Firstly, consider who can safely use the stairs (whilst respecting social distancing on the stairs themselves). For example, able bodied users on the lower floors could temporarily be asked to refrain from using the lifts, leaving them free for freight, those with mobility issues, and those on the upper floors. It may be that working hours need to be staggered to avoid causing peaks in transit numbers. Perhaps encourage this behaviour with a step count challenge for the competitive users!

Use the stairs (safely)

Minimise journeys

Ask passengers to restrict their trips to two per day in each direction. If operating a secured lobby area separate to the stairs, this could be policed by the security staff via the access control system. A physical token system could be considered, but the tokens would need continual sterilisation. For properties with destination control secured by access control, it should be possible to remove users from the lift systems, although this will typically only be effective for upward journeys as most of these systems do not have a secure downward travel feature.

There is limited formal guidance on the use of passenger lifts whilst COVID-19 remains an issue. With social distancing measures of two metres in place, this poses a serious problem for the use and operating of lifts – with the average lift in the UK (630kg/8 persons) having a floor area of around 1.5 square metres. Further issues are the potential for passengers to contaminate the user interfaces in the car and on the landing by direct contact.

To help navigate these challenges, we’ve put together some useful tips for lift use whilst social distancing.

Onwards and upwardsGuidance on lift use whilst social distancing

The ideal number of passengers in any lift is presently one, however CIBSE have suggested that if all passengers wear face coverings, do not stand face-to-face and can stay apart by at least one metre on pre-marked floor markings, that this may be safe. Our own advice is that lifts with a capacity of 1000/kg 13 persons may have an occupancy of two, and anything smaller will have a capacity of one. Larger cars can be measured with a view to higher occupancies.

Limit passengers

Get in touch

Colin EdgarPartner, Vertical Transportation

E: colin.edgar@hollisglobal.comT: +44 7824 018480

Hand sanitiser should be provided in all lift lobbies with passengers instructed to use it before and after each journey, we also recommend passengers only touch buttons, handrails etc, with a glove, coffee stirrer, blunt pencil end or another non-sharp and clean object, convenient disposal facilities for these should be provided. Furthermore, all contact points should be sanitised frequently throughout the day. Service personnel should wear clean gloves and sanitise any contact points.

Contact points

Using the car preference control, the lift should periodically be held with the doors open to encourage an air change. If the car has a ventilation fan, this should be enabled. Your service provider should be able to confirm whether the fan has a speed control that could be increased, or if the fan is part of a ‘sleep mode’ energy saving strategy that could be temporarily disabled to run 24/7.

Ventilation

It is critical that a safe use of lifts policy is written, clearly communicated and enforced as part of your site rules. Prominent signage, video messages, emails and building/company social media are all tools that can be used to reinforce the safety message.

Our experienced Mechanical and Electrical experts can provide further advice in relation to these requirements. Please get in touch with Colin Edgar if you would like to discuss.

CIBSE’s guidance on lift use and occupancy can be found here.

Site rules and policy

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