MS 1183 5 1990

MS ISO/IEC TR 10037 : 1995
MALAYSIAN
STANDARD
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MS 1183 : PART 5 : 1990

ICS : 91.120
CODE OF PRACTICE
FOR FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
OF BUILDINGS
PART 5 : FIREFIGHTING STAIRWAYS
AND LIFTS
STANDARDS & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA

© Copyright
©
without the prior permission in writing of SIRIM
SIRIM. No part of this publication may be photocopied or otherwise reproduced
MS 1183 Part 5 : 1990
This Malaysian Standard, which had been approved by the Mechanical Engineering Industry
Standards Committee and endorsed by the Council of the Standards and Industrial Research
Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) was pubUshed under the authority of the SIRINI Council in
March, 1990.
SIRIM wishes to draw attention to the fact that this Malaysian Standard does not purport to
include all the necessary provisions of a contract.
The Malaysian Standards are subject to periodical review to keep abreast of progress in the
industries concerned. Suggestions for improvements will be recorded and in due course brought
to the notice of the Committees charged with the revision of the standards to which they refer.
The following references relate to the work on this standard

Committee reference : SIRIM 406/2/6/1/2
Draft for comment : D 132 (ISC F)
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No. Date of issue Text affected

MS 1183 : Part 5 1990
CONTENTS
Page
Committee representation 3
Foreword 4
Section one. General

Scope 5
2 Definitions 5
3 Relationship with statutory provisions 7
Section two. Painning and construction

4 Firefighting shafts 8
5 Firefighting stairways 11
6 Firefighting lobbies 11
7 Fire mains and landing valves 13
8 Smoke control 13
9 Construction of the firefighting shaft 19
Section three. The firefighting lift installation

10 General 23
11 Firefighting lift cars 23
12 Firefighting lift wells 24
13 Firefighting lift machine rooms 26
14 Firefighting lift switch 26
15 Fire service communications system 29
16 Electrical supplies and installations 29
Appendices
A Operational tests for firefighting lifts 31
B Publications referred to 33
Figures
1 Typical firefighting shaft layouts 12
2 Smoke control for a typical firefighting stairway,
lobby and lift next to an exterior wall 14
lobby and lift not situated next to an exterior wall 15
lobby and lift with access from an external open balcony, 16
5 Passenger lifts adjacent to a firefighting lift 28
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Committee representation
The Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee under whose supervision this Malaysian Standard was prepared,
comprises representatives from the following Government Ministries, trade, commerce and manufacturer associations and
scientific and professional bodies.
Ministry of Defence (Defence Science and Technology Centre)
Ministry of Labour and Manpower (Factories and Machinery Department)

Ministry of Trade and Industry (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority)
Ministry of Works and Utilities (Public Works Department)
University of Malaya
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Institution of Engineers
The Technical Committee on Fire Prevention and Protection which prepared this Malaysian Standard consists of
representatives from the following member organisations:
Encik M. Chelliah (Chairman) BOMBA
Kapt. Kamarudin Abu Hassan Kementerian Pertahanan
Ir. Dr. Ow Chee Sheng IEM
Encik Anthony Dibble! Persatuan Insuran Am Malaysia

Encik Lim Chia Fook
Encik Lok Aik Eng PAM
Ir. Thin Choon Chai MFPA
Encik P. Sivakumaran Persatuan Keselamatan Perindustrian Malaysia (MSIS)

Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hassan JKJ
Encik F~halidHassan (Secretary) Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia
A Technical Sub—committee on Codes of Practice for Fire Prevention and Protection consists of representatives from the
following organizations:
Encik M. Chelliah (Chairman) BOMBA
Encik Yusof Sidek/ BOMBA
Encik Pauzan Ahmad

Ir. Wong See Foong IEM
Encik Lee Seng Foong DBKL
Encik Lim Chia Fook PIAM
Encik Loh Aik Eng PAM
Encik Peter Sung MFPA
Encik Khalid Hassan (Secretary) Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
FOREWORD
This Malaysian Standard was prepared by the Technical Sub-committee on Code of Practice for
Fire Protection formed by the Technical Committee on Fire Prevention and Protection under the
authority of the Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee.
In the preparation of this standard, the reference was made to BS 5588 : Part 5 : 1986, ‘Fire
precautions in the design and construction of buildings. Part 5 : Code of practice for fire-fighting
stairways and lifts’.
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MS 1183 : Part S : 1990
CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN THE DESIGN AND

CONSTRUCTiON OF BUILDINGS.
PART 5 FIREFIGHTING STAIRWAYS AND LIFTS
SECTION ONE. GENERAL
1. SCOPE
This code of practice provides guidance for designers and the building construction team in
providing firefighting stairways and lifts to assist the fire service in firefighting operations.
Some recommendations are also made with respect to passenger, goods and service lifts adjacent
to a firefighting lift where they affect the use and safety of the firefighting lift.
No recommendations are made for the use of any lift for the purpose of escape in the event of
fire.
NOTE. The titles of the publications referred to in this code are listed in appendix B.
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this code the following definitions apply.
2.1 Call. The operation of pressing a landing call button to call the lift, or, in the lift car, of
pressing the appropriate button to take the lift to the desired level.
NOTE. See also 2.22.
2.2 Car control station. The control panel in the lift car for the use of passenger.
2.3 Control equipment. Electrical switches, door interlocks and apparatus associated with the
operation and programming of the lift service.
2.4 Depth (of a building). The level of the surface of the lowest point of the floor of the
lowest storev, measured from the level of the surface •of the highest fire service access roadway
adjacent to the entrance to the firefighting shaft where the measurement is greatest.
2.5 Evacuation level(s). The storey or storeys at which final exits suitable for the evacuation
of persons are available.
NOTE. This is not necessary fire service access level (2.13).
2.6 Fire door. A door or shutter provided for the passage of persons, air or things which,
together with its frame and hardware as installed in a building, is intended, when closed, to resist
the passage of fire and/or gaseous products of combustion and is capable of meeting specified
performance criteria to those ends.
2.7 Firefighting lift. A lift designated to have additional protection, with controls that enable
it to be used under the direct control of the fire brigade in fighting a fire.
2.8 Firefighting lobby. A protected lobby for providing access from a firefighting stairway
to the accommodation area, and to any associated firefighting lift.
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MS 1183: PartS: 1990
2.9 Firefighting shaft. A protected shaft containing a firefighting stairway, firefighting

lobbies and, if provided, a firefighting lift.
2.10 Firefighting stairway. A protected stairway communicating with the accommodation area
only through a firefighting lobby.
2.11 Fire main. A water supply pipe, fitted with landing valves at specified points, installed in
a building for firefighting purposes.
2.12 Fire resistance. The ability of a component or construction of a building to satisfy for a
stated period of time some or all of the criteria specified in the appropriate Part of BS 476,
currently Part 8, namely stability, integrity and insulation.
2.13 Fire service access level. A level at which there is suitable entry to the building and to a
firefighting shaft from an area to which fire service appliances have access.
2.14 Height (of a building). The level of the surface of the highest point of the floor of the
highest storey (excluding any such storey consisting exclusively of plant rooms), measured from
the level of the surface of the lowest fire service access roadway adjacent to the entrance to the
firefighting shaft where the measurement is greatest.
2.15 Lift landing. The lobby floor space from which the lift car is normally entered at each
level.
2.16 Lift landing door. Hinged or sliding portion of a lift well enclosure at each landing that
gives access to a lift car when open.
NOTE. This is not the lift car door.
2.17 Lift machine. The unit, including the motor, that drives and stops the lift.
2.18 Lift well. Space in which the lift car and the counterweight (if any) move. This space is
materially enclosed by the bottom of the pit, the approximately vertical walls and the ceiling.
2.19 Non-combustible. Capable of satisfying the performance requirements specified in BS

