Fire Protection Challenges of the Americans Disabilities Act: Elevator Evacuation and Refuge Areas

Published

September 13, 1993

Author(s)

J H. Klote, A J. Fowell

Abstract

There is a rising concern for the safety of persons from fire who cannot travel building emergency exit routes in the same manner or as quickly as expected of able persons. One proposed solution for providing safety for persons with mobility limitations is the use of elevators for fire evacuation. Another proposed solution is the concept of areas of refuge where they can "safely wait" until they can be assisted in leaving the building. The system concepts and interrelationships of these two alternatives are discussed. An overview of an area of refuge study conducted at NIST is presented. Other topics addressed are elevator people movement, elevator water problem, and smoke control concepts.

Proceedings Title

CIB W14: Fire Safety Engineering

Report Number

983

Conference Dates

September 13-16, 1993

Conference Location

Newtownabbey,

Conference Title

International Symposium and Workshops Engineering Fire Safety in the Process of Design: Demonstrating Equivalency. Part 1.

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

fire safety, handicapped, fire protection, elevators (lifts), evacuation, refuge, people movement, smoke, water, piston effect, computer programs

Citation

Klote, J. and Fowell, A. (1993), Fire Protection Challenges of the Americans Disabilities Act: Elevator Evacuation and Refuge Areas, CIB W14: Fire Safety Engineering, Newtownabbey, , [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=909285 (Accessed October 8, 2025)