elevators. Through refined full life-cycle management, ensure that fire elevators can perform their due role at critical moments. Daily management of fire elevators should also focus on the unobstructed condition of the lobby. No debris shall be stacked in the lobby, and fire doors shall be kept normally closed. The fire elevator car should be kept clean, and the dedicated fire telephone and control panel should be tested regularly. The operation records of fire elevators should include the result data of each fire recall function test and firefighter operation test; any test that fails shall be rectified immediately and retested. The annual inspection of fire elevators shall be carried out by special equipment inspection agencies, with inspection content comprehensively covering all functional indicators of fire elevators. Maintenance of the fire elevator pumps and drainage sumps is equally important: debris in the drainage sump should be cleaned promptly, and the float switch and automatic control function of the drainage pump should be tested monthly. Fire elevator signage should be clear and conspicuous, including the words "Fire Elevator" and the location marking of the fire recall switch. Through comprehensive and standardized management, ensure that fire elevators can perform their due role at critical moments.
Daily management of fire elevators should also focus on the unobstructed condition of the lobby. No debris may be stored in the lobby, and fire doors should remain normally closed. The car interior of fire elevators should be kept clean, and the dedicated fire telephone and control panel should be tested regularly. The operation records of fire elevators should include the result data of each fire homing function test and firefighter operation test; any failed test should be immediately rectified and retested. The annual inspection of fire elevators is conducted by a special equipment inspection agency, and the inspection content comprehensively covers all functional indicators of fire elevators. The maintenance of the water pump and drainage well of fire elevators is equally important; debris in the drainage well should be cleaned promptly, and the float switch and automatic control function of the drainage pump should be tested monthly. The signage of fire elevators should be clear and conspicuous, including the words "Fire Elevator" and the location marking of the fire homing switch. The earthquake response function of fire elevators should not be overlooked. During an earthquake, fire elevators should be able to automatically detect seismic signals and immediately stop at the nearest floor, open the doors, and release passengers. Seismic signals can be obtained through the building's seismic monitoring system or the elevator's built-in acceleration sensor. After an earthquake, fire elevators should undergo professional inspection to confirm structural safety before being put back into operation. The backup power supply of fire elevators should be able to provide sufficient power support for firefighter operations and drainage pump operation during earthquakes. The regulatory requirements for fire elevator management are the foundation for ensuring their compliance. The design, installation, and acceptance of fire elevators should be strictly executed in accordance with the requirements of GB 55037-2022, GB 50016-2014, and GB 7588-2003. The inspection and maintenance of fire elevators should refer to the provisions of TSG T5002-2017 and TSG T7001-2009. Through comprehensive regulatory compliance management, the safe use and standardized management of fire elevators are ensured.
Daily management of fire elevators should also focus on the unobstructed condition of the lobby. No debris may be stored in the lobby, and fire doors should remain normally closed. The car interior of fire elevators should be kept clean, and the dedicated fire telephone and control panel should be tested regularly. The operation records of fire elevators should include the result data of each fire homing function test and firefighter operation test. The annual inspection of fire elevators is conducted by a special equipment inspection agency, and the inspection content comprehensively covers all functional indicators of fire elevators. The maintenance of the water pump and drainage well of fire elevators is equally important; debris in the drainage well should be cleaned promptly, and the float switch and automatic control function of the drainage pump should be tested monthly. The earthquake response function of fire elevators should not be overlooked. During an earthquake, fire elevators should be able to automatically detect seismic signals and immediately stop at the nearest floor, open the doors, and release passengers. After an earthquake, fire elevators should undergo professional inspection to confirm structural safety before being put back into operation. The regulatory requirements for fire elevator management are the foundation for ensuring their compliance. The design, installation, and acceptance of fire elevators should be strictly executed in accordance with the requirements of GB 55037-2022 and GB 50016-2014. The inspection and maintenance of fire elevators should refer to the provisions of TSG T5002-2017 and TSG T7001-2009. Through comprehensive regulatory compliance management, the safe use and standardized management of fire elevators are ensured.
Daily management of fire elevators covers three dimensions: lobby accessibility, equipment integrity, and record completeness. No debris may be stored in the lobby that would impede firefighter passage, and fire doors should remain closed. The dedicated fire telephone and firefighter operation panel should be tested once per quarter to ensure unobstructed communication and normal function. The fire homing function should be tested monthly, the firefighter operation function quarterly, and the drainage pump should be trial-run once per month. The annual inspection of fire elevators is the responsibility of a special equipment inspection agency, and the elevator may continue to be used only after passing the inspection. For the earthquake response function configuration of fire elevators, the scheme of seismic monitoring sensors and automatic stop function should be determined at the design stage. Full life-cycle management of fire elevators ensures their functional reliability and compliance at critical moments.
Full life-cycle management of fire elevators ensures their functional reliability and compliance at critical moments through refined management of each stage—design, construction, acceptance, operation and maintenance, and renovation and renewal. Full life-cycle management of fire elevators ensures their functional reliability and compliance at critical moments through refined management of each stage—design, construction, acceptance, operation and maintenance, and renovation and renewal—providing solid vertical transportation support for building fire safety.
Full life-cycle management of fire elevators ensures their functional reliability and compliance at critical moments through refined management of each stage—design, construction, acceptance, operation and maintenance, and renovation and renewal—providing solid vertical transportation support for building fire safety.