Refuge Chair Versus Stairlift: Which Fits?

When an alarm sounds, a staircase can become the biggest barrier in your building. The refuge chair versus stairlift decision is not simply about choosing equipment. It is about whether staff, visitors, pupils or residents who cannot use stairs independently have a safe, realistic and practised way to leave.

For UK organisations, this must sit within a suitable fire risk assessment and personal emergency evacuation planning. The right solution depends on your premises, the people using them, available escape routes and the staff who will be present when every second counts.

Refuge chair versus stairlift: the key difference

A stairlift is primarily an access aid. It helps a person travel between floors during normal day-to-day use, usually along one fixed staircase. A refuge chair, often referring to an evacuation chair used from a designated refuge point, is intended to support emergency evacuation down stairs when lifts cannot be used.

That distinction matters. A stairlift should not automatically be treated as an evacuation route. During a fire or other emergency, it may be unsafe to use, lose power, stop operating or leave the user exposed on a floor that needs to be evacuated. It can also create delays if one person has to wait for the lift to return before anyone else can use it.

An evacuation chair is designed to be controlled by trained operators down a staircase. Many models use tracks or friction systems to manage descent, reducing the physical strain on the operator. However, it is not a universal answer. The person’s mobility, weight, posture, medical needs and ability to transfer into the chair all need careful consideration.

The term “refuge chair” can cause confusion. A refuge point is a protected place where someone may wait temporarily for assistance and communicate with those managing the evacuation. It is not a substitute for an evacuation plan, and no person should be left there on the assumption that the fire and rescue service will take responsibility for moving them.

When a stairlift may be appropriate

A stairlift has a valuable role in making buildings accessible. In schools, offices, care settings and community venues, it can enable a person to use upper floors independently during normal operations. If installed and maintained correctly, it may be the most practical way to remove a day-to-day access barrier in an older building.

But accessibility and emergency egress are different safety questions. A stairlift may form part of the information considered in an evacuation plan, yet its use in an emergency must be specifically assessed. Your fire strategy, manufacturer’s guidance, power arrangements, staircase width, smoke risks and local procedures all matter.

There are practical concerns too. A stairlift rail can narrow the available staircase, particularly when the chair is parked away from its charging point or folded incorrectly. On a busy evacuation route, that reduction in width may affect how quickly others can escape. A stairlift also normally carries one person at a time and requires the user to transfer safely on and off the seat.

For a person who can walk stairs with support, an evacuation plan may involve a trained buddy, an evacuation aid or a carefully chosen alternative route. For someone who cannot transfer safely, has complex clinical needs or uses a wheelchair, a stairlift alone is unlikely to provide the answer.

When an evacuation chair is the stronger option

An evacuation chair can be a practical solution where people may need assistance descending stairs and the building does not have an evacuation lift. It is often considered in multi-storey offices, schools, colleges, GP practices, community buildings and workplaces with public access.

Its strength is that it is purpose-built for emergency movement down staircases. Once trained staff have helped the individual transfer safely, the chair can allow a controlled descent without lifting and carrying them manually. This can protect both the person being evacuated and the staff supporting them.

The chair must be positioned where it can be reached quickly without obstructing escape routes. Staff must know where it is, who may need it and how to deploy it under pressure. A chair locked in a cupboard, or equipment known only to one member of staff, is not a dependable control measure.

There are limits. Most standard evacuation chairs are for descending, not ascending. They may not suit an unconscious person, someone with a serious injury, significant pain, severe anxiety, poor trunk control or a condition that makes transfer unsafe. You must also check safe working load limits and ensure the actual staircase is suitable, including landings, turns, width and surface condition.

Start with people, not equipment

The most effective evacuation arrangements begin by identifying who may need help. This includes employees with temporary or permanent mobility restrictions, wheelchair users, people recovering from surgery, pregnant workers, visitors unfamiliar with the building, pupils and residents. Needs can change from day to day, so avoid plans that rely on assumptions.

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, often called a PEEP, sets out the individual arrangements for someone who may need assistance. For visitors or people whose needs are not known in advance, a general emergency evacuation plan may be needed. The plan should be dignified, practical and agreed with the person where possible.

Ask direct questions. Can they transfer from their usual chair? Can they sit securely in an evacuation chair? Do they need medication, communication support or a familiar member of staff? Would movement down stairs worsen an existing condition? These details influence whether an evacuation chair, another method or changes to the building are required.

Training turns equipment into a workable plan

Buying an evacuation chair does not make a workplace prepared. In an emergency, staff need to make calm decisions while alarms are sounding, corridors are busy and the person needing assistance may be frightened or in pain.

Practical evacuation chair training gives designated staff the confidence to assess the situation, transfer a person safely where appropriate, use the equipment correctly and descend stairs in a controlled manner. It should include real practice on your own staircase wherever possible. That is where issues such as tight landings, poor storage locations and unsuitable staffing levels become clear.

Training also helps staff understand when not to use the chair. If there is a suspected spinal injury, acute medical emergency, unsafe transfer or immediate danger on the escape route, the right response may be different. Good training builds judgement, not just familiarity with straps and handles.

For resilience, nominate more than one trained person. Sickness, holidays, shift patterns and evacuation from different parts of a site can quickly expose a plan that depends on a single trained operator. Keep training current and include evacuation arrangements in drills so roles are tested realistically.

Questions to ask before choosing

Before deciding between a refuge chair and a stairlift, review the whole evacuation route. Consider the following:

• Who needs assistance, including visitors and people with temporary mobility needs?

• Can each person transfer safely and remain supported in the chosen equipment?

• Are the staircases wide enough, clear of obstructions and suitable for controlled descent?

• How many trained staff will be on site across every shift, and can they reach the person quickly?

• Is the equipment inspected, accessible and included in emergency drills?

• What happens if the usual exit, refuge point or staircase is unavailable?

Your fire risk assessment should guide the final decision. In some buildings, an evacuation chair and trained operators will be appropriate. In others, the better answer may include an evacuation lift, improved compartmentation, relocation of activities to a ground floor, additional staff support or a revised layout. A stairlift may still be essential for everyday accessibility, but it should not be selected on the assumption that it solves emergency evacuation.

Protect people with a plan they can trust

The safest choice is the one that works for real people in your actual building, with the staff you genuinely have available. It should protect dignity as well as life safety, meet your responsibilities and remain effective when the usual routine has broken down.

Training 2 U delivers practical evacuation chair training at workplaces across Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Led by experienced frontline professionals, the training helps teams use equipment with greater control, confidence and care when an emergency demands decisive action.

Do not wait for a drill to reveal that a person cannot leave safely. Review your arrangements now, involve those who may need assistance and give your team the practical skills to act when it matters most.