When it comes to buying bespoke platform lifts, you might not be certain straight away which is the best type for your needs. Here’s a brief overview of the different categories and what they are designed for.

Open platform lifts

These are designed for transporting people and wheelchair users in a safe manner for external or internal vertical travel. They are sometimes referred to as a wheelchair lift, and can be fitted in domestic and commercial environments. They require much less space than a traditional lift, so they are ideal where access is needed to smaller premises.

These lifts are easy to install, aesthetically pleasing, and simple to use. They have low maintenance and running costs, and are easy to service. They are ideal for care homes, private homes, and educational and retail establishments.

Inclined platform lifts

This is a type of stairlift, allowing a wheelchair user safe access up a set of steps or staircase. The platform is fixed to a diagonal runner along the side of the staircase, and is capable of carrying a wheelchair to the upper level.

They are easy to install and simple to use, and can be fitted to most types of staircase both indoors and outside. Inclined platform lifts are a more affordable option than other types of lift.

Low-rise vertical platform lifts

Low rise platform lifts are designed to carry a passenger a short distance. They can be installed at the side of a single step in split-level room layouts, for example. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, these lifts will accommodate a wheelchair and an attendant.

Vertical platform lifts are unobtrusive and stylish, and blend well into the surroundings. They are suitable for both commercial and domestic settings, to ensure the building is compliant with Equality Act regulations. Installation is quick and easy, often just taking one or two days.

Disability access campaigners in Kent have been celebrating the news that the railway station at Herne Bay is to get bespoke platform lifts to ensure step-free access for all passengers.

Canterbury City Council has given the green light for plans to install a new footbridge over the line, with lifts at either end, connecting the London-bound and coast-bound platforms, Kent Online reports.

Network Rail plans to have the bridge and lifts in place in the next three years, which will enable disabled commuters to use the station to travel to London. At present, they have to travel to Whitstable to find an accessible platform, as the only way to cross the line at Herne Bay is via an underpass with steps at either end.

Commenting on the news, wheelchair-bound passenger Sheila Appleton said: “It’s been so long that everybody has had to suffer so much with all the inconvenience it brings.”

She added: “It’s not only people like me who have had problems - it’s those with buggies, older people, people with luggage. It’s not easy for people.”

Ms Appleton, who has been in a wheelchair for 14 years, added that the more accessible railway station could help with efforts to bring more tourism to the town. 

When passengers such as Ms Appleton use the train to visit London, they may be pleased to see the growing number of rail and Tube stations that offer step-free access.

Last week saw Osterley station on the Piccadilly line become the 89th station on the Tube network to become step-free, following the completion of work to install two new lifts and improve signage.

Across London underground, six other stations have gained step-free access this year, while this is a feature of the two new stations opened up on the Northern line spur to Nine Elms.

By the end of this year, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Sudbury Hill stations are scheduled to raise the number to 91.

If you are considering installing a vertical lift in your residence, you will probably have several questions. Here are some important points to think about before making a final decision.

What are your practical needs?

Asking what will be the everyday purpose of the lift is a good place to start. Does it need to be big enough to accommodate a wheelchair? How many passengers do you want to transport at a time? How many floors is the lift needed to serve? The answers to these questions will all affect the size and type of lift you need.

Where could the lift be installed?

The location of the lift will depend on how much space there is available. It is usual to install them in the hallway or living room, to travel to an upper landing or bedroom area. However, in most cases, the location can be very flexible, from the centre piece of a room, to tucked discreetly into a corner.

Do you need planning permission?

Planning permission is not necessary to install a lift in a private home. Depending on the size and type of the lift, you may need some structural alterations to your home which require Building Control approval. The manufacturer or supplier of your lift should be able to give you advice on any alterations necessary, and may even arrange the approval of the work.

How do I ensure safety standards?

Vertical lifts are designed to rigorous safety standards. Make sure the products offered by your chosen supplier or manufacturer are compliant with the relevant British and European Safety Standards.

While compliance with the standards for safety and fire resistance is not mandatory in most cases, it is very strongly recommended that you select a manufacturer and product that can demonstrate essential safety standards.

If you are looking for bespoke platform lifts, please contact us today.

