Maharashtra State's Energy Department, in conjunction with the Municipal Corporation and the Fire Department has made it mandatory to install and operate a fire evacuation lift in every high-rise building scaling 70 m and above since January 2018 in the circular called as ‘Advisory on Installation of the Fire Evacuation Lifts in the High Rise Buildings having height 70 m and above.”

This is being seen as a visionary step in providing safer and faster route for fire officers to reach the higher floors to save lives and assets. Meanwhile, it is one of the safest and fastest modes for evacuating people stranded in emergency situations of fire in high rise buildings.

Maharashtra has become the first state in India to make fire evacuation lifts mandatory for buildings. As part of the evacuation solutions, many developers have installed or are currently opting to install non-standardised or low graded fire evacuation solutions.

As per the new circular, it is mandatory to obtain permission for erection and licence for operation of fire evacuation lifts in the state. The implementation of the new circular shall be effective immediately from the date of issue for the upcoming fire evacuation lift installations and shall apply with retrospective effect to the existing fire evacuation lift installations.