Wheelchair Lifts: Design Considerations

The selection of the most suitable type of wheelchair lifting device will depend on a range of factors including available space, the vertical travel distance, frequency of use and speed of travel, any physical constraints imposed by the building, cost and aesthetics.

Spatial requirements

Platform lifts typically require less space than conventional passenger lifts. This is mainly due to the absence of a structural lift shaft. In certain situations, the size of the lift platform can be less than that required in passenger lifts.

Many platform lifts do not require lift motor rooms or machine rooms. The depth of the lift pit varies between 50mm to over 200mm, but is typically substantially less than the depth required for a passenger lift.

When installing vertical or inclined platform lifts access to and from the lift for wheelchair users should be given full consideration.

For example in the case of a vertical platform lift is there enough room for the wheelchair to move away from the opening door to allow it to open fully? Equally for an inclined platform lift is there space for the platform to fold down and a wheelchair user be at a safe distance whilst calling the lift?

Vertical travel distance

There is no longer a limit on the vertical travel distance for platform lifts, although issues such as occupant capacity and travel time are likely to preclude use of such a lift for travelling more than two or three stories

Frequency of use and speed of travel

Compared to conventional passenger lifts, vertical platform lifts and inclined platform lifts are slow moving. These lifts have a travel speed between 0.1 and 0.15 metres per second compared with 0.25 to 1 metres per second for passenger lifts in low rise buildings, for high rise buildings it is 4 metres per second or more.

Platform lifts are designed for use by one or two people only, and inclined platform for one person. These factors have a significant impact on the number of people that can be transported within a particular timescale and this should be fully considered when selecting a suitable lift type. Vertical platform lifts are not a cheap substitute for a passenger lift!

Physical constraints

The configuration of existing building fabric or the historical status of a building may preclude the structural modifications required to install a conventional passenger lift.

The installation of a vertical platform lift requires much less in the way of permanent modifications to the building structure. As such, it may offer a means of vertical travel that can be incorporated into a building without necessitating irreversible modifications to existing building fabric.

In the event that it is not possible to install a vertical lift an inclined platform lift may provide a suitable alternative as they may be mounted on the wall or the stair if the staircase is wide enough.

If using a Wheelchair Access Lift the access statement should illustrate why a passenger lift was not deemed to be a reasonable solution. In the event that an inclined platform lift is installed you should be able to reasonably justify why a vertical solution was not employed.

Aesthetics

Platform lifts can be designed and manufactured with a range of surface finishes to suit different interior and exterior environments. Platform lift enclosures can be powder coated, stainless or painted steel, with clear or tinted glass infill panels and inclined lifts can be powder coated to suit.

BS8300 can offer guidance on tonal and colour contrasts. Further information is available from the RNIB/Dulux