Which high-rise buildings should be equipped with fire service elevators?
2026-03-20
With the rapid development of urban construction, high-rise hotels, office buildings, and residential towers have emerged, and fire service elevators are increasingly incorporated into the fire‑protection design of such structures, playing a crucial role in both occupant evacuation and fire suppression.
However, some organizations, in an effort to cut costs, include only passenger elevators in their designs. Others, due to limited design qualifications, either under‑specify the number of fire‑service elevators or fail to position them appropriately, yet still manage to pass inspection by the fire authorities—leaving inherent safety vulnerabilities. As a result, in the event of a fire, these elevators cannot fulfill their intended role. When a high-rise catches fire, service elevators are typically out of commission because of power loss and the lack of smoke‑control features, leaving stairways as the primary means of vertical evacuation. Meanwhile, fire‑service elevators serve as a critical transport system, enabling firefighters to reach and withdraw from the fire scene swiftly, while also facilitating the evacuation of occupants.
A fire‑service elevator is an elevator designed to support firefighting and rescue operations during a building fire, equipped with specific functional requirements. Consequently, fire‑service elevators must meet stringent fire‑protection standards, making their fire‑proof design of paramount importance. Conventional elevators lack fire‑fighting capabilities; in the event of a fire, they must not be used for evacuation, as exposure to high temperatures, power outages, or combustion can endanger occupants and even result in loss of life. Fire‑service elevators typically incorporate comprehensive fire‑safety features: they are required to have dual power supplies, ensuring that, should the building’s service elevators lose power, the emergency power source automatically engages to maintain operation. They also feature emergency control functions: when a fire breaks out on an upper floor, the elevator can respond to commands to promptly return to the ground floor, cease accepting passengers, and remain available exclusively for firefighters. Additionally, an emergency exit is provided on the top of the cab, allowing occupants to evacuate via this opening if the door‑opening mechanism fails.
For the main sections of high-rise civil buildings, when the floor area does not exceed 1,500 square meters, one fire‑fighting elevator shall be provided; when the area exceeds 1,500 square meters but is less than 4,500 square meters, two fire‑fighting elevators shall be provided; and when the floor area on each level exceeds 4,500 square meters, three fire‑fighting elevators shall be provided. The shaft for the fire‑fighting elevator must be independent and shall not accommodate any other electrical conduits, water pipes, gas pipelines, or ventilation ducts. A vestibule shall be provided for the fire‑fighting elevator, equipped with a fire door to ensure fire‑ and smoke‑resistance. The rated load of the fire‑fighting elevator should not be less than 1,000 kilograms, and the cab’s internal dimensions should not be smaller than 1 meter by 1.5 meters, enabling it to transport large firefighting equipment and stretchers for rescue operations. All interior finishing materials in the fire‑fighting elevator must be non‑combustible. The power and control wiring for the fire‑fighting elevator shall be protected against water ingress, and a sloped waterproof threshold shall be installed at the elevator entrance. A dedicated telephone must be installed inside the elevator cab, and a special operating button should also be provided on the ground floor. If these requirements are met, the fire‑fighting elevator can be used for firefighting and rescue in the event of a fire. Otherwise, ordinary elevators must not be used for firefighting or rescue, as riding them during a fire poses a serious risk to life.
In accordance with Clause 6.3.1 of the Code for Fire Protection Design of Tall Civil Buildings:
6.3.1 The following high-rise buildings shall be equipped with fire service elevators:
6.3.1.1 Class I public buildings.
6.3.1.2 Tower-type residential buildings.
6.3.1.3 Unit-type residential buildings and corridor-type residential buildings of twelve stories or more.
6.3.1.4 Other Class II public buildings with a height exceeding 32 m.
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