Garaventa Evacu-Trac - Evac Chair for Emergency Evacuation via Stairs

The Garaventa Evacu-Trac CD8 is a track-type stairway evacuation chair that allows a single attendant to safely move a mobility-impaired occupant down any stairway during an emergency — without heavy lifting. The passenger's weight drives descent while a patented hydraulic speed governor limits speed to 3.6 ft/sec, and a failsafe brake stops the unit completely on the stairs if needed. Durable rubber tracks grip any stair surface. Three adjustable Velcro safety straps secure the passenger. Fire-retardant sling seat. Stable and self-supporting on flat surfaces. 400 lb capacity. 15-year warranty.

Garaventa Evacu-Trac CD8 Emergency Stairway Evacuation Chair — 400 lb, Hydraulic Governor, One-Person Operation

In a fire, earthquake, or power outage, elevators lock out. For mobility-impaired building occupants on upper floors, the stairway becomes the only exit — and waiting in an area of refuge is not a guaranteed plan. The Garaventa Evacu-Trac CD8 gives buildings a reliable, immediate solution: a track-type evacuation chair that any average attendant can operate to move a passenger weighing up to 400 lbs safely down the stairs without physical strength, heavy lifting, or specialized training.

The engineering behind the Evacu-Trac's safety is fundamentally different from manual-carry or wheeled stair evacuation devices. The passenger's own weight drives the unit down the stairs — the hydraulic speed governor controls the rate of descent to approximately 3.6 ft/sec regardless of the passenger's weight, and the failsafe brake automatically stops the unit if the attendant releases the brake lever. Durable rubber tracks grip the stair nosings on any stair surface — carpet, tile, concrete, or metal. The unit is stable and self-supporting on flat surfaces as well, so it can be wheeled through corridors to the stairway and parked safely at any landing.

RESNA endorsement: The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) states: "Track-type evacuation chairs…promote safe, efficient evacuation during emergencies."

Key Features

• 400 lb passenger capacity
• Hydraulic speed governor — controls descent to approximately 3.6 ft/sec regardless of passenger weight
• Failsafe brake — automatically stops the unit on the stairs when the brake lever is released
• Durable rubber tracks — grip any stair nosing surface (carpet, tile, concrete, metal, rubber)
• Single-person operation — no heavy lifting required; small attendant can move larger passenger
• Fire-retardant sling seat — low transfer height for easy transfer from a wheelchair
• Three adjustable Velcro safety straps — secure injured users, those with limited upper body control, or children
• Stable and self-supporting on flat surfaces — can be wheeled through corridors on rear wheels
• Fast deployment — 3-step setup, ready immediately from storage
• Low center of gravity for stability during stair descent
• Reclined seating position supports users who cannot maintain upright posture
• Maximum stair angle: 40°
• Unit weight: 46 lbs
• 15-year warranty
• Optional wall-mounted storage cabinet available

Who Needs an Evacuation Chair — Building Requirements

Building owners and facility managers are responsible for emergency evacuation plans that include all occupants — including those with mobility limitations. Under the ADA and applicable life safety codes, evacuation planning must address mobility-impaired individuals. During a fire or other emergency, elevators are disabled and wheelchair lifts are inoperative. Waiting in an "area of refuge" is not always possible or safe. The Evacu-Trac provides a practical, code-appropriate solution for:

• Office buildings, commercial facilities, and multi-tenant properties
• Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities
• Schools, universities, and educational institutions
• Hotels, resorts, and hospitality venues
• Assisted living and long-term care facilities
• Government buildings and public facilities
• Residential high-rises and condominiums

Planning and Deployment Guide

1. Assess Your Building's Stairway Requirements

   The Evacu-Trac requires a minimum stairway width and turn-back clearance to operate safely. The operating width is 16.8" — narrower than most emergency stairwells, but clearance must also accommodate the attendant beside or behind the unit. If your stairway dimensions are close to minimum requirements, Garaventa offers demo units for clearance testing. Contact us to arrange a trial before purchase.