476: Part 4.
2.20 Pressurization. A method of protecting the firefighting shaft against the ingress of smoke
by maintaining the air within it at pressures higher than those in adjacent parts of the building.
2.21 Protected. Enclosed (other than any part which is an external wall of a building) with
fire—resisting construction.
2.22 Registered call. A call made on a car control station or from a landing call button that is
accepted by the control equipment.
2,23 Smoke shaft. An enclosed space in a building provided for venting smoke from a
firefighting stairway or one or more firefighting lobbies.
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
3. RELATIONSHIP WITH STATUTORY PROVISIONS
3.1 General. It is important to appreciate the relationships between this code and the various
statutory provisions relevant to the design and construction of new buildings and to the fire
precautions to be provided in existing buildings. The relevant legislation indicated in general
terms in 3.2 has to be complied with in the event of a conflict with this code.
3.2 Building regulations. The design and construction of new buildings, and of alterations of
existing buildings, are controlled by the relevant local authorities under the various statutory
provisions.
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
SECTION TWO. PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION
4. FIREFIGHTENG SHAFTS
4.1 Criteria for the provision of firefighting shafts.
4.1.1 Commentary. In high buildings or buildings with a number of basements it is necessary to

provide firefighters with a firefighting lift to take them and their equipment to the fire, so as to
avoid the delays and fatigue that would occur in walking up or down stairs with heavy
equipment. Associated with a firefighting lift is a firefighting stairway for access and escape in
emergency; with protected lobbies at each landing, containing a landing valve on a dry or wet
rising or falling fire main. In large buildings used for trade, warehousing or manufacturing
purposes which, although not high or deep enough to warrant a firefighting lift, are sufficiently
large to make firefighting from outside the building difficult, a firefighting stairway without a
firefighting lift may be required.
When buildings are designed the level(s) of the fire service access roadway(s) may not be known.
Whilst in these circumstances, the measurements of depth and height (see 2.4 and 2.14) may be
made from ground level for initial design purposes. The building, when constructed, will still
have to satisfy the criteria for the provision of firefighting shafts detailed in 4.12.
NOTE. Where fire service access is required it should be agreed with the fire authority.
~L2 Recnnxmendations. The following recommendations are applicable.
(a) Buildings or parts of buildings of height (see 2.14) exceeding 18 m or depth (see 2.4)
exceeding 9 m should be provided with firefighting shafts each containing:
(1) a firefighting stairway (see clause 5);
(2) firefighting lobbies provided with a fire main (see clause 6);
(3) a firefighting lift installation (see section three).
NOTE. The reference to parts of buildings covers situations such as a tower block rising above a podium.
(b) Buildings of height (see 2.14) exceeding 7.5 m, with the area of any storey above the
ground storey not less than 600 m2, that are used for trade, warehousing or manufacturing
purposes, should be provided with firefighting shafts each containing:
(I) a fire fighting stairway (see clause 5);
(2) firefighting lobbies (see clause 6).
4.2 Number of firefighting shafts.
4.2.1 Commentary. More than one firefighting shaft may be needed, depending on the distance
from a firefighting lobby at which it is practical to run out a hose and fight a fire. If there are
towers rising from a podium, even though each tower may be of limited floor area, a
firefighting shaft is required to serve each individual tower.
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MS 1183: PartS: 1990
4.2.2 Recommendation. Sufficient firefighting shafts should be provided such that on every
storey
(a) with a height (see 2.14) exceeding 18 m; or
(b) with a depth (see 2.4) exceeding 9m; or
(c) above the ground storey in buildings as described in 4.1.2(b);

the area on that storey served by any firefightitng shaft does not exceed 1000 m2 and the distance
along which hose can be laid from the doorway between the firefighting shaft and the
accommodation to any point on that storey does not exceed 60 m.
4.3 Extent of firefighting stairways or lifts
4.3.1 Commentary. Whilst it is preferable for a firefighting stairway or lift to serve all storeys
in a building, this does not invariably mean every floor, for example in buildings containing
maisonettes accessed at one level only.
4.3.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable.
(a) Every storey in the building should be served by a firefighting stairway (see also 5.2(c)).
(b) If a firefighting shaft contains a firefighting lift, the firefighting stairway in that shaft
should serve every storey served by the firefighting lift.
(c) With the exception of any storey on which there is no entrance to any accommodation, for
example, as in the case of some designs of flats or maisonettes, and of the topmost storey of the
building if it consists exclusively of plant rooms:
(1) in a building of depth (see 2.4) exceeding 9 m the firefighting lift should serve all storeys
below the fire service access level;
(2) in a building of height (see 2.14) exceeding 18 m, the firefighting lift should serve all
storeys above the fire service access level except the topmost floor which accommodates a
penthouse occupying not more than 50% of the floor area immediately below.
(3) in a building of depth (see 2.4) exceeding 9 m and of height (see 2.14) exceeding 18 m. all
storeys should be served by a firefighting lift (although not necessarily by the same lift).
(d) If a building contains separate units of accommodation with their own entrances from
common circulation spaces, for example as is the case with some flats and maisonettes, there
should be access from a firefighting lift, either directly or via a common circulation space, to
each unit.
4.4 Location of firefighting shafts
4.4.1 Commentary. Firefighting shafts should preferably be sited against an exterior wall to
facilitate permanent ventilation and smoke control. In factory, trade and warehouse buildings,
and in the case of other occupancies with a similar high fire risk or high fire load, firefighting
shafts should be sited against an exterior wall, even if a pressurization system or a smoke shaft is
provided, to facilitate firefighting and for the safety of fire service personnel.
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
The separation of the accommodation from the firefighting shaft (see 4.6), together with the
provision of means for smoke release in firefighting stairways and firefighting lobbies, is
intended to provide a substantially smoke-free environment for firefighting operations.
4.4.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable.
(a) Firefighting shafts in factory, trade and warehouse buildings and other occupancies with a
similar or higher fire risk or fire load should be sited against an exterior wall.
(b) Firefighting shafts in buildings other than described in (a) should preferably be sited
against an exterior wall to facilitate smoke control (see clause 8).
4.5 Fire service access into firefighting shafts
4.5.1 Commentary. It is preferable for the fire service access to the firefighting shaft to be
directly from the open air. For firefighting shafts containing a firefighting lift, if it is not
possible to enter directly from the open air, then the route to the firefighting shaft needs to be
protected by fire—resisting construction to ensure that a fire does not affect the route or cut off
the means of escape for personnel fighting a fire within the building.
4.5.2 Recommendation. At fire service access level, entry to a firefighting shaft should be
available from either
(a) the open air; or
(b) where the firefighting shaft includes a firefighting lift, from two separate directions, at
least one being from the open air by way of a protected corridor giving access solely to the
firefighting shaft.
4.6 Layout of fire fighting shafts
4.6.1 Commentary. It is essential that firefighting personnel, having left the firefighting lift to
enter the firefighting lobby, can enter the firefighting stairway in case of need without having to
traverse an area of risk within any storey of the building. Therefore it is necessary that the
firefighting lift, lobbies and stairway are within a protected enclosure and that the firefighting
stairway is not remote from the firefighting lift and lobbies.
NOTE. This code recommends that fire service personnel have access from the firefighting lift to the firefighting stairway
(via the firefighting lobby) without entering the accommodation, both for their safety and to ease the movement of
equipment. However, in blocks of flats or maisonettes there may be circumstances in which the firefighting lift may be
separated from the firefighting stairway and fire main; such cirèumstances are detailed in B5 5588 : Section 1.2.
Fire protection of a firefighting stairway or lift relies among other things upon the existence of
two fire-resisting doorsets forming a lobby to protect the firefightin,g lift and stairway from a
fire on the floor area.
Except where a fire service access level is also the lowest storey served by a firefighting lift, the
firefighting stairway is always separated from the firefighting lift by a firefighting lobby (see
figure 1). This is to minimize the risk of smoke entering the stairway via the lift well.
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
4.6.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable:
(a) At all levels other than fire service access level, access to the accommodation from the
firefighting lift or stairway should be provided.
NOTE 1. At fire service access level, access to the accommodation from the firefighting shaft is not essential.
NOTE 2. If the firefighting lift does not serve the topmost storey of a building (see 4.3.2(c)), the firefighting lobby on the
topmost storey serves the firefighting stairway only. If the topmost storey consists only of the firefighting lift motor room, no
lobby is necessary.
(b) The firefighting stairway and any firefighting lift should be separated from the
accommodation by at least two fire doors.
NOTE. One of the fire doors between the firefighting lift and the accommodation will be the firefighting lift landing door (see
9.3(a)(3) and 9.4).
(c) All communication between the firefighting stairway and firefighting lift and the
accommodation should only be via the firefighting lobby.
(d) The firefighting stairway and firefighting lift should be separated by fire-resisting
construction in accordance with 9.2 and 9.3(c) at all levels other than a fire service access level
that is the lowest storey served by a firefighting lift.
5. FIREFIGHTING STAIRWAYS
5.1 Commentary. Firefighting stairways, whether provided in association with a firefighting

lift or not, need to be sufficiently wide to be easily used by firefighting personnel carrying
firefighting equipment. Firefighting stairways need to be provided with means for smoke control
to ensure that they remain relatively smoke-free; they also need to be subdivided at ground level
to prevent smoke from basement storeys from penetrating the stairway above ground level.
5.2 Recommendations
(a) Firefighting stairways should be designed in accordance with the recommendations of

