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a. The protected lift shaft shall be vented in accordance with SS 550. The vents shall be so arranged as to induce exhaust ventilation of the shaft. Where vents could not be provided because of the location of the lift shaft, ventilation duct protected by drywall complying with Cl.3.8.8b. serving as ventilation of the shaft can be provided instead. If the duct is not to be fire-rated, fire dampers shall be provided to the duct at the wall of the lift shaft, provided such relaxation shall not apply to shaft containing fire lift.

b. Where the lift shaft is not a protected shaft, the lift hoistway shall be adequately ventilated at the top of the shaft by means of one or more permanent openings having a total unobstructed area of at least 0.1m² for each lift in the shaft.

a. General

(1) The installation of the fire lift shall be in accordance with SS 550.

(2) All aboveground stations shall be provided with at least two fire lifts if the habitable height exceeds 24m.

(4) The fire lift shall be contained within a separate protected shaft or a common protected shaft containing other lifts subject to such other lifts being served at each storey by a fire lift lobby. Basement 1 can be considered as designated firefighters entry floor if the proposed fire lift cannot be extended directly to grade without transfers. Secondary fire lift need not be contained within a separate protected shaft and being served at each storey by a fire lift lobby.

(5) The fire lift shaft shall be continuous throughout the station and serve every storey except a non-habitable roof. The fire lift operational features shall be provided and activated via a fire lift switch in accordance with SS 550 except all secondary fire lifts serving from grade level to all public areas.

(6) A lift mainly intended for the transport of goods shall not be designated as a fire lift. Cargo lift shall not open into a fire lift lobby.

(7) The fire lift car shall have a platform area of at least 1.45m2. Where a fire lift serves the dual purpose of an evacuation lift for PWDs, it shall have a clear car platform area of minimum 1.2m by 1.4m.

b. Accessibility and coverage

(1) A fire lift shall be located such that the travel distance between the nearest edges of the lift landing door and exit staircase door is not more than 5m. In addition, the exit staircase shall be approached through a fire lift lobby at each storey, including first storey.

Exception:

(a)   The final discharge of exit staircase at ground level for all stations, the travel distance between the nearest edge of the fire lift landing door and exit staircase door can be extended to at most 10m. Where the travel distance between the nearest edge of the fire lift landing door and exit staircase door exceeds 5m, additional signage shall be displayed prominently at the fire lift lobby to indicate the location of exit staircase door.

(2) Regardless of whether the station is installed with an automatic sprinkler system, the number of fire lifts required shall be such that any part of a storey of the station is within 60m coverage from the fire lift door, subject to the provision of at least two fire lifts in accordance with Cl.6.6.6a., except for underground stations.

Passenger lifts in stations are primarily provided for use by PWDs. These lifts that are located in the public area shall be used for the evacuation of PWDs during an emergency.

a. All passenger lifts in transit stations shall be used to evacuate PWDs in the event of fire emergency.

b. Passenger lift shall have a clear platform size of at least 1.2m (width) x 1.4m (depth).

c. Where passenger lifts in transit stations are located within the public area and within one fire compartment, the lift shafts are not required to be fire-rated. It is also not required to provide fire-rated lift lobby at lift landings.

d. From the platform level, PWDs shall use the passenger lift to reach the concourse level. Where concourse level is not the ground level, the PWDs shall be transferred to another lift that is connected to the ground level upon arrival at that concourse level. Directional signage shall be provided on the concourse level to direct PWDs to the lift(s) in accordance with the authority having jurisdiction on Accessibility in the Built Environment.

e. In the event of fire emergency, passenger lifts are not required to home to the designated floor. Passenger lifts are to be operated as in under normal conditions for use by PWD to evacuate the station. Car call control within the lift car shall operate as per normal.

f. Appropriate signage on the use of lift during emergency i.e. “In the Event of Emergency, Lift for Use by Persons with Disabilities Only” shall be displayed at the lift landing.

g. Lifts in transit stations shall be provided with electrical power supply from the RTS dual-feeder electrical power supply system for uninterrupted operation during fire emergency.

h. Except on the designated floor as defined in SS 550, emergency fire phone shall be provided at each lift landing for PWD to communicate with the Passenger Service Centre (PSC). In the absence of PSC, the emergency fire phone provided at each lift landing shall be connected to the OCC.

a. For stations requiring fire alarm system

(1) In a fire emergency, when any one of the fire detection devices or fire alarm systems is activated, all lifts except passenger lifts shall be brought to the grade or designated firefighters entry floor. Otherwise, the lifts shall home to an alternate designated floor (if the designated floor is a fire floor) and park with the lift landing doors remaining opened.

(2) Goods lifts with automatic doors shall be similarly homed to the designated floor.

(3) Goods lifts with manual doors shall be homed if the doors are closed.

b. Requirements for alternate designated floor

(1) An alternate designated floor (e.g. 2nd storey) shall be identified.

(2) All lifts except passenger lifts shall be brought to the alternate designated floor in the event of a fire at the designated floor.

(3) Localised detectors

(a) Localised detector(s) shall be provided to cover the lift landing space at the designated floor.

(b) The activation of any of the localised detector(s) or any other detectors or sprinklers covering the designated floor shall cause all the lifts to be re-directed to home to the alternate designated floor.

(c) The localised detector(s) shall cover the area within at least 3m surrounding the lift landing door opening.

(d) Where the lift landing is protected by a fire-rated enclosure, only the space within the enclosure is required to be covered by localised detector(s).

(4) The alternate floor shall have minimum fire hazard, and where people can escape to safety in an exit staircase or other exit from the lift landing door.

(5) In station that are not provided with sprinklers or automatic fire alarm system, suitable sensors shall be provided at the ceiling level to cover the lift landing space. The activation of any sensor shall cause the lifts to be re-directed to home to the alternate floor.

b. Rescue hooks

(1) When the distance between consecutive lift landing doorsills is more than 11m but less than 18m, as shown in Diagram 6.6.9b.(1) – 1, rescue hooks complying with Cl.6.6.9b.(3) shall be provided at the underside of the upper lift landing door head. See Diagram 6.6.9b.(1) – 2.

(2) Alternatively, these hooks shall be installed in the ceiling space directly above the upper lift landing door, such that the heights of these hooks are not more than 3m above the finished floor level of that upper lift landing, and at an approximate distance of 1m away from the lift shaft wall. The ceiling space shall be easily accessible, and a sign shall be provided to indicate the locations of the rescue hooks. See Diagram 6.6.9b.(2) – 1 & 2.