Are you looking to make your home or commercial business more accessible for users with limited mobility? At Lyfthaus, we specialise in the design, manufacture, and installation of innovative and stylish wheelchair lift solutions to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our commitment is to provide high-quality wheelchair access solutions that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, ensuring compliance with UK regulations.
This article will guide you through the seamless wheelchair lift installation process. We’ll cover everything from the initial consultation to the final inspection, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience for your project. Read on to learn more.
What Is the Purpose of a Wheelchair Lift?
A wheelchair lift is a specialised type of vertical platform lift designed for installation inside or outside a building with the primary aim of transporting people with mobility impairments between different levels or floors.
Vertical lifts typically feature a sturdy platform, surrounded by safety barriers or enclosures, that moves vertically using either an electric motor or a hydraulic system. These lifts are indispensable mobility solutions, particularly beneficial to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility who may otherwise struggle to use stairs. Ultimately, a custom wheelchair lift offers increased and independent accessibility into and within buildings, all whilst providing a sleek, modern, and space-saving design.
The Wheelchair Lift Installation Process
Our structured approach ensures that every wheelchair lift installation is executed with precision, minimal disruption, and adherence to the highest safety standards.
Step 1: Get a Quote
The initial and most important step before getting a wheelchair lift installed is to arrange a preliminary discussion with a lift specialist and obtain a detailed quotation for the work.
When discussing your requirements, we focus on understanding the scope of the work and your specific needs. Key discussion points include:
- Location: Indoor or outdoor installation requirements.
- Travel Height: The distance the wheelchair lift needs to travel.
- Custom Design: Platform size, loading capacities, and desired material finishes to match your architecture.
This initial discussion, coupled with an essential site visit, allows us to provide you with a reasonable and realistic quote for your bespoke disabled access project.
Step 2: Site-Specific Design
Once we have thoroughly discussed your requirements, our technical team performs a comprehensive site visit. We then draft detailed design plans specific to your site and the specifications you require for your new wheelchair lift.
This documentation includes crucial engineering information regarding:
- Dimensions and required spatial footprint.
- Loading capacities and necessary power supply.
- Functionality features, materials, and safety requirements.
We raise any feasibility concerns immediately, ensuring that the final wheelchair lift design is not only compliant but also perfectly suited and appropriate for your building’s structure and environment.
Step 3: Prepare the Site
After all plans have been agreed upon and you have approved the project, we move to prepare your site for the installation of the wheelchair lift.
Our team conducts a final site assessment to prevent delays on installation day. Preparation includes making sure appropriate provisions are in place, such as:
Managing necessary building work with minimal impact on your daily operations.
Ensuring there is an adequate, level base or pit structure to support the lift’s weight and operation.
Confirming that electrical supply routes are accessible and safe.
Step 4: Lift Installation
Once we are confident that the site is safe and fully prepared, our certified platform lift engineers proceed with the installation. Our expert team efficiently and professionally install your wheelchair lift, a process which can take anywhere from a few days to longer, depending on the size and complexity of the system.
Upon completion, our engineers will provide a thorough demonstration and detailed instructions on how to use the home lift or commercial unit properly and safely.
Step 5: Final Inspections
The crucial final step involves rigorous testing and carrying out all necessary final inspections of the newly installed wheelchair lift. This includes undertaking an inspection to ensure it meets the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). Successful completion results in your lift being issued a LOLER certificate, confirming its legal compliance and safety.
And there you have it—your new wheelchair lift installation is complete! Our experts will answer any queries and provide a detailed visual run-through of the features. You will also be provided with a user manual, warranty details, and all other necessary paperwork for your mobility solutions.
Wheelchair Lift Design & Installation by Lyfthaus
Our Expertise
Lyfthaus’s expertise in advanced disabled access solutions is proven through our portfolio. We were recently commissioned to install six bespoke platform lifts at the iconic Old Trafford stadium, the home ground of Manchester United. We are proud to contribute to one of the best stadium facilities for disabled individuals globally.
Our custom wheelchair lifts at Old Trafford are stadium and accessibility compliant, ingeniously designed to raise from below ground. When not in use, the tiered seating can slide seamlessly over the top, maximising space potential, a prime example of our dedication to blending functionality with discretion.
Why Lyfthaus?
When considering a lift for your building, choosing Lyfthaus guarantees quality, safety, and compliance.
- Legal Compliance: All our lifts offer access in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, ensuring your building or organisation remains legally compliant.
- Bespoke Solutions: We are recognised as a leading company in the UK for designing and manufacturing truly custom platform lifts. Our design experts create unique solutions for your specific architectural challenges and access needs.
- Complete Process Management: From initial design consultation through to final installation and certification, we manage the complete process in-house.
- Architectural Integration: We strive to create lifts that fit in with the surrounding architecture, offering a wide range of materials and colour finishes to ensure your disabled access lift blends seamlessly into its environment, whether it’s a contemporary structure or a heritage building.
Whether you require a bespoke lift for a residential property or a high-capacity commercial mobility solution, get in touch with us today to discuss your specific requirements.