Feasibility of Fire Evacuation by Elevators at FAA Control Towers.
Feasibility of Fire Evacuation by Elevators at FAA
Control Towers.
(3998 K)
Klote, J. H.; Levin, B. M.; Groner, N. E.
NISTIR 5445; 110 p. May 1994.
Sponsor:
Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB94-213857
Keywords:
evacuation; elevators (lifts); air traffic control;
building fires; emergencies; handicapped; life safety;
smoke control
Abstract:
Throughout most of the world, warning signs next to
elevators indicated they should not be used in fire
situations. Because these elevators have not been
designed for fire evacuation, they should not be used
for fire evacuation. However, the idea of using
elevators for fire evacuation has gained considerable
attention. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
has sponsored a project to study the feasibility of
elevator emergency evacuation at air traffic control
towers. This paper describes this project including (1)
a general discussion of elevator evacuation, (2)
presentation of conceptual criteria for such elevator
evacuation systems, and (3) application of that criteria
to several ATCTs. It is concluded that elevator
emergency evacuation is not feasible for existing ATCTs.
This could change for some standard designs if water
resistant elevator components are developed that make
water protection of elevators feasible. However,
elevator emergency evacuation is feasible for new ATCTs,
and this would involve significant challenges concerning
engineering and human factors.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899