Basic Steps Involved In Lift or Elevator Installation

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Selling properties on higher floors will be possible only if the builder arranges a good-quality elevator installation. Similarly, businesses in high-rise buildings will not succeed at all without high-quality lifts or elevators. These properties and businesses benefit from elevators and lifts in several ways. Firstly, they act as a long-term solution that allows people to access the upper floors of any building very quickly. Secondly, they are nothing short of a boon for elderly people, people with mobility issues, and wheelchair users who want to access otherwise impossible areas. The significant benefits of lift or elevator installation are listed below.

• Safe, easy, vertical transportation of goods
• Increased productivity
• Time savings
• Less labor is required than carrying goods
• Elimination of the need for forklifts

UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF ELEVATOR INSTALLATION

The first thing to understand is that it is not a DIY task, and you will require a trained technician or a lift service engineer. These professionals will ensure that the lift or elevator installation is done flawlessly with these steps.

SETTING UP THE COLUMNS IN PLACE

• The first step in the lift or elevator installation process is assessing the location and ensuring that it is the best in the entire property.
• It should be spacious enough and must not impact the workflow.
• The floor should be sturdy enough to support a loaded lift.
• Enough overhead space is another essential requirement before any lift or elevator installation.

ADDING THE CARRIAGE

After drawing the outlines on the floor and walls, the carriage is now ready to install. This carriage is placed inside by the engineers of inclined platform lift, and the position is already marked and followed. Now, they will fit the wheel blocks and then install the lift chains and connect them to the wheel blocks.

If you are installing a mechanical lift, they will lift the drive and ensure that the motor drive is fitted correctly.

ASSEMBLING AND SETTING THE GATES AND ENCLOSURES

The next step of lift or elevator installation is fitting the gates and enclosures. They are essential to an elevator to prevent any accident or injury. They are welded firmly at their place by lift installation professionals.

WIRING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSTALLATION

The next step involves taking care of all the wires that power the elevator installation and making it move up and down. This will involve the services of a reputed electrician who will ensure that the lift installation is done perfectly and working correctly and safely.

What Questions To Ask To Elevator Companies Prior To Hiring?

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There was a time when people only had mobility and ease of accessibility in mind while getting an elevator installed. But thoughts have changed, and now, they search for elevators and minivators that meet the highest safety standards and are a beautiful addition to a property. This is what companies deliver as residential and commercial lifts and elevators. They have a wide range to offer, but before getting them installed, it is essential to ask some questions about the installation teams. Some of these questions are presented here.

WHAT IS THE COST OF RESIDENTIAL LIFTS?

Residential lifts and elevators these elevator companies offer are designed to meet several needs and requirements. You can get them custom-made and include the customisation of your choice in these lifts. As far as the cost is concerned, it gets affected by different factors like the size of the lift, the type and the power used to run. Moreover, the height it will travel is also a crucial factor impacting the final cost.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INSTALL A RESIDENTIAL LIFT?

Lift companies usually take 3-4 days to install a residential lift. The time taken can increase to one week because the experts from elevator companies will ensure no compromise on lift safety. Installing a tall elevator with advanced features can take even more time and up to 15 days.

CAN I CUSTOMISE MY LIFT?

You have all the time in the world to get your minivator, as well as residential elevator, customised. There would be some limitations, but apart from this, the options you can customise are the button, flooring, wall panels, doors, mirrors, control panels and handrails.

ARE THESE ELEVATORS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

Most companies are committed to delivering as environmentally-friendly minivator and home elevators as possible. They promote the usage of electric belt drive elevators that are cleaner, greener and economical.

WHAT AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS YOU TARGET WHILE GETTING A RESIDENTIAL LIFT INSTALLED?

The Australian standards to match vary greatly based on the specific purpose, but elevator companies mostly design them to meet almost every rule and law mentioned in Australia Standards AS-1735.

These Australian standards have countless specifications given for lift and elevator installation regarding

• Minimum car dimensions and door opening width of lifts
• Lighting requirements
• Handrail-friendly walls
• In-cabin announcers
• Car operating panels
• Signal and placement options

Here are some points to note while installing a residential elevator by elevator companies.

• The handrail should be located adjacent to the cabin operating panel (COP)
• The handrail should be 600mm long
• Floor dimensions – at least 1,100mm x 1,400mm
• There should be an entrance protection system
• A clear door opening measuring at least 900mm in width
• An emergency hands-free, self-dialling communication system
• It should have an alarm button for proper illumination
• The lift system needs a levelling accuracy of ± 6mm

What Is the Cost of a Residential Elevator Installation Project?

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Elevators and lifts can make life easier, and for people with mobility issues or any disability, these installations are nothing short of a boon. However, a considerable amount of money is invested in getting lift installation done, and this is a major concern for people looking to get one such installation done. In this post, we have researched the expenditure involved in getting a lift installed.

