As we say goodbye to the last of the UK sunshine and colder days begin to settle in, it’s a good time to revisit some important guidance around fire detector testing in low-temperature environments. DetectorTesters manufactures a range of universal testers for smoke, heat, carbon monoxide (CO), or combinations of these sensors—but when the temperature drops, a few extra steps may be needed to ensure safe and compliant testing.

Lift shafts are notorious for acting as vertical chimneys during a fire event. The natural buoyancy of hot smoke and gases causes them to rise rapidly, and the shaft’s continuous vertical path can channel smoke and flames between floors far more quickly than traditional corridors or compartmentalized walls. This makes early fire detection within lift shafts not just important, but essential for effective building safety. However, maintaining fire detection systems in lift shafts presents significant operational challenges.

The confined, vertical environment, combined with moving lift machinery, creates a hazardous workspace. Poor lighting, limited ventilation, and restricted access further complicate routine maintenance and testing. Engineers working in these spaces face risks such as falls, electrical hazards, and entrapment—risks that are heightened if lifts remain operational during maintenance.

To mitigate these dangers, regulations now mandate the presence of a qualified lift engineer whenever work is carried out inside the shaft, ensuring safe isolation and supervision. While this is critical for safety, it introduces additional complexity and cost, as coordinating with lift engineers often involves scheduling delays and extra fees.

Given these constraints, minimizing time spent inside lift shafts is a top priority, with entry ideally limited to essential activities such as initial installation.

For ongoing maintenance, the industry has long sought solutions that eliminate the need for repeated shaft access. Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) systems became a preferred choice, as they allow both the detector and test point to be located outside the shaft, enabling safe, compliant maintenance. This approach was quickly adopted as best practice and, in some regions, has been codified into standards that recommend ASD as the only suitable technology for lift shafts.

With Scorpion, both ASD and point detector solutions can now be maintained and tested safely from outside the lift shaft, effectively neutralizing the traditional maintainability advantage of ASD.

The choice between ASD and point detectors can therefore be based on detection performance, environmental conditions, and installation preferences, rather than access for maintenance or testing.

This innovation represents a significant step forward in reducing risk and improving safety for engineers working in these challenging environments.

How to test fire detectors in lift shafts

Operational Hazards of Shaft Maintenance

Reducing Time Inside the Shaft

ASD: Maintenance Without Entry

Scorpion: External Testing Made Easy

Choosing the Right Detection Technology

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