Why you can not use the Elevator Lift in case of fire?

In case of fire, or in one of the upper floors of the building, it suffered the loss, and the natural impulse to virtually any individual is to use the elevator. However, regardless of what the risk we live , it should always be clear that deciding to use the elevator or the elevator to leave a burning building is a bad decision that can have dire consequences for the integrity those who will be involved in a situation of this type

Why you should not use the lift if there is a fire?

The reasons exist not to use an elevator in case of fire are diverse but among all there, and the most important is the one that has to do with the power supply. In case of fire, it falls within any cuts likely occur in this and that, when that happens, the elevator stops working suddenly. If this happens, users of the same would be trapped in the cabin while the building served by the elevator and it would create a situation of high risk burns. The risk is derived from an undeniable reality: the cabin of an elevator, by its nature, it is one of the places that poses major difficulties to firefighters if what is at issue is to perform a rescue at a burning building. Furthermore, in order to prevent explosions, cut the power supply it is one of the first tasks that firefighters run to reach a building that is suffering a loss of this type; as well as they set their protocols. Therefore, there are many probabilities exist that in case of fire, trapped inside an elevator any individual who unwisely decides to use the elevator if the building in which it is being affected by a fire.

The elevator shaft acts like a chimney

However, regardless of the real possibility of being trapped inside the cabin if we take the wrong decision to try to leave a burning building by the use of the elevator; It must take into account other issues comprehensively advise against using elevators when fire threatens. It should, for example, remember that if the fire occurs is because about a particular subject are flammable gases that combined with proper temperature -can produce a simple chispa- generate flames that increase the gas temperature. The room where the fire occurs is so filled with gaseous fuel and very high temperature. This fuel, by virtue precisely of its temperature is much less dense than air and tends to rise very quickly. Because; because the air is in the lower part of the stay, we always remember that, in case of fire; should crawl or crouch walk as possible. The gas, as fluid is, looking to expand and take advantage of any space to do so; why chimneys work.

This is what is called thermal convection phenomenon that makes ascend the hot gases. In case of fire-the similarities they are evident-the hollow of a lift or elevator acts like a chimney, and it amounted fire gases produced. If in case of fire one or more persons are trapped in the cabin of an elevator, the chances that these victims have died of poisoning from smoke inhalation or as a result of the high temperatures to be achieved are very high. The cabin of a lift is not a watertight compartment and therefore burns and if the building the elevator serves, the smoke and fire come into it sooner or later. Cases in which an imprudent use of lifts in case of fire has ended in tragedy are countless. One of the latest was held in Argentina last October, when two pensioners died inside an elevator that decided to use to declare a fire in your building. The severity of accidents as indicated self-explanatory why the different regulations currently in force governing the use of lifts in case of accident and force to take note of the recommendations contained therein.

The regulations are absolute: Never use the elevator in case of fire

The security specialists are very clear that use an elevator when the building in which we are the victim of a fire is a major mistake. Therefore, almost all regulations on the use of these devices collect recommendations on Prohibitions or that we should always bear in mind. In the case of Spain and other EU countries, the European standard that sets safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts specified in a clear and forceful way: in any case an elevator should be used in case of fire. In addition, and so it sets the standard in the elevators installed in the territory of the EU is mandatory to install an information pictogram indicating clearly that the elevator should not be used if affected by fire on property to which said elevator serves. It is also advisable that below-the pictogram regulatory model that includes the image of an elevator car are people inside and flames approaching her, appearing in several languages ​​the phrase is not used in case of fire. The most correct, and given the mobility of the population of the different EU countries, is used in addition to the official languages ​​in the location where we are, English, French, Castilian and German, which are the most widespread languages ​​in the European Union. Why the obligation to install this pictograph is clear: a fire is a risk and that risk is increased if the fire alarm and turned on, the behavior of tenants or users of the property subject of the claim are not adequate . The standard is exhaustive in this regard: in elevators and similar devices, it is necessary in case of fire activate the corresponding mechanism for the cab to return to a safe plant and users find that eventually it can leave the device. This will then be stopped, with the doors closed and all controls and unused floor booths.

Keep quiet

In case of fire, keep the peace is a basic rule if we want to develop the necessary evacuation in the most efficient manner possible. Ruled out the use of elevators, lifts and the like, as appropriate in case of fire is leave the building that is undergoing an orderly manner and down the stairs as calmly as possible. If there is an external staircase, the right thing is to use it. If this ladder does not exist and there are stairs or conventional smoke or fire; it is advisable to go to the roof if the property exists-because there will be clean air and firefighters to the rescue may come more easily. If the building has no roof, it is safest to wait for the arrival of firefighters inside a room that is not affected by the fire and to have windows or balconies. In this stay, we'll wait with the door closed and as close to the window to enjoy while waiting for the maximum amount of clean air and also that firefighters do see us.