As our citizens grow older, more and more wheelchair lifts are needed to maintain the quality of our personal mobility. Addressing the unique mobility needs of homeowners, business, public, and government facilities is our specialty. We install and service nationwide including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as Canada and Mexico. Our lifts can be configured to meet the requirements of ADA, ASME, A17.1, A18.1, and local statutes. Whether you are an architectural firm, builder, homeowner, or simply doing research for your church or school, we can help you. In addition to the following information, you should feel free to call us toll free at 1 (800) 470-8940 for assistance with your project.
Platform Lift or Ramp?
Only recently has building access for persons with disabilities been incorporated into building design. As a result, it is a challenge to accommodate buildings not originally designed with handicap access in mind. Solutions involving ramps require one foot of ramp for every inch of height attained, and generally cost in the neighborhood of 175 to 200 dollars per foot to complete. The amount of space required to accommodate a ramp solution is generally quite large, and it is near impossible to compliment the building and adjacent areas or meet local building codes. Vertical platform wheelchair lifts address these concerns with small footprints, structural options, configurations to meet codes, and with significantly lower costs.
What is a Vertical Wheelchair Lift?
Vertical wheelchair lifts are flat platforms that typically operate with screw type drives on standard 110 electrical outlets. They are often used for porch access outdoors as well as second story access inside homes or public buildings. Churches and schools may elect to use them to reach stages, and public facilities, and often select them because they can be configured to meet ADA expectations. Standard designs are for straight through entry/exit, but 90 degree turns or 3 stop lifts are also available.
Take A Look Inside A Vertical Platform Lift
Evaluate Your Location
When evaluating a location for a vertical lift you should plan on having an area approximately 4.5 feet by 8.0 feet in order to address any entry/exit. Allow at least 3.5 to 4 feet of room directly in front of the lift entry to line up a wheelchair for access. Check to make sure there will be enough headroom over head when the lift is at full height. You should plan to have at least 7 feet of headroom above the platform at full height since passengers may be standing.
Foundation Considerations
A firm, stable base must be available as the foundation for any lift. Keep in mind that a 60 inch lift may weigh up to 1600 pounds when occupied, and 144 inch lifts may weigh over a ton when occupied. For most outdoor or basement applications a concrete pad of at least 4 inches is preferred, and adding steel re-bar is best. Using supports such as recessed railroad ties is generally not advised on bare ground as the ground may shift and reduce the stability of the lift. Typically blacktop surfaces are thin by comparison and have a tendency to sink when exposed to heat so we do not recommend a blacktop foundation. If you are installing in a structure with wood floors you must allow for the weight of the lift and the maximum capacity on the foot print of the lift. This can be as much as 1 ton or more so proper planning with regard to placement over the correct size floor joists is essential.
What about Outdoor Applications?
Vertical wheelchair lifts are also designed to operate outdoors with standard, UL approved, ground fault, 110 outlets. Our motors are located at the top of a sealed control tower to prevent water damage. The floors on the basic residential models are designed to for use in all but the most extreme weather conditions.
Specialized Installations
Many of our customers have elected to build enclosed shafts around the lift for new construction sites, as well as retrofit of existing structures. We can assist you or your builder with planning this process. You should call us prior to initiating such a project since the space requirements are always greater than the footprint of the lift. We also provide assistance with the timing of the installation of components. It is best to install interlocks on the doors and gateways prior to setting an enclosed lift, and you want to allow for contingencies such as drains in recessed footprints and manual emergency crank access to the tower.
Due to these considerations and others we think the best approach is to exchange information about your unique application. This allows you to obtain information about what others have experienced in similar situations, and it provides for the manufacturer to be involved in the process of selecting the proper solution. This information is provided for general guidelines only and may not be suitable for all applications. You should call 1 (800) 470-8940 for more specific recommendations that focus on your unique requirements.
