When it comes to modern lift solutions, safety isn’t just a feature, it’s a necessity. One crucial aspect of lift safety, particularly in high-rise or complex buildings, is the ability to function reliably in the event of a fire. Here at ILE we take fire safety seriously, with both comprehensive fire testing procedures and lift systems built to meet stringent firefighting standards.
International Fire-Fighting Day
The 4th of May is recognised as a day for us to remember the courageous work that our fire fighters do on a daily basis; a job that often involves securing multi-storey buildings. Whether you’re a lift manufacturer, architect or service provider, it’s important to have various dangerous scenarios in mind when designing, installing, and upgrading lifts. As an established supplier to the industry, we recognise the role we play and are committed to providing lift solutions that can keep people as safe as possible – even in an emergency.
Why Fire Testing Matters
Fire-resistant lift components, especially landing doors, are vital in safeguarding building occupants during emergencies. We rigorously test our landing doors in accordance with BS EN 81-58:2018, the current European standard for fire resistance. These tests are conducted at the Warrington Fire Research Centre, where full-size door assemblies face real fire conditions inside a sealed chamber.
During these tests, we monitor critical factors like:
- Integrity against sustained flaming
- Thermal insulation
- Carbon dioxide leakage rates
- Deformation and gap formation
- Material resilience under high temperatures
We always make sure to simulate worst-case scenarios using common grade materials and added features like viewing panels and lock types, ensuring that all permutations meet tested expectations.
Fire Tested Products You Can Rely On
All our robust fire-tested door solutions are custom-built, ensuring they suit the specific needs of the building while maintaining high safety and performance standards. Our range of landing doors has been named after historic castles, to reflect the security considerations that have gone into developing them:
- Windsor (single panel): Fire-rated at E120 W60
- Warwick (2-panel centre opening): Fire-rated at E120 W60
- Balmoral (2-speed side opening): Fire-rated at E120 W60
- Leeds (3-panel side opening): Fire-rated at E120 W60
- Pembroke (4-panel centre opening): Fire-assessed
What do these ratings mean?
In fire performance classification, three key criteria are used: E (Integrity), I (Thermal Insulation), and W (Radiation Control). Each is assessed based on performance over time, typically measured in minutes—commonly 60 or 120.
E (Integrity) refers to the ability of the element to prevent the passage of flames and hot gases for the duration of the test (e.g. E120 means integrity is maintained for 120 minutes).
W (Radiation Control) measures the element’s ability to reduce heat radiation and cannot be classified for more than 60 minutes, even in a 2-hour test.
I (Thermal Insulation), although part of the standard classification, is generally not required for compliance in the UK.
Given these parameters, a classification such as E120 W60 indicates 120 minutes of integrity and 60 minutes of radiation control.
Working together across the industry
So, the next time you ride in a lift – or work on one – please take a moment to remember the efforts of our invaluable firefighters and other emergency service members who may at some point need to access it, or rescue members of the public from it in an emergency situation.
Fire safety is non-negotiable, and we want to encourage all members of the lift supply chain to share the same dedication to meeting and exceeding fire standards that helps us all to ensure protection when it matters most. Together, we can all work towards making our cities and buildings both safer and more accessible.
