Introduction to Fireman Elevator

Up to now, there are regulations regarding firefighter elevators, which include fire elevators as a separate certification type in the elevator category in the special equipment manufacturing license catalog, as well as specific provisions on the type test rules for firefighter elevators in the special equipment safety technical specification TSGT7001-2004 "Elevator Type Test Regulations", The test content and requirements mainly refer to the European standard draft prEN81-72 "Safety Specification for Elevator Manufacturing and Installation - Passenger and Freight Elevators for Special Purposes - Part 72: Firefighters' Elevators" and prEN81-73 "Safety Specification for Elevator Manufacturing and Installation - Part 73: Passenger and Freight Elevators for Special Purposes - Performance of Elevators in Fire Conditions". In addition, China has issued relevant standards such as 7.2.2 "Performance under Fire Conditions" in GB7588-1995 "Safety Code for Elevator Manufacturing and Installation" and Appendix F "Type Test Certification Regulations" for F2 floor doors. At the same time, there are provisions for firefighter elevators in GB50045-95 "Fire Prevention Code for High rise Civil Buildings" and GA109-1995 "Fire Resistance Test Methods for Elevator Floor Doors" edited by the Ministry of Public Security. It is worth noting that the regulations and standards issued in China are all mandatory requirements, so users should be encouraged to choose elevator types, design building rooms, hoistways, and vestibules, and meet the elevator configuration and assembly requirements of manufacturing and installation units. Acceptance personnel should pay full attention to and have a correct understanding of the inspection.

There are strict regulations and requirements for the construction and structure and function of firefighter elevators. Fireman elevators should be strictly and carefully inspected according to their requirements, while for those that are not firefighter elevators or cannot meet the structural requirements of firefighter elevators, it is absolutely not allowed to configure firefighter operation functions. This is a common problem in the acceptance of new elevators. Therefore, before discussing firefighter elevators, first recognize the functional difference between fire emergency return and fire operation. Fire emergency return, also known as fire emergency return or fire rescue function. This is an optional function determined by the user for ordinary elevators, while the fire operation function is a necessary function for firefighters on elevators, which is only carried out by firefighters after priority recall of the fire service channel layer. Because the machine room and hoistway of ordinary elevators do not have a 2-hour safe isolation in case of fire, and the elevator lobby and elevator structure do not have the ability to prevent fire, water, and smoke isolation. Therefore, if encountering fire, water, and smoke, it is very easy to malfunction and block the elevator in the hoistway. At this time, only fire smoke quickly enters the hoistway and car. If someone is choked by smoke for a moment, or even dies, this is not allowed, Such accidents have already occurred in our country and often lead to legal prosecution and investigation of criminal responsibility. So it is often seen that there is a notice board next to the call button in the waiting hall of a regular elevator, which says, "Do not use the elevator in case of fire", which is completely correct.

1. Fire emergency return

Ordinary elevators are equipped with a "fire emergency return" function, and there is a fire switch located behind the glass window above the call button at the grassroots station that can safely evacuate personnel. When the glass on switch is turned on, or when the elevator duty room receives a fire alarm or the fire alarm inside the building detects a fire danger, the elevator fire emergency return information is input from the outside. In some places, fire communication is also implemented, However, it should be noted that the emergency return of elevator fire protection is not automatically connected to the smoke detectors in the hallway or room to prevent human disturbance and normal operation failure of the elevator. Upon receiving the fire emergency return command, the elevator shall follow the following procedures:

(1) All elevator hall call commands, car operation commands, and registered operation commands are cancelled.

(2) Only the car door opening and emergency alarm system remain effective, and the reverse door opening function should also be disabled.

(3) The elevator should immediately break away from group control or parallel control and perform emergency return operation separately.

(4) The fire emergency return command cannot prioritize the maintenance of the control state and emergency electric control state, nor can it automatically cut off the operation to change the two states. However, the audio signals in the machine room and car should immediately sound continuously until the above maintenance or emergency electric control state is cancelled. At this point, the fire emergency return operation should be carried out without calibration and directly return to the grassroots level. In addition, the docking operation and fire emergency return are usually not located on the same elevator. If possible, they should be handled according to the same maintenance method.

(5) The lighting in the machine room and shaft automatically turns on.

(6) When the elevator is in different positions, the following procedure should be followed:

a) The elevator is in the level area, with the door closed. If there is no door opening command for the personnel inside the car, cancel the stop command inside and outside the car and head straight to the grassroots station. If the personnel inside the car continue to press the door opening command to open the door, otherwise the door will close. If the door is open, the anti door closing device fails, execute the door closing, and then proceed straight to the grassroots station.

b) On the way out of the grassroots station, the elevator stops in the nearest direction without opening the door. If there is no command to open the door inside the car, it quickly drives in the opposite direction to the grassroots station.

c) The elevator is heading towards the grassroots station, and it will no longer stop at the intermediate level, immediately heading towards the grassroots station.

d) If the elevator is at a grassroots station, it immediately opens the door. After opening the door for 15 seconds, it immediately closes the door. At this time, except for receiving instructions to open the door inside the car (if there are still people), the elevator does not accept any instructions.