WHAT IS THE COST OF RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR INSTALLATION?

Several factors come into play when determining the exact estimate of a residential lift for your home. For example – there are different options and variables available, and keeping them in mind, you can anticipate paying anything between $18000 and $100000.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL ELEVATORS?

The residential elevator installation will improve your life’s quality and allow people with disabilities and mobility issues to move around the property quickly. They will require no support, and the lift will help you quickly move groceries, luggage and furniture. They are available in different types, namely –

HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR INSTALLATION

In this type, an arm is used to lift the cab up and allow it to come down. The controller releases the piston cylinder pressure that makes the cab come down softly, and when the pressure is applied to the piston cylinder, the cab again goes upwards. Hydraulic elevators are ideal for high-traffic areas and areas where high weight-bearing is needed. They are also great for wheelchairs, just like wheelchair platform lifts and portable platform lifts, as they have sufficient space inside.

PNEUMATIC VACUUM ELEVATORS

Another very useful version of elevators used for residential purposes is the pneumatic vacuum elevator. They rely on the air pressure to move up and down, and the function is similar to the abovementioned version. The air pressure is applied to move the cab upwards, and releasing this pressure will bring the cab downwards.

WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN CHOOSING A RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR INSTALLATION?

You can benefit in several ways by opting to get residential elevator installation done. You will make your home more comfortable and accessible with these lifts. While determining the right lift for your property, remember to consider the expenditure, the weight and the size. How far the lift has to travel is another question to obstruct you from getting a lift installed.

Learn About the Safety Features of Wheelchair Platform Lifts

People with limited mobility and elderly people often find it troublesome to access the porch or a raised deck. In these situations, wheelchair platform lifts can be beneficial, as they improve access to multi-level residential and commercial buildings and smaller heights like those mentioned above. These elevators and lifts are designed to take a wheelchair user up and down the different levels and provide easy access to raised spaces. They have so many benefits to offer, and one of them is top-level safety, i.e. there, due to the safety features installed in these elevators. Let us review some top safety features quickly integrated into these elevators and lifts.

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CONSTANT PRESSURE CONTROL

This safety feature ensures that the wheelchair platform lift stops when pressure on the switches is released.

OVER SPEED GOVERNOR

This safety feature is there to monitor the speed of the lift, and as it goes beyond the specific speed level, the feature will get activated and apply brakes to control the speed.

EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON

You will find this button located on the side wall of wheelchair platform lifts as well as inclined lifts. It is used to stop the platform lift in case of an emergency or if an obstruction occurs. When this button is pressed, an alarm will sound that some emergency is there.

AUTO FOLDING RAMP

Here is another safety feature that allows the lift to be folded when not in use. This ensures that the stairways are entirely free and spacious for others to access.

NON-SKID PLATFORM

These wheelchair platform lifts have a non-skid platform fitted to prevent the wheelchair from sliding forward and backward when the lift is in motion.

BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEM

This feature ensures that the lift will function normally even in a power outage. In these situations, the user will not have to worry about returning to the floor.

SELF-LOWERING RAMP

This particular safety feature allows the user to move effectively from the platform to the entryway and vice versa.

BOTTOM PLATFORM SAFETY PANEL

This safety feature comes into play in case; there is an obstruction under the lift. It will ensure that the passenger does not face any risky situation caused by the obstruction.

CALL SEND STATIONS

This safety feature allows the lift to be brought down to the user at the top or the bottom of the stair if it was left on the other side.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL INTERLOCK

This locking feature is essential, as it prevents accidental opening of the platform gate when the lift is stationary or moving.

Apart from these safety features, wheelchair platform lifts come with all-weather-protected controls and switches. Particularly when used for outdoor applications, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to fit all weather-protected controls and switches along with weather-resistant finishes.

Details of Maintenance and Servicing Offered By Elevator Companies

The functioning of an elevator would appear wholly smooth and flawless, but there is complex machinery working in the background to deliver this smoothness and flawlessness. This complex machinery requires maintenance and look after on a timely basis by top-rated elevator companies. This maintenance ensures that the machine will perform like new and there will be no issues at all arising in the mechanism.

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This requires an elevator maintenance company in the beginning, and while searching for one, here are some features to keep in mind.

• The maintenance and servicing should be market-leading

• The elevator companies should have a mean time between calls or MTBCs above the industry average.

• Even if you call once, the company should be very reactive and take your call and respond to the requirement.

• Apart from servicing the elevators that they have installed, the company should also be expert enough to service and maintain other elevators like traction elevators.

• The expertise should be available for servicing and maintaining hydraulic elevators, traction elevators, low-rise platform lift, etc.

