Best option is sufficiently redundant stairwells, with proper protection from smoke (either smoke rated doors, or adequate ventilation). A single stair is not sufficient for anything but the smallest of buildings. Some of the best fire codes I've seen, both in terms of robust protection, and flexibility to work with unique buildings, are those in Japan. There buildings will typically have at least one external egress path. Where the building facade or size doesn't allow this to be a full size stair, it is often incorporated into trap doors with stowed 'rope' ladders on balconies at each level. Additionally windows to internal refuge areas are indicated externally for fire department to access and retrieve people by ladder truck. Architects are typically able to integrate these features into the design without compromise, and often use them to create interesting details.YNM wrote:Thank you. I'm not trying to get people down on the lift - dangers of getting the motors fail are higher in distress conditions I presume - I was just thinking if it was possible to somehow escape from the inside. The case with Grenfell is rather unique where the fire spreads outside, and retrofitting a wide staircase isn't going to happen (nor would it help given the layout), so the only room left would be the lift shafts. I mean, if it wasn't for the stairs, emergency exit shafts are also shafts with just similar properties to lift shafts and is just as chimney-ish.Auge wrote:HelloThe problem being in a lifts cabin during a fire is not the strengthness or weakness of the lift shaft, it's the smoke in it. The shaft is an air pipe and the trapped people in the lift cabin will suffocate within a short time.YNM wrote:It's not ideal but I presume it's just because none are optimized for it. I mean, let's be honest, in houses typically you'll find at least one room in that same shaft alignment - it's meant to be the strongest part of the house, again.
If there is no room for more stairwells inside, they will need to be added to the exterior of the building. We often think of the wrought iron fire escapes on the fronts of 1880s era building in New York - but these were also post-hoc retrofits made to update buildings to later codes. There are other options for building something more robust that can work with the design of the building.