For ordinary elevators, if they need to be equipped with the so-called "fire protection function", it is a fire emergency return function. They can only stop here and cannot continue operating until normal operation is restored.

2 Firefighters Elevator Fire Operations

Elevators that meet the basic conditions of "firefighter elevator" must have the firefighter elevator fire service function, which includes two stages: the firefighter priority recall stage and the firefighter controlled use stage.

2.1 Function of firefighter priority recall stage

The firefighter priority recall stage is basically similar to the fire emergency return function configured for regular elevators, except that the firefighter operation switch located in the front hall should be within a horizontal distance of 2m from the elevator door, with a height of 1.8m to 2.1m. The unified firefighter elevator pictogram should be used for marking, and the triangle key specified in Appendix B of GB7588 should be used to turn the switch. The switch is a bistable switch, and "0" is the normal operating position, '1' is the service location for firefighters. When the switch is turned on to the firefighter service position, the elevator quickly returns to the fire service channel level using the same function as the fire emergency return mentioned above, opens the door and remains open, only waiting for instructions from the firefighter in the car, and does not accept other instructions. When there is no fire alarm, the firefighter elevator is used as a passenger or freight elevator, so the fire service passage layer and the grassroots station are often not on the same floor or on the same side door. Therefore, the priority recall stage for firefighters is different from the ordinary elevator fire emergency return stage, which is to return to the fire service passage layer and only open the door on the fire service passage side and keep it open. Other functions at this stage are the same as fire emergency return and will not be repeated here.

2.2 Function of the practical stage under the control of firefighters

When the firefighter enters the car and switches the fire switch to "1" with a key, the elevator enters the use phase under the firefighter's control, and its functions are as follows:

(1) The firefighter key switch in the car should be displayed using the firefighter elevator pictogram. The switch is in the "0" state for normal operation, and the key can only be removed when the switch is in the "0" position. That is to say, the firefighter will run the elevator to the fire working floor. At this time, the switch will be set to "0" and the key should be removed. At this time, the elevator will keep the door open and prevent other personnel from entering the elevator or operating under other signal commands.

(2) Firefighters can only operate in a safe and normal state within the normal operating range.

(3) The elevator can only execute one floor selection command in the car, whether during parking or running, when a new command is pressed, the original selected command is cancelled, and the elevator immediately executes towards the new command floor. After reaching the command floor, the elevator stops at the floor and does not open the door.

(4) After stopping the floor, it is necessary to continuously press the "Open" button to open the door, until it is fully open and remains open for the next command. If the "Open" button is released before fully opening, the door should immediately close automatically, and the anti closing device installed on the door should also be ineffective.

(5) Entering the firefighter's operation, it should be possible to display the elevator's position at the floor of the car and fire service passage, while the previously registered floor selection instructions should be displayed on the elevator operation panel.

(6) When the firefighter elevator has two entrances, the fire service aisle door on the same side is the firefighter control door, and there is a firefighter dedicated operation panel on the same side of the car. After entering the firefighter's operation, the operation panel is changed to the only effective operation panel, while the operation panel next to the other side door only saves the alarm device and continues to press the door open, all other operations fail.

(7) When the fire service switches in the front hall and car of the fire service channel are restored to the "0" position, the elevator will resume normal operation. Other external input signals can only prioritize the recall of firefighter elevators to the fire service aisle floor and keep the doors open.

(8) When the firefighter's elevator encounters malfunctions such as hitting the top, squatting at the bottom, or safety gear action, the emergency electric operation can still prioritize (i.e. cut off) the firefighter's service status, and the elevator can be restored to normal operation. At this time, the alarm bell in the machine room and car will continue to sound until the emergency electric operation is terminated.

(9) Entering the fire service state, each elevator operates independently, and any electrical failure of any other elevator in the same group cannot affect the operation of firefighter elevators. The electrical failures of the elevator control system located outside the landing call device and the hoistway machine room shall not affect the operation function of the firefighter elevator.

(10) There is no explanation in the relevant materials, which is an additional content for the author. When firefighters enter the working floor area, turn the key switch in the car to the "0" position and remove the key. Of course, this will ensure that firefighters on that floor continue to use the elevator. In addition, except for firefighters on the working floor who can put the elevator back into the fire passage and floor, in order to prevent accidents from causing firefighters at the grassroots level of the fire passage to no longer use the elevator, the fire switch should be kept effective, Turn the fire switch (grassroots) to "0" position, wait for a moment, wait for the elevator to automatically close the door, then turn the switch to "1" position, and the elevator will immediately perform a priority recall of the fire passage grassroots. Then, use the key to turn the switch inside the car to "1" position to enter the fire service status.