• Most importantly, the company should have a direct supply to all spare parts from original manufacturers.

ELEVATOR SERVICING OFFERED BY ELEVATOR COMPANIES

• There should be 24/7 assistance from elevator companies for traction and hydraulic elevators.

• The company should attend to breakdowns, stoppages and another malfunctioning at any time of the day.

• There is nothing better than a company that works in different regions like New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

• There should be services like repairing, amending, altering and replacing different parts of traction elevators and hydraulic elevators.

• The team should ensure that elevator machinery and elevator room are both clean and neat conditions and there are no signs of any wear and tear or malfunctioning.

MAINTENANCE OF ELEVATORS AND LIFTS

• In terms of maintenance, there is no better company than one that offers comprehensive maintenance services for all the lifts installed by them.

• They should have a team of technicians, trained and specialised in fixing problems arising in all kinds of elevators.

• They should be available 24/7 to ensure minimum downtime.

• The maintenance team should be trained to meet specific requirements.

Answering Some Common Questions Regarding Inclined Platform Lifts

In some places, people with disabilities and mobility issues find it tough to access the area around them. In such areas, barrier-free accessibility for the disabled can be guaranteed with inclined platform lifts.

These lifts can be installed in homes, offices and other commercial establishments like shopping malls, railway stations, airports, etc.

People have different questions regarding these lifts before they can get them installed with complete confidence. This post will cover some questions and try to find their answers.

FAQs FOR INCLINED PLATFORM LIFTS –  

HOW DOES AN INCLINED PLATFORM OPERATE?

The operation of these inclined lifts is straightforward because it will unfold, and a kind of entrance excess ramp will deploy using the pendant controls. The wheelchair is securely parked on the platform, and from there, the pendant control is used to pull up the entrance.

WHEN IS AN INCLINED LIFT USED?

Residential as well as commercial inclined platform lifts are used to travel over stairs or in places where there is no space to use a vertical lift. They are space-saving because they simply fold up against the wall to create an ‘access on demand’ kind of situation.

WHAT IF I HAVE A LANDING OR CURVE IN MY STAIRS?

In case you have a curve on the stairs, you can request the vendor to install curved inclined platform lifts that feature an intermediate landing or a curve to change the direction.

HOW MUCH DOES AN INCLINED PLATFORM LIFT COST?

The cost of commercial inclined platform lifts is certainly higher based on the area where it is installed. A curved inclined platform lift will cost more because these will be custom fabricated in this version.

DOES AN INCLINED PLATFORM LIFT HAVE A SEAT?

There is no seat available in residential and commercial inclined platform lifts, but manufacturers can add one to your lift based on your custom specifications. The lift will be a folding one to allow the person to use a lift even if they don’t require a wheelchair.

People may know also: Benefits That Lift Maintenance and Modernization Brings

Lift Servicing or Maintenance Related Tips

For those having an elevator at their homes, the first recommendation made by the experts is that they should never skimp upon on lift maintenance Sydney.

Yes, this has to be done on a regular basis and that too by qualified technicians. This will make sure that your residential elevator stays in a perfect condition for a long time.

This blog post here is dedicated towards reviewing some very simple and common elevator maintenance tips.

KEEP LOGS OF REPAIRS –

An up-to-date and accurate record of all the repair work done in the elevator will be very helpful in determining the weaker points of the machine and whether it’s the right time for lift modernisation or not. This data will also be very helpful in assuming as to how reliable the elevator is and when to go for lift servicing or maintenance.

Note – With readily available data, you can also get an immediate elevator reliability score.

DO A DAILY INSPECTION –

According to lift modernisation professionals, regular inspection of the residential elevator is something that homeowners can do on their own. Yes, maintenance is something that you can leave to the professionals, but general inspection is very easy to carry out.

Elevator maintenance tips

You will just have to keep eyes open to see any visible signs of damage and keep ears open to hear any unusual voice coming from the machine during its movement up and down.

Experts say that these simple inspections have turned into huge lifesavers on a number of occasions and hence, the homeowners need to be very serious about.

REGULARLY CHECK ELEVATOR DOORS

Lift maintenance Sydney experts get calls related to issues in the lift and more that 70 percent of those calls have door related issues.

So this has made us keep this pointer here and you should keep inspecting the doors on a regular basis.

In case, any unusual movement, any unusual sound is detected; it should be reputed to the lift servicing team without any delay.

People may know also: What Is An Inclined Platform Lift And Its Safety Features?

Stair Chair Lifts for Elderly – Functioning and Features

WHAT IS A STAIRLIFT?

A stair lift is basically a chair that has electricity or battery-operated motor fitted beneath it and with this kind of set-up, it becomes incredibly useful for elderly people. These stair lifts for elderly has a motor fitted there that drives the pinion that travels across the rack that is fitted on the rail.

