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disabled products & services


Specifying the lift within your project


When is a platform lift appropriate? Crispin Satchell, Head of Sales for Gartec Limited, sheds light on some of the main considerations when specifying the lift for your project and dispels some of the most commonly held misconceptions regarding the suitability of platform lifts


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ertical lifting platforms (platform lifts) are very often pigeon-holed into the disability category. While it is true to say that specifying a platform lift will help


building owners to comply with the Equality Act, modern platform lift technology has extended their use for the non-disabled where a conventional passenger lift cannot be accommodated on the basis of available space or budget, or where a more sustainable alternative to a conventional lift is sought. In selecting the appropriate lifting device care should be


taken to ensure it is fit for purpose. A vertical platform lift can be specified for existing buildings or new builds or for developments with particular constraints such as listed buildings. The case for using a platform lift should then be argued in the Access Statement. Platform lifts are appropriate for installation internally or externally, for travel up to around 13 metres or serving two to three floors. For maximum flexibility look for a supplier who can offer platform lifts certified for the carriage of goods as well as passengers. The total cost including installation for a platform lift works


out to around 50 per cent cheaper than a conventional passenger lift. As the lift is mainly built off-site and supplied in its own self-supporting shaft enclosure, no structural shaft, no machine room, no deep pit and no lifting beam are needed for installation, thus only minimal on-site building work is required. In listed buildings, tight stairwells and where headroom is


limited, a platform lift is an ideal solution. For commercial applications a typical platform size is 1100 x 1480 mm. Many suppliers have a range of different platform sizes starting from 805 x 580mm, with a headroom requirement of only 2240mm for a full height door. Half height doors can also be specified for the upper landing if travel is no more than 3 metres, all subject to complying with the Building Regulations Part M. An experienced supplier will help you navigate any compliance issues. As the name suggests a platform lift would normally have an


open platform, but fully enclosed cabin lifts are now readily available based on exactly the same footprint as the open style options. Most open platforms address the main safety issue by Continued overleaf...


respond online at www.architectsdatafile.co.uk


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