BS 5395 : Part 1, with a minimum clear width (between the handrails) of 1.0 m.
(b) Firefighting stairways should be provided with facilities for smoke control (see clause 8).
(c) Firefighting stairways serving floors both above and below ground level should be
separated at ground level by a fire door (see figure 1(b)).
6. FIREFIGHTING LOBBIES
6.1 Commentary. Lobbies that contain a fire main have to be of sufficient size to enable fire
service personnel to lay out the hose and connect it to the landing valve without undue
congestion, but the lobby should not be so large as to encourage any form of storage or
unauthorized use.
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Fire service •sccsss at Fire service access at

fire service access level fire service access level
(a) Fire service access level (lowest storey of a building) (b) Fire service access level (lower storeys served by a
firefighting lift)
NOTE. A stairway serving floors both above and ground
I.a~e1a~J~r ~ st~rn~ndlevel which
may not necessarily be fire service access level.
(c) Storeys other than fire service access level
Key
Minimum fire resistance of 2 h from outside the firefighting shaft
and 1 h from inside the firefighting shaft
_________ Minimum fire resistance of 1 h from both sides
Figure 1. Typical firefighting shaft layouts
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MS 1183 : PartS : 1990
The layout of a firefighting lobby and position of all doors should reduce, as far as is practicable,
risks arising from the creation of dead-ends (in which fir?men may become cut off from access
to the safety of the stairway or become disoriented in poor visibility) and from the direct
exposure of lift landing doors to the effects of fire through the doorway leading into the floor
area.
6.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable:
(a) Firefighting lobbies should not form part of a general circulation route within any storey
except for circulation between storeys and to lavatory accommodation containing no fire risk.
(b) Firefighting lobbies should have a clear floor area of not less than 5 m2 nor more than 20
2
m , with no principal dimension less than 1.5 m nor more than 8 m.
(c) Firefighting lobbies should be provided with facilities for smoke control (see clause 8).
(d) Where the firefighting shaft contains a fire main, a landing valve should be sited in each
firefighting lobby at all levels other than fire service access level.
(e) Firefighting lobbies should be clearly and conspicuously marked with a notice complying
with MS 982 stating ‘Firefighting lobby : do not use for storage’.
7. FIRE MAINS AND LANDING VALVES
7.1 Commentary. Firefighting shafts that do not include a firefighting lift need not be
provided with a fire main. Nevertheless, an adequate supply of water for firefighting purposes
will still be necessary and the fire and water authorities should therefore be consulted.
In buildings provided with a fire main, landing valves ought to be sited where personnel can
safely lay out and charge hose lines before entering the fire compartment.
(a) Wet and dry rising (and falling) fire mains should be in accordance with BS 5306 : Part 1.
(b) Landing valves should be so sited and their outlets directed:
(i) so that access to them is unobstructed;
(ii) away from lift landing doors so there is minimal risk of any discharge of water from the
outlet coming into contact with lift controls and communications equipment or of flowing into
the lift well;
(iii) so that hoses can be connected, charged and advanced into the accommodation without
excessive kinking or obstruction to doors and exit routes.
8. SMOKE CONTROL
8.1 Commentary. Effective means are needed to maintain the firefighting shaft clear of
serious contamination by smoke. This need may be satisfied by~an automatically activated
pressurization system or by the provision of openings for natural ventilation.
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MS 1183 : PartS : 1990
Because of the unpredictability of the flow of smoke and of the fresh air needed to disperse it
through windows, ventilation opening, etc., the aim should be for ventilation openings to be as
large as is practicable, and wherever possible arranged to achieve cross—ventilation. However, the
problems experienced from high winds when extensive permanent openings have been adopted
for ventilation in the past is recognized and therefore the recommendations of openable
ventilation to provide the major part of the ventilation required, together with small areas of
permanent ventilation which have to be maintained open at all times for pressure equalization.
Reference to smoke venting via a smoke shaft is made, with regard both to the inconvenience of
permanent openings (excessive draughts, etc.) and also to circumstances in which it may be
necessary for the fire service to be able to exercise control over the ventilation to meet
operational needs at the time of a fire. No provision need be made for smoke venting in the lift
well over and above the permanent ventilation required by BS 5655 : Part 1.
Typical arrangements for smoke control are shown in figures 2, 3 and 4.
Key
Minimum fire resistance of 2 h from outside the firelighting shaft
and 1 h from inside the f,refight~ngshaft
Minimum fire resistance of I h from both sides
If the opening is lest than ~00mm from the perimeter of the firefighting theft.
Figure 2. Smoke control for a typical firefighting stairway,

lobby and lift next to an exterior wall
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Landing valve of
fire main vehf
Self-do
fire doors
le area
Key
Minimum fire resistance of 2 Il from outside the firefighting shaft
Minimum fire resistance of 1 h from both sides

lobby and lift not situated next to an exterior wall
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Balcony
Landing valve of fire main

Key
Minimum fire resistance of 2 h from outside the firefighting shaft
‘‘~~ Minimum fire resistance of 1 h from both sides
NOTE. The only concession to the presence of an open balcony is that no window is required for
ventilation to the lobby, as ventilation is provided by the doors. However, it should be noted that
CP 3 : chapter iv : Part 1 does not include a recommendation that a lobby be provided in this
situation, i.e. it is acceptable to provide access to the firefighting lift directly from an external
open balcony.

lobby and lift with access from an external open balcony
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MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
8.2 General recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable:
(a) Any firefightitng shaft serving a basement with a floor level more than 9 m below ground
level should be provided with a pressurization system (see 8.3). All other firefighting shafts
should be provided with a pressurization system (see 8.3) or natural ventilation, either direct to
open air (see 8.4 and 8.5) or via smoke shafts (see 8.4, 8.5 and 8.6).
(b) All openable windows and vents provided for smoke control (with the exception of vents
sited above a stairway (see item (c)) should not be top hung, should open a minimum of 30°,
should be clearly identifiable and should be fitted with:
(i) simple lever handles; or
(ii) rotary drives to simple rack or gear operated opening devices; or
(iii) locks which can be operated with a square-ended key*.
(c) Any vent sited at the top of a firefighting stairway should be provided with a remote
control mechanism located adjacent to the fire service access doorway and be clearly marked as to
its function and means of operation. All connections between the remote control and the opening
mechanism should be within the firefighting shaft. Where any part of the remote control
mechanism is powered by electricity, a stand-by supply should be provided (see also clause 16).
8.3 Recommendations for the pressurization of firefighting shafts. The following

