Lifts and escalators are essential to many offices, particularly in taller buildings. The need for social distancing during a pandemic reduces the number of passengers that can use a lift, and may ultimately limit the occupancy of a building. But, says BCO Technical Affairs Committee in its new guidance, the readily available solution to a reduction in lift capacity mainly involves altering management procedures – rather than radically changing the physical installation – because any changes need apply only while social distancing is required during a pandemic. In addition, any significant changes to vertical transportation (VT) installations will be expensive, in terms of both the equipment involved and the likely loss of occupiable area.

The guidance, Thoughts on lift and escalator design and operation after COVID-19 addresses the following key points:

Like any workplace, the main risk of acquiring the virus while using VT systems is via contact and airborne routes of infection. It is also known that the risk of transmission is higher in confined indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and is increased by the length of time spent in close contact with an infected person, so BCO advises maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and improving ventilation to minimise droplet transmission, and by the implementation of effective hygiene/sanitisation measures and hands-free lift controls to minimise contact transmission. It is straightforward to thoroughly clean lifts and escalators at frequent intervals, but maintaining social distancing and providing adequate ventilation in these areas is much more challenging.

Social distancing

Social distancing on escalators is relatively easy to achieve, says BCO, but is more challenging in lifts. In both cases the effect is to reduce the passenger-carrying capacity. Lifts, in common with many other mass transportation systems, are generally small, confined spaces where a 2m separation is not possible. However, one positive is that the time spent travelling in a lift is very short, being usually only a few minutes.

The risk of transmitting infection via escalators can be effectively reduced by social distancing and maintaining a 2m separation. Clear signage must be provided to encourage social distancing. In most offices where escalators are part of the VT design, all the available capacity is rarely used. Clear instructions of how to use the escalators and good management to avoid queues forming at the approaches on and off the escalators are key to minimising the impact.

Ventilation

Poor ventilation is associated with increased infection rates for airborne diseases. High ventilation rates should decrease the risk of infection. Escalators in offices are usually installed in large open spaces. Lift cars, on the other hand, are small confined spaces, so it is important that they are as well ventilated as possible.

Hygiene

The COVID-19 virus spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces or close contact with infected people. CIBSE5 recommends that “all surfaces touched or likely to be touched, including the lift push buttons, doors, door frames, etc., should be cleaned regularly according to a risk assessment”.

The full guidance can be accessed here.