Shaft (Lifts) Building Codes & Rules
- Discover lift compliance guidelines: Fire rating, emergency & stretcher lifts. Tools™ simplifies NCC with interactive graphics for efficiency.
Lift Pit
Lowest Landing
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
-/60/- FRLNCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D12
Stair in Same ShaftNCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D12
- Not allowed if either require a Fire Resistant Shaft
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C4 (a)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C2 (2)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C2 (1) (a)
Ventilation
- ≥ 2 hr backup powerNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C4 (a)
- ≤ 40°C lift shaft temperatureNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C2 (2)
- Lift car effected by solar radiationNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C2 (1) (a)
- 1 air change per minute, or
- Cooled
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C3 (b)
Emergency LightingNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C3 (b)
- ≥ 20 lux
- ≥ 2 hr backup power
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3 (2)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3 (2)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3 (2)
Landing
Landing
Lowest Car
Lowest Position
Car (Lifts)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22
Pit AccessNCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22
- ≤ 3m deep from lowest landing doors
- > 3m deep via access door
NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (iii)
Access StairNCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (iii)
- AS 1657 compliant
Sump
Pit Depth
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1)
≤ 12.2mNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
FRL - Type of Construction
Fire Separation
Lift Shaft Fire Separation RULES
NCC 2022 V3
Class 2 to 9
NCC 2022 C3D11 [2019 C2.10]
May 2023
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (3)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (4)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (1)
- 120/120/120 FRL Shaft if protecting an Emergency LiftNCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (3)
- Lift connecting ≥ 2 Storeys (≥ 3 if Sprinklered), except in an AtriumNCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (4)
- Type A & B Construction as per tables below
- Class 9a (Health Care Building) or Class 9c (Residential Use Area)
- 120/120/120 FRL for Type A or B Construction
- 60/60/60 FRL for Type C Construction
- Openings protected byNCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
- -/60/- FRL Fire Doors to AS 1735.11NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
- -/60/60 FRL backed Panels if area > 35,000mm²NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (1)
Emergency Access
- > 12.2m between Landing Doors[1]
Emergency Access RULES
NCC 2022 V1
Class 2 to 9
NCC 2022 S24C6, E3D2, E3D7, & E3D8 [2019 E3.1, E3.6]
May 2023
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (d)
- ≥ 600 W x 980mm H emergency access doorNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (a)
- must not open into the shaft
- be self closing & locking
- landing side only openable by a tool
- ≥ 35mm high signage statingNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (d)
DANGER LIFTWELL ACCESS
KEEP FURNITURE & FIXTURE CLEAR
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1)
- > 12.2m between Landing DoorsNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
-/60/60 FRLNCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
Stretcher Facility
Stretcher Facility RULES
NCC 2022 V3
Class 2 to 9
NCC 2022 E3D3 & E3D10 [2019 E3.2 & E3.8]
May 2023
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3
- Clear space within a lift to fit a stretcherNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3
- 2m L x 600mm W x 1.4m H
- Provided in at least 1 Emergency Lift if required within the building, or
- within at least 1 lift to serve all floors above an effective height of 12m
- Class 9c Residential Care Building must provide access to Road or Open Space via a Stretcher Lift or Accessible Ramp from all levels
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3 (1) (b)
- ≥ 1 Lift large enoughNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3
- 2m L x 600mm W x 1.4m H
- To serve any floor > 12m effective heightNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D3 (1) (b)
Access Door
- Outward opening or sliding[1]
- Clear of lift car in lowest position on fully compressed buffer[2]
- ≥ 35mm signage[3]
DANGER LIFTWELL
ENTRY OF UNAUTHORISED
PERSONS PROHIBITED
KEEP CLEAR AT ALL TIMES
Lift Shaft Fire Separation RULES
NCC 2022 V3
Class 2 to 9
NCC 2022 C3D11 [2019 C2.10]
May 2023
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (3)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (4)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (1)
- 120/120/120 FRL Shaft if protecting an Emergency LiftNCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (3)
- Lift connecting ≥ 2 Storeys (≥ 3 if Sprinklered), except in an AtriumNCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (4)
- Type A & B Construction as per tables below
- Class 9a (Health Care Building) or Class 9c (Residential Use Area)
- 120/120/120 FRL for Type A or B Construction
- 60/60/60 FRL for Type C Construction
- Openings protected byNCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (1)
- -/60/- FRL Fire Doors to AS 1735.11NCC 2022 Vol 1, C4D11 (2)
- -/60/60 FRL backed Panels if area > 35,000mm²NCC 2022 Vol 1, C3D11 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (b)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (iv) (c)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (ii)
- Outward opening or slidingNCC 2022 Vol 1, S24C6 (1) (b)
- Clear of lift car in lowest position on fully compressed bufferNCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (iv) (c)
- ≥ 35mm signageNCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D22 (b) (ii)
DANGER LIFTWELL
ENTRY OF UNAUTHORISED
PERSONS PROHIBITED
KEEP CLEAR AT ALL TIMES
Emergency Lift
- ≥ 1 in building with > 25m effective height[1]
- Within a fire rated shaft[2]
- ≥ 2 where multiple lifts serve the same floors and in separate fire rated shafts if available[3]
Emergency Lift RULES
NCC 2022 V1
Class 2 to 9
NCC 2022 E3D5 [2019 E3.4]
May 2023
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4) (c)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (3)
Informative
- ≥ 1 Emergency Lift requiredNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (1)
- ≥ 25m effective building height
- Class 9a building to all patient care areas without direct access to road or open area
- Contained within a Fire Resisting ShaftNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4)
- ≥ 75m effective building height Lift RatingNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4) (c)
- ≥ 600kg, or
- ≥ 900kg if a Stretcher Lift
- Where ≥ 2 lifts serve the same storeysNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (3)
- 2 must be an Emergency Lift, &
- must be in different shafts if available
- Class 9a serving a patient care area must
- have clearances as per the following table
- be connected to standby power where installed
- An Occupiable Outdoor Area is counted as a StoreyInformative
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (3)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (1)
NCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4)
- ≥ 1 in building with > 25m effective heightNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (3)
- Within a fire rated shaftNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (1)
- ≥ 2 where multiple lifts serve the same floors and in separate fire rated shafts if availableNCC 2022 Vol 1, E3D5 (4)
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