recommendations are applicable:
(a) The pressurization system should be designed and installed to achieve pressure differences
across all relevant doors in accordance with BS 5588 : Part 4 and its operation should be
controlled by an automatic fire detection system complying with BS 5839 : Part 1. It should keep
both the firefighting lift well and stairway clear of smoke. There should be no possibility of
pressure within the stairway driving smoke entering the lobby. This should be achieved by
providing separate pressurization of the lift well and stairway, exhausting on each floor via the
lobbies into the accommodation as recommended in BS 5588 : Part 4.
(b) Accommodation for a pressurization plant and fire protection of associated ducting should
be in accordance with the recommendations for the construction of firefighting shafts (see clause
9).
(c) All apparatus, cables, etc. supplying electrical power to the pressurization system should
be in accordance with the recommendations in clause 16.
8.4 Recommendations for the venting of firefighting stairways by natural means. The
following recommendations are applicable.
(a) An openable vent with an area of not less than 5% of the horizontal cross-sectional area
of the stairway should be provided at the top of the stairway, sited where it will not be adversely
affected by wind pressures.
*The sockets of such locks, often known as budget locks (carriage key type), should be 8 mm x 8 mm in cross section and not
less than 25 mm deep.
17
NIS 1183: Part 5:1990
(b) Openable vents with an area of not less than 15% of the horizontal cross-sectional area of
the stairway should be provided at each storey level, except basements. Stairways leading directly
to a final exit and serving basements with floor levels not more than 9 m below ground level and
the ground floor only need not be provided with openable vents at any level. Any door opening
directly to open air should be considered to contribute to the requirements for venting, and
where possible such doors should not be kept locked.
NOTE. Stairways serving basements with floor levels more than 9 m below ground level should be pressurized (see 8.2(a) and
8.3).
(c) Permanent vents should not be provided.
8.5 Recommendations for the venting of firefighting lobbies by natural means. The
following recommendations are.applicable.
(a) A permanent vent with clear area of not less than 0.05 m2 should be provided in each
lobby at or close to ceiling level.
(b) An openable area of not less than 25% of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lobby
should be provided, with the vent(s) sited as near to the ceiling as is practicable.
(c) Lobbies at basement level that cannot be provided with windows should each be provided
with a smoke outlet at high level having a minimum cross-sectional area of I m2. Vents from
lobbies at basement level may be covered at or about ground level with breakable covers.
8.6 Recommendations for smoke shafts. The following recommendations are applicable.
(a) The firefighting stairway and the firefighting lobbies should be vented into separate
smoke shafts. Firefighting lobbies at each basement level should be individually served by
separate smoke shafts with permanent ventilation. Smoke shafts serving basements should
discharge to fresh air at ground level and should be located clear of final exits and the fire
service access.
(b) Any smoke shaft serving a firefighting stairway or lobbies should be fully open to the
external air at top and bottom and the outlets should be sited where they will not be adversely
affected by wind pressures. Smoke shafts should have:
(i) a minimum internal area of 25% of the lobby floor area, or 3 m2, whichever is the
greater, with a minimum internal dimension of 1 in, where serving lobbies;
(ii) a minimum internal area of 15°/o of the horizontal cross—sectional area of the stairway, or
1.5 m2, whichever is the greater, with a minimum internal dimension of 0.75 m, where serving a
stairway.
(c) Openings into a smoke shaft common to two or more lobbies should be arranged so that
the top one-third of the opening is a bottom-hinged hopper with metal side baffles, opening into
the ventilation shaft to a maximum of 30° from the vertical, and the remaining two-thirds are
side-hung panels opening into the ventilation shaft.
NOTE. This arrangement is applicable only to lobbies at or above ground level (see item (a)).
(d) Opening(s) into the smoke shaft should be guarded to a height of 1.1 m.
18
MS 1183: Part 5:1990
9. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIREFIGHTING SHAFT
9.1 Commentary. Given good building management, a fire should not start in a firefighting
shaft. In practice, fires occasionally Start Ifi lifts and lobbies, and the recommendations take
account of this. The construction separating the firefighting shaft from the rest of the building,
and also the internal walls of the firefighting shaft, need to be sufficiently robust to withstand
mechanical damage both in day-to-day use and during the course of a fire. That part of the
structure which separates the firefighting shaft from areas of risk should have a high level of fire
resistance. It is recognized that the fire resistance requirement for the firefighting shaft may be
greater than that for the rest of the building. This mismatch in fire resistance requirements
should not be interpreted to mean that the firefighting shaft should survive collapse for any
longer than the primary structural elements in the rest of the building, but rather that the extra
fire resistance should be regarded as a factor of safety justified on grounds of life safety for the
firefighters.
A firefighting lift installation is perhaps most vulnerable when a fire occurs in a roof which also
contains its machine room. This code seeks to afford equal protection to the firefighting shaft.
A similar degree of protection is of course necessary for power supplies, generators and all other
apparatus essential for the operation of the firefighting lift, and this is covered in clause 16.
Although the preferred location for the firefighting shaft is against an exterior wall, there is a
possibility that fire in the accommodation adjacent to the firefighting shaft could threaten the
firefighting shaft if it broke through an opening in the exterior wall, or through the exterior wall
itself, and flames were fanned horizontally along the face of the firefighting shaft. Although
~e~rio~.e...•t resist fire from within a building, it has been felt necessary for openings
in exterior walls to firefighting shafts to be protected by fire—resisting construction if they are
sited close to the perimeter of the firefighting shaft.
Satisfactory performance of fire resistance of structural elements is ascertained by compliance
with one of the following:
(a) specifications tested, or assessed, under the appropriate Part of BS 476 (currently Part 8);
(b) appropriate Malaysian Standard specification or codes of practice;
(c) specification referred to under building legislation.
The performance of a fire door when tested in accordance with BS 476 : Part 8 is judged by its
time to failure (in minutes) for each of the criteria of ‘stability’, ‘integrity’ and ‘insulation’,
regulations and codes of practice do not normally, however, specify any performance for
insulation.
For the purposes of this code, fire doors are designated by reference to their required
performance (in minutes) for integrity only.
NOTE 1. The omission of any requirement for stability is in agreement with PD 6512 Part 1, which takes account of
proposed changes to BS 476 Part 8. BS 476 Part 8 is undergoing revision and the section relevant to the testing of doorsets
will be published as Part 22. It is proposed that, in line with international practice, Part 22 will no longer have a stability
criterion for doorsets.
Methods for the evaluation of doors to control the movement of smoke will be published as
Sections of BS 476 : Part 31. The methods take account of three different stages of a fire:
19
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(i) ambient temperature conditions;

