Evacuation Chairs: How to Evacuate Wheelchair Users and the Elderly in a Fire
Updated: November 2026 2 min readBy the Vinsafe fire safety team
In short: Lifts can't be used in a fire. An evacuation chair lets one trained person bring a wheelchair user or elderly person safely down the stairs.
In a fire, normal lifts are shut off and everyone must use the stairs. For a wheelchair user, an elderly person, a patient or anyone with an injury, the staircase becomes a barrier. An evacuation chair solves this problem.
What is an evacuation chair?
It is a lightweight chair with a braked track system that lets a trained operator guide a seated person down stairs in a controlled way. It folds flat and hangs on a wall near the staircase. Most models can be operated by one person.
Who needs evacuation chairs?
Offices and corporate buildings with employees or visitors with disabilities
Hospitals, nursing homes and clinics
Hotels, malls, cinemas and airports
Schools, colleges and universities
Museums and public buildings
Residential towers with elderly residents
Why not just carry people?
Carrying someone down several floors is slow, exhausting and risks injury to both the person and the rescuers. It also blocks the staircase for everyone else. An evacuation chair is faster, safer and needs fewer people.
Choosing the right chair
- Weight capacity suited to adults
- Braking system for controlled descent
- Ability to handle landings and turns
- Folding design and wall bracket
- Optional models for going up stairs (for basement evacuation)
- Supplier who provides training and annual servicing
Placement and training
Place chairs at every staircase on floors where people with mobility needs work or stay, with clear signage. Train at least two people per floor and practise during mock drills. A chair that no one knows how to use is of little help.
Part of accessible building design
Evacuation planning is part of accessible design. Buildings that install stairlifts, platform lifts and ramps for daily access also need a plan for emergencies. Vinsafe, part of the Vingrace group that supplies accessibility and mobility equipment across India, supplies evacuation chairs with on-site training.
Products mentioned in this guide
Folding Stair Evacuation Chair
Evacuation & Rescue Equipment · Compact 7 kg carry chair that folds flat beside the stairwell
4-Wheel Stair Evacuation Chair
Evacuation & Rescue Equipment · Rolls along corridors on four castors, then carries down stairs
Tracked Stair Evacuation Stretcher
Evacuation & Rescue Equipment · Caterpillar-track stair descent for one or two operators, with no lifting
Evacuation Sheet (Ski Pad)
Evacuation & Rescue Equipment · Lives under the mattress so one person can drag a bedridden patient to safety
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