5-26 The overspeed safety gear is normally mounted on the car sling and acts directly between the

car and rack giving immediate response to an overspeed condition. There is neither a governor rope nor any well-mounted equipment. The overspeed governor and arrester gear are usually contained within a sealed enclosure and act as a single system. The overspeed governor is directly driven at car speed by a steel pinion in permanent mesh with the mast rack. The arrester gear applies braking torque to the same pinion and brings the lift to a halt with all the arresting forces being absorbed through the rack. Braking is very progressive and typical braking distances are about 1 m from the point of tripping. The brakes themselves are of a centrifugal design and once activated, facilities can be provided to enable the brake to be released manually from within the car to provide a means of self rescue. This might be used on industrial applications such as chimneys, masts or cranes etc. where it is not possible to access the lift car from a conventional lift well but should not be provided on lifts used by the public or other untrained operatives. Rack and pinion lifts are usually installed without a counterweight. However, counterweight units are used for heavy capacity applications, the weights being guided within the mast, and all vertical forces are transmitted directly to the foundation. The pulleys associated with the counterweight are mounted in the top mast section.

Transportation systems in buildings building is fitted throughout with an automatic sprinkler system the requirements are less onerous. BS 9999 does not define how a firefighting lift should be designed but calls on BS EN 81-72(25) that details the special considerations required for a firefighting lift, which should have: a recall switch located at the fire access level been installed to meet the requirements of BS EN 81-1(2), or BS EN 81-2(3), as applicable a rated load of at least 630 kg internal car dimensions should be a minimum of 1100 mm wide by1400 mm deep run to the furthest floor of the building from the fire service access level (FSAL) in less than 60 seconds automatic power-operated doors doors at least 800 mm wide by 2000 mm high with a fire rating of at least one hour position indicators provided in the car and at the firefighters access level (FSAL) a two-way intercom between the car, machine room or emergency and inspection panel for machine room less lifts and firefighters access level (FSAL) a notice stating FIREFIGHTING LIFT: DO NOT USE FOR GOODS OR REFUSE a notice stating: FIREFIGHTING LIFT: DO NOT OBSTRUCT LIFT DOORS DO NOT LEAVE GOODS IN LIFT at every firefighting lift lobby, where the firefighting lift is the only lift in the building emergency trap doors in the car roof provision for rescue from inside and outside the car buttons and controls protected from the effects of dripping water all electrical equipment protected against the effects of water an audible and visual alarm to alert maintenance personnel of operation of the firefighting switch a secondary electrical supply.

5.8.7

Machinery location

There is no requirement for a large machine or pump room and a well is not required to support the vertical loads and forces associated with the lift. All vertical loads from the lift are transferred via the rack to the mast. The drive motors and gearboxes are mounted directly onto the lift car frame. This greatly reduces the need for machinery space and often a small room capable of accommodating the main switchgear, distribution board and the controller cabinet is all that is required. In some cases, it is possible to mount the control cabinet behind an access panel on the lift car producing a machine room-less installation. However, maintenance access and emergency rescue procedures need to be planned carefully in such cases.

5.9
5.9.1

Lifts for other purposes

Firefighting lifts

Firefighting lifts are described in detail in section 6.3.

(22,23) 22,23) and BS Building g Regulations g Approved pp Document B( (24) 24) set down when firefighting 9999( g g lifts are required q to be g within the UK. BS 9999 indicates installed in a building g (or ( parts p of buildings) g ) where either the that buildings g of the surface of the floor of the topmost p storey y height ( g plant p rooms) ) exceeds 18 m, , or the depth p of the (excluding y exceeds 10 m, , surface of the floor of the lowermost storey provided with a firefighting g g well containing ga should be p g g stair, , a firefighting g g lobby y with a fire main, , and firefighting g g lift. One firefighting g g well is required q for a firefighting y 900 m2 of floor area on any y given g storey. y If the every

The provision of firefighting lifts thus requires substantial expenditure and therefore the need for such a lift should be properly established. Once installed a firefighting lift can be used for normal passenger circulation provided it is not obstructed. Some firefighting lifts may be part of a passenger group, where this can be arranged or where accommodation elsewhere in the building is not available. Another firefighting facility found in older buildings is a firemans lift. This lift is fitted with a recall switch (behind a break-glass panel) to the main access floor. It should not be confused with a firefighting lift as it is not fire protected and does not incorporate the control features or the additional electrical and mechanical protection of a modern firefighting lift.