(ii) medium temperature conditions;
(iii) high temperature conditions.
So far only BS 476 : Section 31.1 has been published, and therefore it is not possible to include a
recommendation that fire doors resist the passage of smoke other than at ambient temperatures.
However, fire doors are commonly fitted with a thermally activated seal in order to retain the
door in its frame during a BS 476 : Part 8 test, and such seals will also tend to reduce to a low
level the passage of hotter smoke.
Partitions, doors and windows containing traditional annealed wired glass based on soda-lime-
silica, although possibly able to satisfy the requirements of the appropriate Part BS 476 for
periods of up to 90 mm in terms of stability and integrity, nevertheless permit local high heat
transmission and radiation through the glass and so are unable to satisfy the requirement for
insulation for more than a few minutes. Such heat transmission and radiation would constitute a
hazard to firefighting personnel.
Unwired ‘glass’ products able to satisfy the requirements for stability and integrity are available,
and some products provide insulation’ for at least 30 mm.
The type of glazed element permitted in the firefighting shaft depends on ~whethereither:
(i) the glazed element should afford the same protection as the remarnder of the enclosure in
which it is situated; or
(ii) it is only necessary for the glazed element to afford protection against the passage of
flames and hot gases.
NOTE 2. PD 6512 Part 3 (in preparation) gives advice and information on the performance of glazed elements in buildings.
Floor coverings should be fully secured to the floor, with floors being maintained so as to
minimize the risk of slipping on the floor or floor covering when it becomes wet. The
flammability of any textile floor covering should be low.
A small number of fires occur in lifts and lobbies, usually because of the transport and storage of
goods and waste materials. Such fires may render useless a firefighting lift but the danger may
not be obvious to the management of a building.
9.2 Recommendation for structure and materials. Walls (other than external walls), floors and
ceilings enclosing or separating firefighting lift wells, machine rooms, stairways, lobbies and
smoke shafts should be of brick, concrete or other construction which is equivalent with respect
to durability and resistance to impact damage.
9.3 Recommendations for fire resistance. The following recommendations are applicable:
(a) Fire resistance, where recommended in this code, implies the following:
(i) for walls and partitions, compliance for stability, integrity and insulation;
(ii) for glazed elements, compliance for the appropriate criteria (see 9.5);
20
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(iii) for doors, compliance for integrity when each side is exposed separately to test by fire.
except in the case of lift landing doors, where performance is in respect of exposure of the
landing side only.
(b) Construction separating a firefighting shaft from other parts of a building or areas of risk
should have a fire resistance of not less than 2 h for the sides remote from the firefighting shaft
and not less than 1 h for sides internal to the firefighting shaft.
(c) Other parts of the construction enclosing or separating firefighting lift wells, machine
rooms, stairway, lobbies and smoke shafts should have a fire resistance of not less than 1 h from
each side, except that openings of minimum size necessary for ropes and cables are permitted in
the construction separating a machine room from a lift well.
(d) If the firefighting shaft is adjacent to an exterior wall, and any opening in the exterior
wall of the firefighting shaft is less than 500 mm from the perimeter of the firefighting shaft,
then at least 500 mm, measured horizontally, of the external wall immediately adjacent to the
opening and extending beyond the perimeter of the firefighting shaft should be of construction
with a fire resistance of not less than 1 h from both sides (see figure 2).
(e) Any electrical sub-station, distribution board, generator, hydraulic pump or other
apparatus which supplies or transmits power to the firefighting lift installation should be
protected from the action of fire in the building for a period not less than the specified for the
enclosing structure of the firefighting •shaft and in accordance with the general principles of
structural fire protection for a lift machine room.
9.4 Recommendations for fire doors. The following recommendations are applicable:
(a) The width and height of the leaf or leaves of all fire doors into and within the
firefighting shaft should be not less than 826 mm and 2000 mm respectively.
(b) Fire doors protecting openings in fire-resisting structures should have a fire resistance of
one—half of that required for the structure, but in no case less than 30 mm.
(c) Fire doors (except lift landing doors) should resist the passage of smoke at ambient
temperature conditions. In the absence of any recommendations for performance when tested in
accordance with BS 476 : Section 31.1, all fire doors (except lift landing doors) should be fitted
with flexible edge seals.
(d) Fire doors, except lift landing doors (see item (g)) or doors to a cupboard or service duct
(see item (h)), should be fitted with a self—closing device (other than rising—butt hinges) that:
(i) should be of a type that cannot readily be disconnected or immobilized and does not
embody a stand-open action;
(ii) should override any latches fitted to the door(s), or, in the absence of a suitable latch or
other positive device for holding the door shut in its frame, should be of a type that has been
shown by test in accordance with BS 476 : Part 8 to be capable of holding the door closed in the
frame for a sufficient period of time for the closing role to be taken over by a thermally
activated sealing device (such as an intumescent seal), or throughout the full period of exposure
if such seals are not incorporated.
NOTE. Standards for self-closing devices for fire doors are in preparation.
MS 1183 : PartS: 1990
(e) No part of a hinge on which any fire doors is hung, and which provides the sole means of
support at the hanging edge, should be made either of combustible material or of non-
combustible material having a melting point of less than 800°C.
(f) Hold-open systems with automatic door release devices should not be fitted to fire doors
to firefighting lobbies and stairways.
(g) Firefighting lift landing doors should be automatic doors with operating controls in
accordance with l4.2(f)(iii).
(h) A fire door to a cupboard or service duct, in lieu of being self—closing, should have means
to enable it to be kept locked shut when not in use and be so marked on the outside with the
appropriate sign complying with MS 982.
(i) Any fire door (except one referred to in item (g) or (h)) should be marked on both sides,
at about eye level, with the appropriate sign complying with MS 982 to the effect that it should
be kept closed when not in use.
9.5 Recommendation for glazed areas. Construction, which is required to be fire-resisting,
enclosing or within the firefighting shaft should not contain glazed areas unless:
(a) in an external wall; or
(b) the glazed element complies with 9.2 and 9.3(a)(i); or
(c) the glazed area does not exceed 0. I m2, the glazed element is fire-resistant in terms of
stability and integrity, and the glazed area is provided:
(i) in the partition wall between a firefighting lobby and a firefighting stairway; or
(ii) in fire doors.
9.6 Recommendations for the firefighting shaft flooring and floor coverings. The following
recommendations are applicable:
(a) All floorings and floor coverings should be chosen so as to minimize slipperiness when
wet.
(b) Textile floor coverings should:
(I) when tested, together with any underlay, in accordance with BS 4790, using the test
procedure reflecting the method used for securing the floor covering to the floor, either
(i) not ignite, or
(ii) have effects of ignition on both the use and under surfaces not extending beyond a circle
of radius 35 mm centred on the central point of application of the nut;
(II) be firmly secured to the floor, with any adhesive used non-water-soluble;
(III) be fire—stopped at all doors to and within the firefighting shaft along the line of the
threshold of the doorway with a metal or other non-combustible strip not less than 50 mm wide.
22
MS 1183 Part 5 : 1990
SECTION THREE. THE FIREFIGHTING LIFT INSTALLATION
10. GENERAL
10.1 Commentary. The firefighting lift installation includes the lift car itself, the lift well and
the lift machine room.
A firefighting lift, unlike a normal passenger lift, is designed to operate so long as is practicable
when there is a fire in parts of the building beyond the confines of the firefighting shaft, as it is
used to transport firefighters and their equipment to a floor of their choice. The lift may be used
in normal times as a passenger lift by the occupants of the building, but should not be used for
moving refuse, nor primarily for moving goods.
It is vital that the electrical supply to a firefighting lift is maintained during a fire. It is also
essential to keep water out of a firefighting lift well because of the danger of failure of the lift’s
electrical control system, and water from the fire area (from a sprinkler discharge, for instance)
should be prevented from flowing into the lift well. If this is not possible, the electrical system
should be protected against water or the water directed away from any electrical equipment.
(a) The firefighting lift should be brought into operation by a firefighting lift switch (see
clause 14).
(b) The firefighting lift installation should be provided with:
(i) a protected electrical supply (see clause 16);
(ii) a fire service communications system (see clause 15).
(c) The firefighting lift well should be protected against water (see clause 12).
(d) The landing controls and lift car controls should be of a type that is not unduly prone to
the effects of heat and moisture.

NOTE. Mechanical-action pushes classified as 1P03 in accordance wi;h BS 5420 have been found to be satisfactory.
Classification IPO3 in BS 5420 requires water falling at an angle equal to cr less than 60 with respect to the vertical to have
no harmful effect.
11. FIREFIGHTING LIFT CARS
11.1 Commentary
11.1.1 General. Whilst all lift cars ought to comply with the relevant requirements of BS 5655,
and the dimensions of the lift car should comply with table 4, table 5 or table 6 of BS 5655 : Part
5 : 1981, this clause contains additional requirements specific to firefighting lifts. The provision
of a stand-by power supply means that there is no recommendation for lighting additional to that
specified in BS 5655.
11.1.2 Construction. Lining materials should be chosen so as to make the lift car a minimal fire
risk.
23
MS 1183 : PartS : 1990
11.1.3 Speed. As firefighting is very time-critical, there is a limit on the full travel time.
11.1.4 Enzergenci’ operation and escape. As firefighting lifts are provided with two independent
sources of power, it is not necessary to provide facilities for emergency operation additional to
those specified in BS 5655. However, passengers may need to be rescued from a lift stuck
between floors.
There are three methods whereby passengers may escape from a car that has stalled in the lift
well and cannot be moved, even by hand-winding. First, if the car is close enough to a landing,
lift landing doors can be opened by the standard lift door emergency unlocking key and
passengers assisted out to the landing; second, access can be gained to another car in the same
well via emergency doors, and third, escape can be made through an emergency hatch in the roof
of the car and then through a landing door, or through an emergency door in the lift well.
It is thought that if a firefighting lift fails during fire service operation, it is unlikely that an
adjacent car will remain in working order, and therefore movement from car to car will not be
possible. Accordingly, the preference is for a ceiling hatch with assistance to the occupants from
above the car where it is not within reach of the landing or emergency doors, with a restriction
on the maximum distance between doorways into the lift well (see 12.2(b)).
(a) T~ielift car should comply with all the relevant requirements of BS 5655. The minimum
size of lift acceptable for a firefighting lift is an eight—passenger lift with a floor area of I I m
.
by 1.4 m, a rated load of 630 kg and a clear entrance 800 mm wide by 2000 mm high. Car doors
should be power-operated.
(b) Wall and ceiling linings should be constructed from materials which would be classified as
class 1 if tested in accordance with BS 476 : Part 7. Flooring should follow the recommendations
given in 9.6.
(c) The rated speed of the lift should be such that it will run its full travel in not more than
1.0 mm.
(d) An emergency trap door complying with 8.12 of BS 5655 : Part I : 1979 should be
provided.
(e) The lift car should have one set of tar doors only.
(f) Firefighting lift dars should be clearly and conspicuously marked with a notice complying
with MS 982 stating ‘Firefighting lift : do not use for goods or refuse’.
12. FIREFIGHTING LIFT WELLS
12.1 Commentary. It is necessary to restrict the distance between access points (i.e. landing
doors or emergency doors), as it is not acceptable for escape from a stalled firefighting lift to be
by way of an adjacent lift in the same well. Although in some countries it is required that a
firefighting lift be in a separate well, it has been thought unnecessary to follow the same course
in this code, provided that the other lifts do not present any risk to the firefighting lift itself.
24
MS 1183 : PartS: 1990
Accordingly, this code recommends that, like the firefighting lift, other lifts should not introduce
an unreasonable fire risk into the protected area. Entry from within the building to any other lift
in the same well has to be through the same protected lobby from which the firefighting lift is
entered.
The operation of passenger lifts in the same well as a firefighting lift is covered in clause 14.
The provision of sprinkler heads within the firefighting shaft is not essential : given compliance
with the recommendations of this code, the only potential for fire occurring in the lift well would
arise from combustibles within the car, which could not be reached by sprinkler discharge.
Furthermore, any cooling effect from sprinkler discharge could not reliably control excessive
temperatures in the lift well which would make the lift unsafe to use. There have been several
occasions recorded when water from a landing valve, hose lines, etc., has entered the lift well and
caused malfunction of the installation when it reached electrical door interlocks, car controls, etc.
Water may come from the connecting and charging of fire fighters’ hoses, the use of hoses and
fixed hose reels and the operation of sprinkler heads. Although BS 5655 : Part I requires a small
slope on the landing to prevent cleaning water from entering the lift well, water from codes, and
the recommendations attempt to identify and resolve the problem for the firefighting lift.
The figure of 25 1/s is the recommended minimum flow rate from a wet rising main given in
BS 5306 : Part 1, and is considered to be representativ.e of likely flow rates from other sources;
the absence of sprinkler heads does not obviate the need for protection from water.
(a) The firefighting lift well should be enclosed with construction complying with 9.2 and
9.3.
(b) Landing doors or emergency doors should be provided so that there is access to the lift
well at intervals of not more than 11 m or 3 storeys, whichever is the lesser distance. Emergency
doors in the well should:
(i) be not less than 1.8 m high and 0.53 m wide;
(ii) if hinged, open away from the lift well;
(iii) be kept locked in such a way that they are openable from outside the well with the
standard lift door emergency unlocking key described in appendix B of BS 5655 : Part I : 1979,
and from within the well without a key.
(c) A lift car should not share the same lift well as a firefighting lift unless it is a passenger
lift car constructed in accordance with 11.2(b) and (e) and has access from a firefighting lobby
only (see figure 5(a)).
(d) An adjacent passenger lift car which is not constructed in accordance with II .2(b) and
(e), or to which access is possible from more than one side, should be located outside the
firefighting shaft (see figure 5(b)).
(e) Water should be prevented from entering the well of a firefighting lift and interfering
with the operation of the electrical equipment of a firefighting lift. One or more of the
following precautions should be taken to deal with a flow of 25 L/s; the method(s) chosen should
be appropriate to the building.
25
MS 1183 : PartS: 1990
(i) Drainage channels and drainpipes should be provided.
(ii) The enclosures of electrical equipment within the lift well should be classified as lPO3* in
accordance with BS 5420, and a drain should be provided at the bottom of the well.
(iii) The lift landing floor should be laid to a fall so that any water entering the lobby will not
enter the lift well but will drain away down the stairs and/or to gargoyles or scuppers on the
outside of the building.
(f) All lifts, except in special structures and for special applications, shall be located within a
protected lobby.
13. FIREFIGHTING LIFT MACHINE ROOMS

