All You Need to Know About UPS Systems For Evacuation Lifts

Many businesses and organizations make use of emergency systems such as evacuation lifts for the safety of all the individuals working on the premises of the establishment and also to comply with federal safety regulations. These lifts are also frequently used in high-rise residential buildings for safety and fast evacuation during need. Depending on the industry within which a company operates, having one or more evacuation lifts might be mandatory. Therefore, UPS systems used to support or provide power backup for lifts or other emergency systems must comply with numerous government regulations in order to ensure the safety of all concerned.

An Overview of Evacuation Lifts

A typical passenger lift or elevator is not considered an adequate means of escape from a building in case of a fire or any other emergency. Passenger lifts are not made to help people escape during emergencies. Moreover, people can be exposed to harmful smoke and gases while waiting for the elevator to arrive. The elevator may also malfunction midway, trapping people amidst the blaze with no way to escape.

These are some of the reasons why the presence of one or more evacuation lifts are essential in case of a fire, natural disaster, or any other emergency. An evacuation lift is simply a lift that is designed to be comparatively fast, have an extra layer of protection with specialized controls. These specialized controls enable it to be used and operated directly by the emergency service personnel during a fire or some other kind of accident.

Evacuation lifts, therefore, have very strict and specific safety requirements that must be met with the highest degree of accuracy. Such specialized lift allows firefighters and emergency personnel to quickly reach and rescue individuals trapped on the highest floors of a building, or in the basement. A typical evacuation lift has the following components:

• The lift car
• Space for machinery
• Firefighting controls
• The lift well
• Communications system

The Importance Of Power Backup For Lifts During An Emergency

A smooth functioning evacuation lift could be the difference between life and death for people caught in a fire at home or in the workplace. Fires can start in both residential and commercial buildings, for a number of reasons. Under such circumstances, an evacuation lift would be needed to rescue the people caught in the fire.

And to ensure that the lift doesn’t stop working at a crucial juncture due to power failure, a UPS system for evacuation lifts must be purchased and installed beforehand. Adequate power backup for lifts used for evacuation purposes is an essential expense that should not be avoided for any reason, as a power failure in such situations can lead to the loss of human life.

Choosing the Right UPS System  for the Evacuation Lift

An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system is typically used in data centers, schools, and libraries where computers need to be backed up in case of power outages. Therefore, few people realize how essential it is to have a reliable UPS system for evacuation lifts in residential and commercial buildings.

For maximum safety, however, the authorities must ensure that there is always a secondary source of power for all emergency systems, including evacuation lifts. Providing a secondary power source from the mains feed is not always possible as the capacity of the main power source may be limited. Hence, a UPS system should be present to provide power backup for lifts and other systems.

If a power outage occurs, an evacuation lift could also serve as a means of evacuating disabled individuals. When there are no emergencies, the lift can function as a normal elevator for everyday use.  In particular, health facilities such as hospitals and clinics must invest in a suitable UPS system for evacuation lifts in order to meet government regulations.

Characteristics of the Best Evacuation Lifts

A quality evacuation lift should have an interface between the fire detection and alarm system and the lift control system for optimal support during an emergency situation. An emergency intercom system should also be present. Typically, evacuation lifts can hold between eight to twelve people at a time. If it is any smaller, the lift might not be useful for helping the maximum number of people escape quickly.

A separate power supply for the lift is of great importance so that it may remain functional throughout the process of evacuation, which in some cases might take hours. Fires can also cause damage to the main electrical points, in which case the need for a UPS system for evacuation lifts would become even greater once the main power source has been damaged.

A UPS is also easy to install into the plant room of the evacuation lift, which is usually located at the top of the lift chassis. Being smaller than the typical generator, a UPS also helps save space and is easier to maintain. Ideally, small, single-phase UPS devices should be fitted into the lift control panels so that communications with emergency personnel can continue uninterrupted during a power outage.

In Conclusion

Installing emergency systems with the right power backup for lifts is important and should be undertaken by the proprietors and managers of residential and commercial buildings alike. However, for the best results and maximum safety, one should purchase a high-quality UPS system for evacuation lifts manufactured by a trusted and reliable company.