Guidelines

Lifts

Lifts can help to provide access to storeys above or below the main entrance level of a building. If designed appropriately, lifts are the most convenient form of vertical access for disabled people.

Suitable access must be provided between a lift and the other parts of each floor which it serves.

Types of lifts

Box-car lifts

A suitable box-car passenger lift should be provided to serve each level of a building to which the public and employees may require access.

A lift must be provided if the building:

*The nett area excludes vertical circulation, sanitary accommodation and maintenance areas.

Where escalators are provided for access to other storeys, a lift is essential.

Design recommendations for lifts

Other lifting devices

Stair lifts

If an upper or lower storey contains a unique facility, eg. a small gallery, staff restroom or training room, but is not large enough to warrant box-car lift access, it should still be accessible to wheelchair users. In these circumstances a powered stair lift may provide reasonable access.

Existing wide stairways or ramps and staircases in certain historic properties which cannot otherwise be altered, may also be made accessible to wheelchair users by installing a stair lift.

Easy to operate push-button controls should be situated on the platform. There should be an emergency stop button and a security key switch to minimise abuse.

When not in use, the lift platform should be safely located or folded away. Folding versions should fold out automatically, rather than require manual operation.

Stair lift installations should be designed so that ambulant disabled people, as well as wheelchair users, can safely use them.

Platform lifts

Where there exists a step or short flight of stairs and the provision of a ramp would not be practicable, the installation of a platform lift should be considered.

A platform lift may be used to travel over short changes in level, but complementary stairs must always be provided for use by able-bodied and ambulant disabled people.

Easy to operate push button controls should be situated on the platform. There should be an emergency stop button and a security key switch to minimise abuse. In case of power failure, the lift should be capable of manual operation.

When not in use, the lift platform should be safely located.

Acknowledgement

The above information was collected from the following sources:

Legislation

In the past, access to public buildings has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for many disabled people and in particular wheelchair users. There are times in most peoples' lives when access is an obstacle to overcome. For example, people with arthritis or a heart condition, elderly people or somebody with a temporary disability. It is only recently that these issues have found their way on to government agendas.

One of the most recent, and influential pieces of government legislation concerning disabled access, is the UK Disability and Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), which aims to remove physical barriers and improve access for all to public buildings, something that became mandatory as from the 1st October 2004. Many buildings will have to be upgraded to meet the minimum accessibility laws.

If you would like further information on the DDA please click on the following link: DDA.

Current building regulations, such as Building Regulation Part 'M', have also helped to promote improvements in access for disabled people, stating ways in which accessibility can be tackled at the design and build stage of a public area.

If you would like further information on Building Regulation Part 'M' please click on the following link: Building Regulation Part 'M'.

Access To Work is a government scheme to help improve career opportunities for potential disabled employees who may require special equipment or alterations to existing equipment to suit particular work needs arising from disability.

It applies to full or part time, permanent or temporary work, meaning that employers must be able to provide sufficient levels of access to all existing and potential employees.

Access then can be viewed as a major factor in the designing of new buildings or the refurbishment of an existing building. It has become a fundamental part of public building interiors.

The introduction of BS 8300:2001 gathers all the relevant standards under one 'umbrella' to ensure that every aspect of disability is taken into account in building design.

If you would like further information on BS 8300:2001 please click on the following link: BS 8300:2001.

Manufacturers of access lifts

Further information

Other information:

Picture acknowledgements

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