This rail is mostly built up using aluminium because this is a strong material that has rust proof properties.

The benefit of these lifts is that they allow easy movement along the incline of the staircase.

STAIR CHAIR LIFTS FOR ELDERLY –

There is a chair or say, a kind of seat fixed to the drive system of these lifts and this drive system runs ups and downs the rail system.

You will find that these lifts mainly have three assemblies that all work together and we have discussed these assemblies above.

In the majority of cases, you will find these lifts to be powered by electricity, but they can also function using a battery that can be charged using a domestic electricity system.

Upon researching in the markets, you will be able to get stair lifts for elderly for both straight staircases as well as curved staircases.

WHAT ARE THE INCREDIBLE FEATURES OR BENEFITS OF THESE STAIR CHAIR LIFTS FOR SENIORS?

Straight stair lifts are much cheaper than curved ones and apart from these, you will also find other options as well like there are indoor, outdoor, perch lifts, sitting and standing models as well.

The lift installation agency can program the lift based on the specific requirements of the users. Some major advantages are –

• DC (Battery) Operation
• Smooth, Quiet, Works During A Power Outage, And Present No Risk of Electric Shock
• Direct Drive Rack & Pinion Motor/Gearbox Directly Attached To Drive Mechanism
• No Separate Gearbox, Belts Or Pulleys – Reliability, Smooth Ride
• Folding Seat & Footrest
• Minimises The Space Taken By The Stair Lift When Not In Use
• Ideal When There Are Other Users Of The Staircase
• Prevents Uncontrolled Descent

People may know also: Key Differences Between Hydraulic and Traction Elevators

Answering Some Common Questions Regarding Stair Lifts For Elderly

People are always seen very much interested in getting stair lifts for elderly installed, but often they make considerable delay in taking the decision. This delay is mainly the result of numerous questions and confusions that people have in mind regarding this installation.

Here in this post, we have covered some questions and tried to answer them to clear confusion away from the buyers’ mind.

What’s The Price of a Stairlift?

According to vendors as well as lift manufacturers, the final cost of the stair lifts for elderly as well as stair chair lifts for seniors depends upon a number of factors. The most prominent factor of them all is the height that it has to cover at your establishment followed by the configuration that you decide to choose.

The good thing is that the vendors would always be there; ready to help you with their expert guidance to help you determine the factors, so that the best decisions could be taken.

How Much Does Installation Cost?

In a majority of cases, the installation would be done absolutely free of cost, if the vendor and the manufacturer are same.

In that case, highly experienced and licensed installation experts would arrive at your place to assess the factors that could influence the installation process. Once all of them are addressed, they will perform the installation process for the best stair lifts for elderly at your place.

While installing your Stairlift, these professionals will meet all the health and safety regulations it was built to meet to assure total safety and security.

Can Stair Lifts Go Around Bends In The Stairs?

Most manufacturers of these products manufacture two different kinds of stair lifts for the elderly, where one is made for straight stairs while the next one is for curved stairs. For a successful installation, these professionals will measure the entire area carefully and ensure that the installation is done as per the Australian standards.

The Most Common Types Wheelchair Lifts and Their Features

Small domestic lifts can be very helpful for those having mobility related issues and especially those forced to live their life in wheelchairs.

For these people, vertical platform lift for home is nothing short of a boon, as it allows them to access any part of the home easily and without any assistance.

Here in this post, we will learn some interesting things about this option and also about the features that make them safe and so useful for people confined to wheelchairs.

What Is A Vertical Lift For Home?

• According to the vendors and manufacturers, these lifts are either run using the power of the hydraulics or the power supplied through electricity.
• With the help of wheelchair lift for home, a wheelchair with a person sitting on it along with an attendant or partner can be elevated or lowered between different floors.

• The good thing is that for this, there would be no need of leaving the wheelchair and this means not facing the embarrassment caused in the public when two people lifts you up from the wheelchair.
• According to the manufacturers of inclined platform lifts, a wheelchair lift for home can be found in different makes and models and some of them have been described below.

Enclosed Model-

• In this version, the user, with a wheelchair can be on the platform that is enclosed with walls on all four sides for additional safety.
• These walls would ensure more stability and safety for the wheelchair and its occupant as the lift elevates and descends down.

Shaft way Model-

• This model of wheelchair lift for homes can fit within the walls just like contemporary elevators and it can be installed at hones as well as commercial establishments.

Stage Model-

This model is simply a platform with no walls on all four sides and because safety related features are missing, it is mainly used for shorter heights only.

Apart from this, there is another model given the name of “opal model” that is very identical to enclosed lift that has walls on all four sides.

The only difference is that it does not have a ceiling and this is why it is mostly used in the indoors.