Emergency Elevator Plan
Fire awareness in your building is critical to the safety of everyone inside. Does your fire plan include your elevator? At Puget Sound Elevator Company, we understand the importance of elevator fire safety and can help you create a plan.
Why Can’t You Use an Elevator During an Emergency?
You should never instruct employees or guests to use an elevator during a fire. The fire can short the electrical system and cause the elevator to become stuck between floors. Since elevator shafts can act like chimneys, smoke inhalation is also a major risk.
What Are the Elevator Fire Service Modes?
Every elevator has fire service modes. When your elevator’s smoke or heat sensors pick up on something, the elevator will automatically go to the ground floor. The doors open to allow the passengers to depart safely. The elevator will not respond to any other calls except from emergency services when they arrive.
Once the firefighters show up, they can initiate phase 2. The firefighters use a key switch on the control panel. If you have an up-to-date elevator, then it should accept the key all fire departments have. This allows for rescue teams to operate the elevator and move it from floor to floor as necessary.
Which Elevators Do Emergency Personnel Use?
Emergency personnel looks for the elevator with the blue asterisk symbol. This is also known as the Star of Life, and it is a universal symbol on uniforms, medical equipment, ambulances, and more. The star stands for the six stages of EMS care: Detection, reporting, response, on-scene care, care in transit, and transfer to definitive care. EMS looks for the star because it means that elevator is big enough for the equipment, like a 24”x84” stretcher.
At Puget Sound Elevator Company, we will make sure your elevator is properly maintained, so if there is a fire, your elevator will function the way it is supposed to. Call 425-800-8256 or send us an email to find out how to increase the safety of your elevator during an emergency.