13.1 Commentary. It is considered essential that firefighting lift machine rooms are located
above the lift well inside the firefighting shaft.
(a) The machine room for a firefighting lift should be sited above the lift well and within the
firefighting shaft.
(b) The machine room for the firefighting lift should comply with all the relevant
requirements of BS 5655.
(c) The access to the machine room for the firefighting lift should be by way of a
firefighting stairway.
14. FIREFIGHTING LIFT SWITCH
14.1 Commentary. A firefighting lift switch is provided to enable the fire service to obtain
immediate control of the firefighting lift. The switch is normally enclosed in a ‘break glass’ box;
alternatively, some fire authorities may require the switch to be further protected against
unauthorized use, e,g, by the use of a key-operated switch. Operation of the firefighting lift
switch also returns all other lifts in the firefighting shaft to the fire services access level and
affects the way in which the lift control +system operates: the lift car doors no longer close
automatically after a time lapse and all lift controls are isolated except those on the firefighting
lift car panel. it is essential that a certificate is obtained on installation of a firefighting lift
switch stating that it fulfils these requirements.
(a) A firefighting lift switch should be positioned near each firefighting lift landing door at
fire service access level and clearly marked ‘Firefighting lift’. The operation positions of the
switch should be clearly marked ‘on’ and ‘off’.
(b) If there are two or more lifts installed together there should be clear indication as to
which lift is the firefighting lift.
*
at an angle equal to or less than 60 0 with
. .
IPO3 .in BS 5420 requires
. . .
Classification water falling respect to the vertical to
have no harmful effect.
26
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(c) The firefighting lift switch should operate as described in 14.2(e) independently of the
switch position of the following:
(i) any collective control;
(ii) any attendant’s changeover switch or control;
(iii) any emergency switch in the lift car;

(iv) any caretaker’s immobility switch;
(v) any commissionaire’s or caretaker’s cut-out switch.
The firefighting lift switch should not override the inspection control or stop switch on the car
top, nor the stop switches in the pit, the machine room or the pulley room.
(d) On operation of the firefighting lift switch all lift safety devices should remain operative,
except as may be specifically recommended to the contrary in this code.
(e) Operation of the firefighting lift switch should ensure the following:
(i) All lifts within the firefighting shaft return without stopping to the fire service access
level.
NOTE. Any lift travelling away from the fire service access level should stop and reverse at the next floor without the car
doors opening.
(ii) On arriving at the fire service access level, all lifts within the firefighting shaft other than
the firefighting lift are retained there with the lobby and car doors kept in the closed position
(after opening for the discharge of passengers).
(iii) All landing call buttons and car control stations, with the exception of the firefighting lift
car control station, are rendered inoperative.
(iv) Door re-opening devices for power-operated doors that may be affected by smoke or heat
so as to prevent door closure are rendered inoperative.
(v) The fire service communications system (see clause 15) is operative.
(f) After the firefighting lift has parked, with doors open, in response to operation of the
firefighting lift switch, sole control should then be vested in the firefighting lift car control
station, and the following should be ensured.
(i) It should be possible to register a call to any selected landing. Registration of a call
should cause the doors to close and the lift car to travel to, and stop with the doors remaining
closed at, the required landing.
(ii) If the car is in motion, it should be possible to register further calls from within the car.
The car should stop at the nearest landing in its current direction of travel for which a call is
registered. When the car stops, all calls so registered should be automatically cancelled and the
car should not depart until a fresh call is registered.
27
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(a) Passenger lifts located within the firefighting shaft
ii I I
Passenger tiffs
(see 12.2(d)
_ I
(b) Passenger lifts located outside the firefighting shaft
Key
Minimum fire resistance of 2 h from outside the firefighting.shaft
/ and 1 h from inside the firefighting shaft
Minimum fire resistance of 1 h from both sides
Figure 5. Passenger lifts adjacent to a firefighting lift
28
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(iii) If the car is stationary at a landing, it should be possible to control opening of the doors
only by the application of a continuous force on the ‘door open’ button or switch. If the button
or switch is released before the doors are fully open, the doors should automatically re-close.
Once fully open, the doors should remain open until a new call is registered on the car control
station.
(iv) Registration of a call should be by sustained pressure on a lift car call button until the car
doors have closed fully. If the car call button is released before the doors have fully closed, they
should re-open immediately.
(g) Effective means should be provided:
(i) within the lift car to indicate the confirmation of all calls registered on the car control
station;
(ii) both in the car and at the fire service access level to show the position of the car at any
time, whether the car is in motion or at rest.
(h) The lift installer should issue a certificate after installing and testing a firefighting lift
which states that the tests and checks listed in appendix A have been satisfactorily completed.
15. FIRE SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
15.1 Commentary. BS 5655 : Part I requires some means for persons shut in the car to
summon outside assistance and additionally an intercom system or similar device between the
machine room and any car which runs more than 30 m. Whilst it is possible that such equipment
may be of limited use to the fire service, it will clearly not be sufficient to meet th~fire service’s
need for an effective communications system. This clause is aimed specifically to meet the
needs of the fire service and includes provision for the system to extend also to the lift motor
room.
15.2 Recommendation. An intercom system or similar device should be provided for two-way
speech communication between the fire-fighting lift car and the fire service access landing and
the lift machine room while the firefighting lift is under the control of the firefighting lift
switch.
16. ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES AND INSTALLATIONS
16.1 Commentary. Both the main and stand-by sources of power to the firefighting lift
installation should be sufficiently protected against fire, and also separated from each other, so
-that a failure in cables or equipment, either by mechanical breakdown or damage by fire, on any
one system does not affect the other supply. A stand-by supply from a generator is required
which is of sufficient capacity to maintain the firefighting lift and its ancillary equipment and
services in operation and which is also sufficient to ensure that passenger lift cars in the same
well as the firefighting lift can be brought to fire service access level on operation of the
firefighting lift switch.
It is essential that the fire procedures of the building do not include the isolation of the circuits
supplying power to the firefighting lift and its associated services.
29
MS 1183 : Part S : 1990
(a) The primary electrical supply to the firefighting lift should be obtained from a sub-main
circuit exclusive to the lift and independent of any other main or sub main circuit; other lifts in
the firefighting shaft may be fed from the same primary supply, provided that the supply is
adequate for this purpose and that arrangements are such that a fault occurring in any other lift
in the firefighting shaft or the power supplies thereto will not affect in any way the operation of
the firefighting lift.
(b) An alternative power supply independent of the power supply to the building, such as an
automatically started generator, should be provided which will, independently of the primary
supply, be of sufficient capacity to:
(I) maintain in operation
(i) the firefighting lift;
(ii) essential lighting at the fire service access level(s) and the firefighting lift and lobbies,
machine and pulley rooms;
(iii) the fire service communications system (see clause 15);
(iv) any mechanical ventilation or pressurization system which operates in conjunction with
the operational use of the firefighting lift;
(II) permit the automatic recall to fire service access level without stopping at intermediate
landings of all other lifts in the firefighting shaft, if necessary in sequence and at reduced speed.
(c) Where the alternative power source is a generator, it should be capable of providing the
power necessary for (b) for at least 3 h without replenishment of fuel.
(d) Cables supplying current to the firefighting lift installation should be located in a
protected shaft, where possible in the lift well, or should be adequately protected against the
action of fire for a period not less than that required for the structural fire protection of the
firefighting shaft, or should be classified as CWZ in accordance with BS 6387.
(e) Cables transmitting the alternative power supply should be separated from those of the
primary supply or physically protected so that a breakdown, or any cause of a breakdown, on one
cable cannot lead to simultaneous failure of the other supply.
(f) Lighting, lift and communications circuits and equipment should be safeguarded as
appropriate to ensure that the failure, or cause of failure, of any one does not lead to the failure
of another component of the installation. -
(g) All switchgear controlling supplies to the firefighting lift and its ancillary equipment
should be secured against unauthorized operation and clearly labelled ‘Firefighting lift: do not
switch off’.
30
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Apppendix A
Operational tests for firefighting lifts

