Firefighting and evacuation lifts: monthly checks, faults and LOLER
In a residential building at least 18m tall or 7 storeys, the responsible person must check any firefighting or evacuation lift every month, under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. A fault that can’t be fixed within 24 hours must be reported to the fire and rescue service. That’s on top of the lift’s maintenance and its LOLER thorough examination, at least every 6 months.
These rules came in on 23 January 2023, and they put a personal duty on whoever is the responsible person for the building. That’s usually the freeholder, the RMC or RTM company, or the managing agent acting for them. In my experience, the monthly check is the part most often assumed to be “in the lift contract”. Usually, it isn’t.
Who does what
Check | Who | How often | The rule behind it |
Monthly check of firefighting and evacuation lifts | The responsible person, or someone they arrange | Every month | Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, Regulation 7 |
Reporting a fault that can’t be fixed within 24 hours | The responsible person | As soon as it’s clear, and again when it’s fixed | Regulation 7 |
Floor plans showing the firefighting and evacuation lifts, in the secure information box | The responsible person | Kept up to date | Regulation 6 |
Routine maintenance | Your lift maintenance contractor | As set in your contract | Maintenance duties under health and safety law |
LOLER thorough examination | An independent competent person | At least every 6 months | LOLER Regulation 9, wherever the lift is used by people at work |
Supplementary tests of the fire operation | Usually your maintenance contractor, at the examiner’s request | When the examiner asks | SAFed guidance on in-service lifts |
Which lifts does this apply to?
The monthly checks apply to two kinds of lift in high-rise residential buildings, meaning at least 18m tall or at least 7 storeys:
Lifts for use by firefighters. These have controls that let the fire service take over the lift during a fire. Older buildings may have a “firemen’s lift”, which has fewer features than a modern firefighters lift, so check what yours actually has.
Evacuation lifts. Lifts designed to help people, often disabled residents, get out of the building during a fire.
An ordinary passenger lift with no fire function isn’t covered by the monthly check, but it still needs maintaining and examining.
What does the monthly check involve?
It doesn’t need a lift engineer. LEIA’s guidance is that the check confirms the lift is in efficient working order, following the industry standard or the manufacturer’s recommendations. The main test is usually:
Operate the firefighter or evacuation switch with its key.
Check the lift returns to the fire service access level or exit floor.
Check it goes into firefighter or evacuation control as it should.
Record the result.
LEIA’s guidance is that the record should be kept and made available to residents. Use your lift’s owner’s manual to build a simple checklist for each lift, because different lifts have different features.
The 24-hour fault rule
If a firefighting or evacuation lift develops a fault that can’t be put right within 24 hours, the responsible person must report it to the local fire and rescue service. Then report it again once it’s fixed. Most fire and rescue services have an online form for this. Keep a note of the reference number. And think about whether the lift being out of action means your fire risk assessment needs looking at too.
Where LOLER comes in
The monthly check proves the fire function works. It doesn’t tell you the lift is safe to keep using. That’s the job of the LOLER thorough examination.
In a block of flats, cleaners, concierge staff, managing agents and contractors use the lift as part of their jobs, so LOLER applies, and a lift that carries people needs a thorough examination at least every 6 months. Even where it doesn’t strictly apply, HSE’s view is that a similar regime may well be reasonably practicable under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The examiner may also ask for supplementary tests of the fire operation. The industry’s guidance on supplementary tests of in-service lifts was revised to cover fire-related operation, for both evacuation and firefighters lifts. Those tests are usually done by your maintenance contractor, with the results sent to the examiner.
More on blocks in our managing agents and residential blocks page.
Three things to check this week
Who is doing the monthly checks? If the answer is “the lift company”, ask to see the last three records. If nobody can find them, they’re probably not being done.
Do you know how to report a fault? Find your fire and rescue service’s online form now, not when the lift breaks down.
When was the last LOLER examination? If the report is more than 6 months old, the lift is overdue.
Lift examinations for residential blocks
We examine passenger, firefighting and evacuation lifts for managing agents, RMCs, housing associations and building owners across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and the Midlands. We also travel anywhere in the UK.
Every examination is carried out and signed by me, Ryan Leavesley MSOE MBES, an engineer surveyor with over 14 years’ experience. We don’t maintain or repair lifts, so we’re never checking our own work. Reports are written on site before I leave, with photos for your maintenance contractor, and we contact you before each examination falls due. Once we’ve agreed a price, it stays fixed for all your ongoing examinations.
Also managing social housing? Read LOLER inspections for housing associations. Or tell us about your building and we’ll come back with a fixed quote.
FAQs
Do firefighting lifts need monthly checks?
Yes, in high-rise residential buildings, meaning at least 18m tall or 7 storeys. Regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires the responsible person to carry out monthly routine checks of lifts for use by firefighters and evacuation lifts.
Who is responsible for monthly firefighting lift checks?
The responsible person for the building, usually the freeholder, RMC or RTM company, or a managing agent acting for them. They can arrange for someone else to do the checks, but the responsibility stays with them.
What happens if a firefighting lift breaks down?
If the fault can’t be fixed within 24 hours, the responsible person must report it to the local fire and rescue service, and report again once it’s fixed. Most fire services have an online form for this.
Does a lift maintenance contract cover the monthly checks?
Usually not. LEIA’s guidance is that the monthly routine checks are very unlikely to be covered by a lift maintenance agreement. Ask your contractor in writing, and ask to see the records.
Do firefighting lifts need a LOLER inspection?
Yes, where they’re used by people at work, which in a block of flats usually includes cleaners, concierge staff and contractors. A lift that carries people needs a thorough examination at least every 6 months, on top of the monthly checks.
Does an engineer have to do the monthly lift check?
No. The checks are designed to be done without specialist lift skills, usually by operating the firefighter or evacuation switch and checking the lift responds correctly. Use the lift’s owner’s manual to build a checklist.
Do the monthly checks apply to buildings under 18m?
Regulation 7’s monthly lift checks apply to high-rise residential buildings, meaning at least 18m tall or at least 7 storeys. Lifts in lower buildings still need maintaining and, where used at work, a LOLER thorough examination.
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