The Covid-19 pandemic is showing no signs of abating and concerns over returning to workplaces remain for many people. With the UK back in lockdown, many have returned to remote working but at some point we will return to offices and other workplaces.

Businesses therefore have to consider how they can ensure the safety of their staff and visitors to their facilities and touchless technology is likely to play an important role.

As an article for Facility Executive recently noted, now is certainly a good time to consider the benefits touchless elevators could bring.

The publication pointed out that concerns over how clean lift buttons are is not new, but that it has been given a renewed importance in 2020. It cited research from a 2014 study which found that there was more bacteria on the buttons in an elevator than on toilet flushers in hospitals, for instance.

Aside from the hygiene side of it though, touchless lifts can bring additional benefits, particularly to security. For instance, the publication noted that a touchless elevator system could integrate with security systems to restrict access to certain floors, for instance.

Such systems could also use the internet of things (IoT) and integrate seamlessly with people’s smartphones.

As an article for Engadget noted, touchless lift controls could also involve using gesture control, which might be more appropriate for public spaces.

If it’s time to refurbish the access in your building, it could certainly be worth exploring the options for bespoke platform lifts and other kinds of elevators that incorporate this type of technology to ensure your facility is ready for what the future holds.

One issue facing many disabled people when they travel is accessibility, both at accommodation and attractions. 

However, the Sun recently pointed out that some of the UK’s top tourist regions perform very well on accessibility, making them excellent choices for disabled visitors who want to enjoy a getaway without feeling excluded from activities or attractions.

At the top of the list is Brighton, which is described as “one of England’s most inclusive destinations”. 

For example, Brighton Palace Pier is accessible, with easy wheelchair access from the car park to the pier’s restaurants and bars. The British Airways i360 Tower is also a great choice for disabled visitors, with its wheelchair-friendly lift allowing everyone to ascend the tower and enjoy the views.

The West Country, meanwhile, is another good choice for those with disabilities. You could even go caving in the Mendip Hills with one company that has experience of providing tours to visitors of all abilities. 

M Shed museum in Bristol was also singled out for its accessible features, which include its spoken announcements and wheelchair-accessible lifts. 

Comedian Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, travelled around the UK to stress test a range of activities for disabled people to help create this list.

“I wanted to celebrate the places and the activities that are accessible for disabled people. I also wanted to show that just because a person is disabled, it doesn’t mean that they have got to have a boring holiday,” she said. 

If your business wants to attract more disabled visitors, start by investing in bespoke platform lifts to ensure all parts of your location are accessible. 

We recently explained why electric platform lifts are a particularly good choice for wheelchair users, and how they can help people of varying physical abilities. Benefits include making life easier and helping people be more independent, as well as reducing the chances of falls and injuries.

The Detroit Hotel in St Petersburg, Florida, was built between 1888 and 1889 and is the oldest hotel in the city. The oldest parts of the building were made from wood, and brick sections were added at a later date. Over the years, the building was converted into apartments and businesses.

However, when workmen were conducting demolition work to build a new restaurant in the property, they discovered a forgotten piece of history from the hotel, an elegant, gold-trimmed antique elevator, reports Fox 13 News in Florida.

As the crews tore out a section of wall they discovered the fancy elevator, and removal of part of the flooring revealed the lifting machinery and even some of the remaining cables.

A metal plate on the floor of the elevator revealed it was made by the Warner Elevator Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, who produced elevators in the late 1800s, coinciding with the original construction of the Detroit Hotel.

Unlike modern lifts, it had no buttons as it would have been operated by an operator, and a small door on the rear of the carriage was where bellmen could load luggage.

Pete Mortellaro of G&M Construction said: “From what we’re told, it’s the second elevator in the state of Florida. It’s the first one in our area.”

They also found a hand-wired, and hand-numbered electrical switching system that at one time would have connected to every room in the hotel, which maybe would have been used to alert guests of messages waiting for them at the reception.

The owners of the new restaurant are keen to preserve the unexpected discovery, adding a historic enhancement to the premises.

“When you walk in and see something like this and you can actually put a time period into your head when this thing was in operation, that’s amazing,” Mortellaro added. 

If you need bespoke platform lifts for your business or property, get in touch today.