3. Configuration requirements for firefighter elevators

The current GB50045-95 "Code for Fire Protection of High rise Civil Buildings" in China stipulates the configuration of firefighter elevators as follows:

(1) Firefighters' elevators can be used in conjunction with passenger elevators or service elevators.

(2) The full travel time of the firefighter elevator shall not exceed 60 seconds.

(3) Firefighters' elevators should be installed for Class I public buildings, tower style residential buildings, unit residential buildings or corridor style residential buildings with 12 floors and above, and other Class II public buildings with a height exceeding 32m.

(4) If the building area of each floor is ≤ 1500m2, two firefighter elevators should be installed.

If the building area of each floor is ≤ 4 500m2, 2 firefighter elevators should be installed.

If the building area of each floor is>4500m2, three firefighter elevators should be installed.

(5) The load of a firefighter's elevator should not be less than 800kg, and the net size inside the car should not be less than 100mm wide and 1400mm deep. The net width of the car entrance should not be less than 800mm.

When the intended use includes a firefighter elevator that can evacuate personnel or has two entrances, its minimum rated weight is 1000kg, and the net size of the car should not be less than 1100mm wide and 2100mm deep.

4 Environmental requirements for firefighter elevator buildings

(1) Firefighters' elevators should serve every floor of the building.

(2) The distance to the firefighter service passage level or adjacent refuge levels should not exceed 15 floors. Each refuge should have a firefighter elevator exit, and the area of the elevator lobby on the refuge level should be calculated as not less than 0.2 m2/person.

(3) The elevator lobby on the fire service channel floor should be set up against the exterior wall, and should directly lead to the outdoor exit on this floor, or pass through a channel with a length not exceeding 30m to lead to the outdoor.

(4) The front hall of the firefighter's elevator should be isolated from other areas of the building using Class B fire doors or fire resistant rolling shutter doors with stopping function.

(5) Fire elevator shafts, machine rooms, and adjacent elevator shafts should be separated by partition walls with a fire resistance limit of no less than 2 hours. If there are doors, Class A fire doors should be installed.

(6) The bottom of the firefighter elevator pit should be equipped with a water accumulation pit with a capacity of ≥ 2m3, and a device with a drainage capacity of not less than 10L/s should be installed to ensure that the water surface does not rise above the upper plane where the buffer is completely compressed, and to prevent firefighter elevator operation failures (i.e. measures should be taken).

(7) All elevator related mechanical and electrical equipment rooms located outside the fire compartment of firefighter elevators should have the same fire resistance as the fire compartment, and include the aforementioned connecting channels with the fire compartment.

(8) It is strictly prohibited to lay combustible gas, Class A, B, and C liquid pipelines, as well as cables unrelated to the elevator in the elevator shaft.

(9) Except for elevator door openings and ventilation holes, no other openings should be opened.

5 Special requirements for firefighter elevators

5.1 Special requirements for mechanical structure

(1) The interior decoration of firefighter elevators should use non combustible materials (including structural devices such as elevator door areas).

(2) Firefighters' elevators should be equipped with safety windows, with a rated load of 800kg. The minimum size of safety windows for elevators is 0.4m * 0.5m, and for elevators above 800kg, the minimum size of safety windows is 0.5m * 0.7m. Entering the cabin through the safety window should not be obstructed by permanent settings or lighting. If there is a suspended ceiling, it should be easy to open or move without special tools. There should be a step point on the inner wall of the car that is convenient for reaching the safety window, with a maximum step height of 0.4m. Any step point can support a load of 1200N, and the space between any step point and the car wall should be at least 0.1m.

(3) The outer side of the car should be equipped with a rescue ladder. The length of the ladder is such that when the elevator is in the flat area, the door lock on the top of the car can be reached by borrowing the ladder. If the ladder is too long, a fixed climbing ladder is installed on the inner wall of the shaft. The car may not have a long ladder, or an unlocking linkage device is installed inside the hall door to the lower part of the hall door, which can reduce the length of the ladder.

(4) When an elevator has two entrances, such as a non fire service aisle floor exit lobby that is shared with other elevators, or a non fire isolated area, the elevator hall door on that side should use a fire resistant floor door that meets the requirements of GA109-1995 standards, effectively ensuring safe and trouble-free operation within 2 hours after a fire alarm occurs.

5.2 Special requirements for electrical aspects

(1) The firefighter elevator should be equipped with the function of firefighter priority recall and firefighter controlled use.

(2) Power, control, lighting, and alarm system cables should have fire and waterproof measures. If cables are laid in a concealed manner, they should be placed within a non combustible structure, and the thickness of the protective layer should not be less than 30mm; If metal pipes or metal trunking are used, they should be protected with fireproof paint, and their joint structure should have waterproof function; When using non combustible materials such as insulation and sheath, metal pipes or shallow metal grooves can be avoided for protection.

(3) The first and second power supplies should be configured, and when switching during power supply, they should directly enter the soil service state without the need for calibration operation.

(4) Warm up in the lobby of the firefighter's elevator