Al. To ensure that the controls respond correctly, the following tests and checks should be
made on a newly completed firefighting lift:
(a) Operate the firefighting lift switch:
(i) when the lift car is travelling in the upward direction, at any point more than 750 mm
from ground level;
(ii) when the lift car is travelling in the downward direction, at any point more than 750 mm
from ground level;
(iii) when the lift car is travelling in the upward direction at any point within 750 mm of
ground level;
(iv) when the lift car is travelling in the downward direction, at any point within 750 mm of
ground level;
(v) when the lift car is stationary at a floor other than the fire service access level, with the
door closed;
(vi) when the lift car is stationary at a floor other than the fire service access level, with the
door open;
(vii) when the lift car is stationary at a floor other than the fire service access level, with the
door opening;
(viii) when the lift car is stationary at a floor other than the fire service access level, with the
door closing.
(b) Carry out the following checks after each of the operations (a) (I) to (a) (8).
(i) That the landing call buttons are inoperative when the firefighting lift switch is in
operation.
(ii) That the firefighting lift control station is operative when the firefighting lift switch is in
operation.
(iii) That the simultaneous operation of two landing call buttons does not override the
firefighting lift switch.
(iv) That in the case of a firefighting lift car on collective control, the operation of the
firefighting lift switch changes the control to manual operation from the firefighting lift car only.
(v) That the firefighting lift switch overrides the attendant’s changeover switch.
31
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
(vi) That the firefighting lift switch overrides any emergency switch fitted within the lift car
which is available for use by passengers.
(vii) That, where an attendant’s control is provided, the car will not respond to the car control
station when operated in conjunction with that control during the period when the lift is
descending to ground floor level on operation of the firefighting lift switch.
(viii) That the firefighting lift switch overrides any immobilizing switch which may be fitted
(such as an immobilizing switch provided for the use of a resident caretaker).
(ix) That the firefighting lift switch overrides any lift car cut—out switch which is fitted.
(Such a switch may be provided for the use of the commissionaire or caretaker, and is usually
situated at ground floor level).
(x) That the firefighting lift switch restarts the motor generator set of the firefighting lift, if
fitted.
(xi) That the firefighting switch does not override the inspection control or stop switch on the
car top, nor the stop switches in the pit, the machine room or the pulley room.
A2. To ensure that the lift control system is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference
from fire brigade radio transmissions, the following test should be carried out.
A transmitter with a power output of 2 W operating at 451.250 MHz, 451.400 MHz or 451.450
MHz should be used to produce an electromagnetic field. The transmitter should be placed 0.5 m
from any lift control panel in the machine room or lift landing call station.
Apply each of the following electromagnetic fields:
(a) continuous, horizontally polarized;
(b) randomly keyed on and off, horizontally polarized;
(c) continuous, vertically, polarized;
(d) randomly keyed on and off, vertically polarized during each of the following tests.
(I) Operate the firefighting lift switch when the lift car is travelling in the downward
direction, at any point more than 750 mm from ground level.
(II) Operate the firefighting lift switch when the lift car is stationary at a floor other than the
fire service access level, with the door opening.
Carry out each of the following checks for both tests and for each of the fields (a) to (d).
(i) That in the case of a lift car on collective control, the operation of the firefighting lift
switch changes the control to manual operation from the firefighting lift car only.
(ii) That the operation of the lift car control station is unaffected.
32
MS 1183 : Part 5 : 1990
Appendix B
Publications referred to
Standards publications
MS 982 Specification for fire safety signs, notices and graphic symbols
BS 476 Fire tests on building materials and structures
Part 4 Non-combustibility test for materials
Part 7 Surface spread of flame tests for materials
Part 8 Test methods and criteria for the fire resistance of elements of building
construction
*part 22 Determination of the fire resistance of non-load-bearing elements of building
construction
Part 31 Methods for measuring smoke penetration through doorsets and shutter
assemblies
Section 31.1 Method for measurement under ambient temperature conditions.
BS 4790 Method for the determination of the effects of a small source of ignition on textile.
floor coverings (hot metal nut method)
BS 5306 Code of practice for fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises
Part 1 Hydrant systems, hose reels and foam inlets
BS 5395 Stairs, ladders and walkways
Part I Code of practice for the design of straight stairs
BS 5420 Specification for degrees of protection of enclosures of switchgear and controlgear for
voltages up to and including 1000 V a.c. and 1200 V d.c.
33
MS 1183 : Part S : 1990
BS 5588 Fire precautions in the design and construction of buildings
Part I Residential buildings
Part 4 Smoke control in protected escape routes using pressurization
BS 5655 Lifts and service lifts

Part I Safety rules for the construction and installation of electric lifts
Part 5 Specification for dimensions of standard electric lift arrangements
BS 5839 Fire detection and alarm systems in buildings
Part I Code of practice for installation and servicing
BS 6387 Specification for performance requirements for cables required to maintain Circuit
integrity under fire conditions
CP 3 Code of basic data for the design of buildings
Chapter IV : Part I Flats and maisonettes (in blocks over two storeys)
Chapter V : Part 2 Wind loads
PD 6512 Use of elements of structural fire protection with particular reference to the
recommendations given in BS 5588 ‘Fire precautions in the design and construction of
buildings’
Part I Guide to fire doors

*part 3 Guide to the fire performance of glass
~In preparation
34
TANDA-TANDA STANDARD SIRIM
Tanda-tanda Standard SIRIM seperti yang tertera di bawah adalah tanda-tanda pengesahan dagangan
berdaftar. Tanda-tanda ml hanya boleh digunakan oleh mereka yang dilesenkan di bawah skim tanda
pengesahan yang dijalankan oleh SIRIM mengikut nombor Standard Malaysia yang berkaitan. Kewujudan
tanda-tanda mi pada atau berkaitan dengan sesuatu barangan adalah sebagai jaminan bahawa barangan
tersebut telah dikeluarkan melalui satu sistem penyeliaan, kawalan dan ujian, yang dijalankan semasa
pengeluaran. ni termasuk pemeriksaan berkala kerja-kerja pengeluar menurut skim tanda pengesahan SIRIM
yang dibentuk untuk menentukan bahawa barangan tersebut .menepati Standard Malaysia.
Keterangan—keterangan lanjut mengenai syarat-syarat Iesen boleh didapati dan:
Ketua Pengarah,
Institut Standard dan Penyelidikan Perindustrian Malaysia,

