reliably lift-specific risks are being captured in building safety strategies. This challenge is being compounded
by the pace and scale of remediation programmes now underway. As contractors are tasked with upgrading multiple systems simultaneously, often under tight timeframes and budget constraints, lifts can become a late-stage consideration, rather than an integral part of the fire strategy from the outset. This sequencing issue can lead to design clashes, delays on site and, in some cases, the need for costly rework where lift specifications do not align with evacuation or firefighting requirements. At the same time, fragmented responsibility across project teams continues to create grey areas around accountability, particularly in retrofit scenarios where original design intent, current building use and updated regulatory expectations do not always align. Without clear ownership and early-stage
coordination, there is a risk that lift fire safety falls between disciplines, despite its critical role in protecting occupants and enabling emergency response. As a result, industry experts are increasingly calling for a more integrated approach, where lifts are considered alongside fire engineering, building services and access strategies from the earliest design stages, rather than being treated as a standalone system delivered later in the programme. However, there are signs that capability is improving. 66% say that the industry is prepared to meet modern evacuation and firefighting lift standards (such as BS EN 81-72), and 57% say they are confident that lift design standards align with current building safety expectations, suggesting that while confidence in frameworks is growing, practical implementation remains the bigger hurdle. In addition, the research also indicates that the Building Safety Act has driven real operational change within organisations. 61% say they have transformed their processes internally since the BSA to update fire risk assessments for lifts, and 46% say they now employ a lift and escalator consultant, reflecting increased reliance on specialist expertise to manage technical and regulatory complexity. Jason Clark, registered engineer and Chairman at PEW Electrical, said: “What we’re seeing is a sector that understands the importance of lift fire safety, but the reality is that many
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existing buildings simply weren’t built with modern evacuation or firefighting lift requirements in mind, and fire safety performance has to be designed and delivered, not assumed.” “Lifts sit at the intersection of fire
strategy, accessibility and emergency response. If they’re treated as a standalone package rather than as a critical part of the whole building safety system, gaps in technical understanding or assessment can create real risk for residents and first responders.” With remediation programmes
continuing across the UK and scrutiny from the Building Safety Regulator increasing, lift industry leaders warn that fire safety will remain a pressure point unless technical guidance, assessment practices and supply chain coordination improve in parallel with regulatory reform. Commenting on the research,
Dr. Peter Rumley, Principal of Cornwallis Rumley Heritage Consultants, added: “Retrofitting older building stock is complex at the best of times, and in heritage buildings that complexity is even more pronounced.
“We’re working within protected
structures that were never designed to accommodate modern fire strategies or evacuation lifts, so every intervention has to balance safety, access and conservation. This makes early coordination between fire engineers, consultants, lift specialists and conservation teams absolutely essential if compliant solutions are to be delivered without harming the building’s significance.” Clark concluded: “What we do know is that there’s no shortage of commitment in the industry – and the Building Safety Act has evidently accelerated change. But compliance on paper is not the same as confidence in real-world performance, especially in retrofit scenarios where design constraints are severe. “The challenge now is translating that
commitment into consistent, technically robust solutions that work across both new build and existing stock.” PEW Electrical is urging main contractors,
developers, designers and specifiers to engage specialists early to avoid gaps in technical knowledge that could undermine wider building safety strategies.
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