Key Takeaways
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In the UK, open platform lifts cannot be used as fire escape or evacuation lifts.
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Platform lifts are certified as machinery for everyday accessibility, not as life-safety evacuation systems.
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UK standards clearly separate accessibility provision from fire-strategy responsibility.
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Where evacuation by lift is required, a conventional passenger lift enclosed within a fire-resisting shaft is necessary.
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Open platform lifts remain an excellent accessibility solution when correctly specified alongside a compliant means of escape.
Introduction, The Direct Answer
In the UK, open platform lifts cannot be used for fire escape because they are certified as machinery for daily access, not as life-safety evacuation systems. They are not designed, assessed, or protected for operation during fire conditions, and UK standards explicitly exclude their use as part of a building’s means of escape.
This article is based on information requested directly from a client to Sesame Access and reflects the technical guidance we shared using our engineering and regulatory expertise. It explains why open platform lifts cannot be relied upon for evacuation, how UK regulations approach this issue, and where these lifts deliver the greatest value when used correctly.
Open Platform Lift vs Fire Evacuation Lift (At a Glance)
| Requirement | Open Platform Lift | Fire Evacuation Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Everyday accessibility | Life-safety evacuation |
| Certified for fire conditions | No | Yes |
| Enclosed in fire-resisting shaft | No | Yes |
| Protected power supply | No | Yes |
| Permitted as means of escape | No | Yes (when designed accordingly) |
| Typical Sesame solution | Windsor Lift, Richmond Rising Platform Lift, Bespoke Lift | Project-specific passenger lift |
Regulation Summary (Plain-English Overview)
UK guidance on this issue is consistent across all relevant standards. The Machinery Directive classifies platform lifts as machinery for normal use, not emergency evacuation. EN 81-41 confirms that vertical platform lifts are not designed or assessed for fire or evacuation scenarios. BS 6440:2011 reinforces that lifts not enclosed within a fire-resisting shaft must not be relied upon as part of the means of escape. Together, these standards draw a clear and deliberate boundary between accessibility lifts and evacuation systems.
Why This Question Comes Up So Often
Many buildings have staircases that also function as fire exits, particularly in heritage, commercial, and constrained environments. It is entirely reasonable for designers, owners, and access consultants to ask whether a lift can be added without compromising fire safety.
We address this exact scenario in our technical FAQ
The staircase I’d like my lift on is also a fire exit – can I still install a lift?
The short answer is yes, a lift can often still be installed, but it cannot be relied upon for evacuation and must be carefully integrated so the stair remains compliant as a fire escape.
As one internal discussion put it:
“Accessibility and fire strategy solve different problems, and trying to merge them usually creates risk rather than reducing it.”
What Open Platform Lifts Are Designed to Do
Open platform lifts are designed to provide safe, dignified, everyday access for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. They are particularly valuable where ramps are impractical and where architectural sensitivity matters.
Examples include solutions such as the Windsor Lift, the Westminster Equality Act Lift, and highly tailored designs delivered through our Bespoke Lift programme.
They are intentionally open, compact, and visually integrated into their surroundings. These same qualities are what make them unsuitable for use during a fire.
As noted in a technical review:
“Open platform lifts solve access challenges elegantly, but they are not life-safety systems.”
Why Open Platform Lifts Cannot Be Used for Fire Escape
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
Under the Machinery Directive, platform lifts are classified as machinery intended for normal operation. Emergency evacuation during fire is explicitly outside their intended scope.
This means they are not assessed for smoke, heat, fire exposure, or emergency evacuation scenarios. Using them for evacuation would go beyond their certification and transfer responsibility and liability to those specifying or relying on them.
EN 81-41 – Vertical Platform Lifts
EN 81-41 governs vertical platform lifts for persons with impaired mobility. The standard does not include requirements for operation during fire or evacuation, nor does it cover fire-resisting enclosures, protected power supplies, or evacuation controls.
This exclusion is deliberate. EN 81-41 treats platform lifts as accessibility machinery, not as evacuation infrastructure.
One internal explanation summarised it clearly:
“The absence of fire requirements in EN 81-41 is not an oversight, it is a boundary.”
BS 6440:2011 – UK Practice
BS 6440:2011 reinforces UK best practice by stating that lifts not enclosed within a fire-resisting shaft must not be relied upon as part of the means of escape.
This applies directly to open platform lifts, regardless of how bespoke, robust, or well-engineered they may be.
The intent is to ensure that evacuation systems are designed to a higher and fundamentally different level of protection.
Fire Alarm Integration Does Not Change the Classification
Platform lifts can and should integrate with building fire alarm systems so that they respond safely during an alarm condition, typically by parking, isolating movement, or preventing use.
We explain this in detail here:
Platform lifts and fire alarm integration
Fire alarm integration improves safety, but it does not convert a platform lift into an evacuation lift and does not permit its use for fire escape.
When Is a Shafted Lift Required?
Where a building’s fire strategy requires evacuation by lift, the correct solution is a conventional passenger lift enclosed within a suitably fire-resisting shaft.
In UK practice, this typically involves a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance and often 60 minutes, depending on the building type and strategy, along with protected lobbies, fire-rated doors, and appropriate power and control provisions.
Open platform lifts cannot meet these requirements by design.
What People Ask
Are platform lifts allowed in fire escapes?
Platform lifts may be installed near or on staircases that are fire exits, but they cannot be used or relied upon as part of the fire escape strategy.
Can you use a wheelchair lift during a fire?
No. Platform lifts are not certified or assessed for operation during fire conditions. Our retracting stair lifts should be returned to a set of stairs and switched off using a ARD System.
What’s the difference between an evacuation lift and a platform lift?
An evacuation lift is a life-safety system enclosed within a fire-resisting shaft and designed for use during emergencies. A platform lift is accessibility machinery intended for everyday use only.
Can a platform lift be used for fire evacuation under BS 6440?
No. BS 6440 makes clear that lifts not enclosed within a fire-resisting shaft must not be relied upon as part of the means of escape.
Does adding barriers or enclosures make a platform lift suitable for evacuation?
No. Unless the lift is designed as a conventional passenger lift within a fire-rated shaft, it cannot be used for evacuation.
Using the Right Lift in the Right Role
Open platform lifts remain one of the most effective tools for inclusive design when used correctly. Solutions such as the Edinburgh Access Lift, British Library Platform Lift, and Windsor Lift demonstrate how accessibility can be delivered without compromising safety or architectural intent.
The key is clarity at the outset and early coordination between access design and fire strategy.
Next Steps
If you are considering an open platform lift and want to ensure it integrates correctly with your building’s fire strategy, an early technical discussion is strongly recommended.
You can book a Teams meeting with one of our Project Managers here:
https://www.sesameaccess.com/book-a-meeting