2. Determine Storage Location

   The Evacu-Trac should be stored near the upper stair landing of each stairway it covers, ideally in the optional wall-mounted storage cabinet. Each floor requiring evacuation coverage should have a unit in place. In an emergency, the unit must be accessible immediately — storage location planning is critical to response time.

3. Train Designated Attendants

   The Evacu-Trac is a 3-step deployment — unfold, seat and strap the passenger, descend with brake control. No physical strength is required for descent. However, attendants should be trained in the transfer procedure, strap application, and brake lever operation before an emergency occurs. Building owners are responsible for identifying and training emergency floor wardens or attendants in advance.

4. Integrate into Your Emergency Evacuation Plan

   The Evacu-Trac should be named specifically in your building's emergency evacuation plan with the location of each unit, the names of trained attendants, and the protocol for identifying mobility-impaired occupants on each floor. Simply owning the equipment is insufficient — plan, train, and drill.

5. Maintenance and Readiness

   The Evacu-Trac requires minimal maintenance. Inspect the unit periodically — check the hydraulic governor, brake mechanism, tracks, and safety straps. Confirm the unit is in its storage location and accessible. The 15-year warranty reflects the product's durability, but regular inspection ensures it is ready when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the hydraulic speed governor work?

The hydraulic governor is a mechanical device integrated into the Evacu-Trac's descent mechanism. As the unit moves down the stairs, the governor applies hydraulic resistance that increases proportionally with speed — automatically limiting the descent rate to approximately 3.6 ft/sec (about 2.5 mph). This means the unit self-regulates: heavier passengers don't cause faster, dangerous descents. The attendant controls starting and stopping via the brake lever; the governor handles speed regulation during movement. This is what allows a small attendant to safely move a 400 lb passenger down multiple flights without the descent becoming uncontrollable.

What is the failsafe brake and when does it engage?

The Evacu-Trac brake is normally engaged (on) by default. The attendant must actively squeeze the brake lever to allow descent — releasing the lever stops the unit automatically on the stairs. This failsafe design means that if the attendant loses grip, is startled, or intentionally releases, the unit stops immediately and cannot run away down the stairs. The brake can also be used to control descent speed in addition to the hydraulic governor, giving the attendant full stop-and-go control on each step or landing.

Can the Evacu-Trac go upstairs as well as down?

No. The Evacu-Trac is designed for downward stairway evacuation only — it travels down, not up. The hydraulic governor and track system are engineered specifically for controlled descent. For situations requiring upward movement (such as assisting someone to an upper-floor refuge area), a different solution is required. In the vast majority of emergency evacuation scenarios, downward egress is the required direction.

What types of stairs can the Evacu-Trac handle?

The rubber tracks grip the stair nosing (the front edge of each step) on virtually any stair surface — carpeted, tiled, concrete, metal grating, rubber, and wood. The maximum stair angle is 40°, which encompasses most commercial and residential stairways. Spiral staircases and very narrow utility stairs may not accommodate the unit's 16.8" operating width — stairway clearance should be confirmed before purchase.

Is training required to operate the Evacu-Trac?

No specialized certification is required, but training is strongly recommended. The 3-step operation is straightforward — unfold, seat and secure the passenger with the three straps, and descend using the brake lever. The hydraulic governor does the speed control. Building owners and safety coordinators should designate trained floor wardens and conduct periodic drills so attendants are prepared to operate calmly in an actual emergency. Garaventa provides instructional materials and the manufacturer can arrange training support.

How does the Evacu-Trac compare to other evacuation chairs?

Evacuation chairs fall into two main categories: track-type (like the Evacu-Trac) and wheeled/slider-type. Track-type chairs use continuous rubber tracks to grip stair nosings and descend smoothly — they handle speed variation, heavy passengers, and various stair surfaces more predictably than wheeled or slider designs. The Evacu-Trac's hydraulic governor is a key advantage over unpowered track chairs that rely entirely on the attendant's grip for speed control. RESNA specifically endorses track-type evacuation chairs for safe, efficient emergency evacuation, noting their stability advantages over other designs.