Some buildings have a staircase that a wheelchair user must get past and no space for an elevator or a vertical lift. An inclined platform lift is made for that situation.
How it works
A rail is fixed along the staircase, on the wall or on posts. A platform rides the rail, following the slope of the stairs. The user rolls onto the platform at the bottom, safety arms come down, and the platform carries wheelchair and rider to the top. When it is not needed, the platform folds flat against the wall.
Where it is used
- Churches, lodges and community halls with a few steps to the main floor
- Schools and offices in older buildings
- Homes where a vertical lift or an elevator will not fit
- Entrances with a straight outdoor stair
What the staircase needs
- Enough width for the platform, with the wheelchair on it
- Clear floor at the top and bottom for rolling on and off
- A wall or structure strong enough to carry the rail
- Headroom along the whole run
Strengths
- Uses the stairs that are already there
- Needs no shaft, pit or floor opening
- Folds away, so the stairs stay usable
- The rider stays in the wheelchair throughout
Limitations
- It needs a wider staircase than a stair lift does
- Travel is slower than an elevator
- While it is moving, the stairs are partly blocked
Inclined or vertical?
If there is open space beside the steps, a vertical platform lift is usually simpler and quicker to use. If the stairs are enclosed by walls on both sides, an inclined lift may be the only way to add access without major building work.
For public buildings
Accessibility rules apply to many businesses and public buildings, and the right lift depends on the building and its use. We can explain what is involved for yours.
Arrange a survey
Nationwide Lifts of New York surveys staircases for homes and organizations around Albany, Glens Falls and Poughkeepsie. Call 888-323-8755.