Persiaran Dato’ Menteri, Seksyen 2, Peti Surat 7035,
40911 Shah Alam.
Selangor.
SIRIM STANDARD MARKS

The SIRIM Standard Marks shown above are registered certification trade marks. They may be used only
by those licensed underthe certification marking scheme operated by SIRIM and in conjunction with the relevant
Malaysian Standard number. The presence of these Marks on or in relation to a product is an assurance that
the goods have been produced under a system of supervision, control and testing, operated during production,
and including periodical inspection of the producer’s works in accordance with the certification marking scheme
of SIRIM designed to ensure compliance with a Malaysian Standard.
Further particulars of the terms of licence may be obtained from:
Director-General,
Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia,
Persiaran Dato’ Menteri, Section 2, P.O. Box 7035,
40911 Shah Alam,
Selangor.
Dicetak dan diterbitkan oleh: Institut Standard dan Penyelidikan Perindustrian Malaysia.
Printed and Published by: Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia.
MS ISO 10202-6 : 1996
INSTITUT STANDARD DAN PENYELIDIKAN PERINDUSTRIAN MALAYSIA
Institut Standard dan Penyelidikan Perindustrian Malaysia (SIRIM) telah ditubuhkan hasil dari cantuman Institut
Piawaian Malaysia (SIM) dengan Institut Negara bagi Penyelidikan Sains dan Perusahaan (NISIR) di bawah
Undang-Undang Malaysia Akta 157 pada 16hb. September 1975:Akta Institut Standard dan Penyelidikan
Perindustrian Malaysia (Perbadanan) 1975. Institut ini diletakhak dengan kuasa untuk memamju dan
menjalankan penyelidikan perindustrian dan untuk menyedia dan memajukan standard-standard bagi barangan-
barangan, proses-proses, amalan-amalan dan perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan; dan bagi mengadakan peruntukan
bagi perkara-perkara yang bersampingan atau berkaitan dengan maksud-maksud itu.
Satu daripada tugas-tugas Institut ini adalah menyediakan Standard-Standard Malaysia dalam bentuk
penentuan-penentuan bagi bahan-bahan, keluaran-keluaran, kaedah-kaedah ujian, kod-kod amalan yang
sempurna dan selamat, sistem penamaan dan lain-lain. Standard-Standard Malaysia disediakan oleh
jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa perwakilan yang menyelaras keupayaan pengilang dan kecekapan pengeluaran

dengan kehendak-kehendak yang munasabah dari pengguna. Ia menuju ke arah mencapai kesesuaian bagi
maksud, memudahkan pengeluaran dan pengedaran, kebolehsalingtukaran gantian dan pelbagai pilihan yang
mencukupi tanpa pembaziran.
Standard-Standard Malaysia disediakan hanya setelah penyiasatan yang lengkap menujukkan bahawa sesuatu
projek itu disahkan sebagai yang dikehendaki dan berpadanan dengan usaha yang terlibat. Hasil ini berasaskan
persetujuan sukarela dan memberi pertimbangan kepada kepentingan pengeluar dan pengguna. Standard-
Standard Malaysia adalah sukarela kecuali is dimestikan oleh badan-badan berkuasa melalui peraturan-
peraturan, undang-undang persekutuan dan tempatan atau cara-cara lain yang sepertinya.
Institut ini beroperasi semata-mata berasaskan tanpa keuntungan. Ia adalah satu badan yang menerima bantuan
kewangan dari Kerajaan, kumpulan wang dari bayaran keahlian, hasil dari jualan Standard-Standard dan
terbitan-terbitan lain, bayaran-bayaran ujian dan bayaran-bayaran lesen untuk mengguna Tanda Pengesahan
SIRIM dan kegiatan-kegiatan lain yang berhubung dengan Penstandardan, Penyelidikan Perindustrian dan
Khidmat Perunding.
STANDARDS AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA
The Standard and Industrial research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) is established with the merger of the
Standards Institution of Malaysia (SIM) and the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR)
under the Laws of Malaysia Act 157 on 16th. September 1975: Standards and Industrial Research Institute of
Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 1975. The Institute is vested with the power to provide for the promotion and
undertaking of industrial research and for the preparation and promotion of standards for commodities,
processes, practices and services; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with those purposes.
One of the functions of the Institute is to prepare Malaysian Standards in the form of specifications for materials
and products, methods of testing, codes of sound and safe practice, nomenclature, etc. Malaysian Standards are
prepared by representative committees which co-ordinate manufacturing capacity and production efficiency with
the user’s reasonable needs. They seek to achieve fitness for purpose, simplified production and distribution
replacement interchangeability, and adequate variety of choice without wasteful diversify.
Malaysian Standards are prepared only after a full enquiry has shown that the project is endorsed as a desirable
one and worth the effort involved. The work is based on voluntary agreement, and recognition of the community
of interest of producer and consumer. The use of Malaysian Standards is voluntary except in so far as they are
made mandatory by statutory authorities by means of regulations, federal and local by-laws or any other similar
ways.
The Institute operates entirely on a non-profits basis. It is a grant aided body receiving financial aid from the
Government, funds from membership subscriptions and proceeds from sales of Standards and other
publications, fees and licence fees for the use of SIRIM Certification Mark and other activities associated with
Standardization, Industrial Research and Consultancy Services.

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MS ISO/IEC TR 10037 : 1995

MS 1183 : PART 5 : 1990

STANDARDS & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA

include all the necessary provisions of a contract.

The following references relate to the work on this standard

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No. Date of issue Text affected

Section one. General

Section two. Painning and construction

Section three. The firefighting lift installation

Ministry of Defence (Defence Science and Technology Centre)

Ministry of Labour and Manpower (Factories and Machinery Department)

Ministry of Trade and Industry (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority)

Ministry of Works and Utilities (Public Works Department)

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

representatives from the following member organisations:

Encik M. Chelliah (Chairman) BOMBA

Kapt. Kamarudin Abu Hassan Kementerian Pertahanan

Ir. Dr. Ow Chee Sheng IEM

Encik Anthony Dibble! Persatuan Insuran Am Malaysia

Encik Lok Aik Eng PAM

Ir. Thin Choon Chai MFPA

Encik P. Sivakumaran Persatuan Keselamatan Perindustrian Malaysia (MSIS)

Encik F~halidHassan (Secretary) Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia

Encik M. Chelliah (Chairman) BOMBA

Encik Yusof Sidek/ BOMBA

Encik Pauzan Ahmad

Encik Lee Seng Foong DBKL

Encik Lim Chia Fook PIAM

Encik Loh Aik Eng PAM

Encik Peter Sung MFPA

authority of the Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee.

stairways and lifts’.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN THE DESIGN AND

SECTION ONE. GENERAL

For the purposes of this code the following definitions apply.

NOTE. This is not necessary fire service access level (2.13).

2.9 Firefighting shaft. A protected shaft containing a firefighting stairway, firefighting

NOTE. This is not the lift car door.

2.19 Non-combustible. Capable of satisfying the performance requirements specified in BS

3. RELATIONSHIP WITH STATUTORY PROVISIONS

SECTION TWO. PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION

4.1 Criteria for the provision of firefighting shafts.

4.1.1 Commentary. In high buildings or buildings with a number of basements it is necessary to

~L2 Recnnxmendations. The following recommendations are applicable.

(1) a firefighting stairway (see clause 5);

(3) a firefighting lift installation (see section three).

(I) a fire fighting stairway (see clause 5);

(2) firefighting lobbies (see clause 6).

4.2 Number of firefighting shafts.

(a) with a height (see 2.14) exceeding 18 m; or

(b) with a depth (see 2.4) exceeding 9m; or

(c) above the ground storey in buildings as described in 4.1.2(b);

4.3 Extent of firefighting stairways or lifts

4.3.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable.

4.4 Location of firefighting shafts

4.4.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable.

(a) the open air; or

4.6 Layout of fire fighting shafts

4.6.2 Recommendations. The following recommendations are applicable:

5.1 Commentary. Firefighting stairways, whether provided in association with a firefighting

(a) Firefighting stairways should be designed in accordance with the recommendations of

separated at ground level by a fire door (see figure 1(b)).