Overview
ISO/TR 25743:2010 - "Lifts (elevators) - Study of the use of lifts for evacuation during an emergency" is a Technical Report that investigates the main hazards and risks of using lifts for building evacuation. It covers emergencies arising from fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, biological/chemical attack, gas leakage, lightning or storm damage - including impacts from adjacent buildings. The report is informative (not normative) and provides a structured decision process to help determine whether lifts can be used for evacuation with an acceptable level of safety.
Key topics and requirements
- Decision chart and process: A step‑by‑step decision chart (Figure 1) guides designers and safety planners through scenarios to identify required actions and technical provisions.
- Technical solution required (TSR) approach: Issues identified in the chart are tagged with TSR codes (e.g., TSR00B, TSR14BL) that indicate the type of solution needed and whether responsibility lies with the building (B), the lift system (L) or both (BL).
- Risk focus: Identifies hazards from multiple emergency types and uses ISO 14798 risk methodology to evaluate lift‑related solutions.
- Integration with building systems: Emphasises interaction with Building Management Systems (BMS) and emergency command centres for detection, control and coordinated responses (e.g., controlled parking, shut‑down, or evacuation service).
- Operational checks and failure modes: Addresses lift self‑checks, passenger protection (alarms, voice instructions), safe floors/compartments and limitations for lift operation after structural events.
- Supporting material: Annex A explains technical solutions; Annex B summarizes requirements; Annex C outlines lift design limitations.
Applications
ISO/TR 25743:2010 is a practical resource for:
- Planning and documenting evacuation strategies that may include lifts
- Conducting risk assessments for new or existing buildings
- Defining requirements for lift‑building interfaces and emergency responses
- Specifying functional requirements for BMS and emergency command centres
- Informing retrofit decisions where lift use for evacuation is considered
This report helps determine whether lift use can reduce evacuation times and how to minimize risks when lifts are part of an evacuation plan.
Who should use it
- Building designers & architects
- Lift/elevator manufacturers and engineers
- Fire engineers and emergency planners
- Building owners, facility managers and BMS integrators
- Regulators and safety authorities assessing evacuation strategies
Related standards
- ISO 14798 (risk methodology) is referenced in the report for evaluating lift‑related technical solutions.
(ISO/TR 25743 is a technical report intended to support decision‑making rather than to set mandatory design rules.)
Keywords: ISO/TR 25743:2010, lifts evacuation, elevators for evacuation, lift safety, emergency evacuation, building management system, decision chart, technical solution required.
