Studies have been undertaken to develop a fire-safe elevator for evacuating handicapped people and for aiding firefighters. Methods were developed for predicting adverse pressure differences across the walls of the elevator shaft and lobbies caused by wind and building stack action and in combination with those caused by a fire. The predictions were verified by tests conducted in a ten-story experimental fire tower. The level of mechanical pressurization required to prevent smoke contamination of elevators could be determined by summing the pressure differences caused by these forces. The tests demonstrated that mechanical pressurization of the elevator shaft or lobbies can be effective in preventing smoke contamination of these shafts and lobbies.
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