Disabled access lifts are an essential and often legally required solution that contributes towards making the world more accessible for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users. Whether you are upgrading a private residence, a public building, or a commercial space, installing a robust wheelchair lift ensures inclusive access for everyone.
At Lyfthaus, we specialise in high-quality, DDA-compliant platform lifts that seamlessly integrate with any architectural style. This guide dives into what makes a great disabled access lift, explores the key features of our bespoke designs, and helps you understand the different types of vertical platform lifts available to achieve true accessibility.
What Are Disabled Access Lifts?
Disabled access lifts, also referred to as platform lifts or wheelchair lifts, are specialist lifting devices engineered to provide safe, independent access between different floor levels.
These devices are the ideal solution for both residential and commercial settings where traditional ramps aren’t practical due to space constraints, or where a full-size passenger elevator is unnecessary or too costly. Crucially, installing a lift helps commercial and public premises achieve DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliance and meet UK Building Regulations for accessibility, making sure that no one is excluded from navigating your space.
Key Features of Platform Lifts
1. Bespoke Design
We understand that every space and user’s requirements are unique. That’s why our bespoke wheelchair lifts are not off-the-shelf products; they are entirely tailored to fit specific needs, whether it’s for a private home lift, a high-traffic office, or a prominent public building. We customise every detail to ensure the lift is a cohesive part of your environment:
- Integration: Our lifts can be installed with or without a machine room and are adaptable to challenging structural limitations.
- Platform Size and Weight Capacity: Designed to accommodate all standard and bariatric wheelchairs.
- Material Finishes: Options ranging from sleek glass and stainless steel to specific colour palettes and architectural cladding.
2. Space Efficiency
One of the main advantages of disabled access lifts is their space efficiency. Unlike cumbersome ramps, which require a significant horizontal run to achieve the necessary gentle gradient, our vertical platform lifts operate within a minimal, vertical footprint. This makes platform lifts the most practical mobility solution for areas with limited space, such as urban buildings, historic sites, or small residential properties.
3. Advanced Safety Features
Safety is non-negotiable. Our wheelchair lifts are equipped with advanced safety features that exceed industry standards, ensuring reliable and secure operation:
- Emergency Communication: Integrated systems for calling assistance.
- Non-Slip Surfaces and Guard Rails: Providing a stable and secure platform for the user.
- Safety Edges and Light Curtains: Sensors that instantly halt the lift’s movement upon detecting an obstruction.
- Emergency Stop Buttons: Easily accessible controls to stop the lift at any point.
- Battery Backup System: Ensures the lift can be safely lowered to the nearest level in the event of a power failure.
4. Ease of Use and Operation
Disabled access lifts are designed for intuitive and independent operation. They typically feature user-friendly, constant-pressure controls or ‘one-touch’ automatic buttons (depending on the lift model and travel distance). The smooth, quiet hydraulic or traction operation provides a comfortable and dignified travel experience, allowing users to operate the lift with minimal or no assistance.
5. Unmatched Versatility
Our comprehensive range of platform lifts are highly versatile, suitable for both indoor and all-weather outdoor use. This includes models that are corrosion-resistant and engineered to withstand external elements. They can be installed:
- As standalone units providing step-free entry to raised ground levels (step lifts).
- Alongside existing staircases (inclined platform lifts).
- Within a custom-built enclosure or existing elevator shaft (vertical platform lifts).
Types of Disabled Access Lifts Available from Lyfthaus
We offer bespoke designs across the full spectrum of disabled access lifts to meet any structural or aesthetic requirement:
- Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs): Our most popular solution, these lifts travel straight up and down, often serving travel up to 12 meters (several floors). They are perfect for public buildings, schools, and offices.
- Inclined Platform Lifts (Stair Lifts): Ideal where a vertical lift is structurally impossible, these wheelchair platform stairlifts follow the line of the existing staircase, providing accessibility without major renovation work.
- Cabin Platform Lifts: These offer the look and feel of a small conventional elevator with fully enclosed walls and automatic controls, providing maximum comfort and security—often preferred as a high-end home lift.
- Open Platform Lifts / Step Lifts: Designed for short-travel solutions, such as a few steps at a building entrance or a small change in level, these are compact, cost-effective, and ideal for outdoor use.
Lyfthaus: Your Partner in Bespoke Mobility Solutions
At Lyfthaus, we are committed to designing, manufacturing, and installing high-quality, bespoke disabled access lifts that meet the unique needs of our clients. Our focus is on delivering exceptional engineering, aesthetic integration, and unwavering safety compliance. We don’t just supply a lift; we provide a sophisticated mobility solution that enhances the value, usability, and inclusivity of your property.
Ready to discuss your project? Get in touch with us today for a consultation and find the perfect platform lift solution for your space.