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.

The Safety Features to Look For In an Inclined Platform Lift

Lifts and elevators come with a whole plethora of advantages and especially, for those having mobility related issues; they are nothing less than a boon.

Seeing the popularity and usability of different kinds of settings, manufacturers are always innovating to create different, better solutions with all-inclusive safety features. Yes, safety is and should always be the top priority for lift manufacturers and particularly in inclined platform lifts.

Here in this post, we will have a look at some of the top safety features that should be there in modern-day inclined platform lifts.

The top feature of these inclined platform lifts is that they ensure secure, smooth, safe and convenient floor-to-floor travel. Moreover, using other solutions like minivator stairlifts and so, people with disabilities and even elders can access all the floors of a building quite easily.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular safety features available in inclined platform lifts:

Hand And Guard Rails-

• Provide A Stable Handle To Hold Onto For Support And To Prevent Falls.

Emergency Alarm-

• Activating the Emergency Alarm Will Send out a Call for Help In The Event Of an Emergency.
• This Emergency Could Be Anything Like The Lift Being Trapped Between Floors.

Battery Backup-

• Inclined Platform Lifts Come With A Battery Back-Up So Hat Power Failure Could Not Stop It In The Mid Of Two Floors.

Overload Protection-

• There Are Sensors In These Inclined Platform Lifts To Sense The Weight And Send Over-Loading Message With The Help Of An Alarm Or Buzzer.

• These Sensors Are Very Important Because By Sending These Warnings Related To Over-Loading; They Prevent The Machine From Malfunctioning Or Premature Breakdown.
• When Sensors Detect That The Maximum Weight Limit Has Been Exceeded, Will Temporarily Stop The Lift From Operating.

To make safety even more robust, the manufacture should ensure that the lifts are manufactured in compliance with standards of AS1735 (Australian Standards), BCA (Building Code of Australia) and DDA (Disability Discrimination Act).

USEFUL FEATURES OF INCLINED WHEELCHAIR LIFT

Lifts can be of different kinds and those specially designed for vertical transportation are totally different from regular lifts or elevators.

One such lift specially designed for those using a wheelchair is the inclined wheelchair lifts that have their unique features and characteristics. The best part is that they are designed to allow easy access to wheelchairs and they can easily cross the hurdle of stairs.

In a majority of cases, they come in “foldable” form and this means that when not in use, they can remain folded so that they acquire no space on the stairs area.

Most of the wheelchair lift manufacturers offer this version in two types and this post will include information about these two types and their features.

• The first type of inclined wheelchair lifts needs a separate machine room and this room is generally found underneath the stairs.
• Then, the next type offered by wheelchair lift manufacturers features a self-contained drive unit located at the top of the stairs or on the machine itself.

These two types are there and all respective of which one you use, you will be given an assurance about the flawless performance and the help that you anticipate from it. You can rest assured that all wheelchair lifts for home and commercial use are reliable and safe.

Curved Inclined Wheelchair Lift (Commercial & Residential):

• Other than the two common types discussed above, one more option is that comes by the name of the curved inclined wheelchair lift, known for its flexible design.
• Wheelchair lift manufactures market this version as a perfect alternative to a vertical platform lift or elevator and it can be used in homes as well as offices.
• It requires minimal construction and there is an audio-visual movement alarm to ensure that there are no accidents at all.
• The design is foldable that again helps in making the area, spacious because the platform can be folded when the inclined wheelchair lift is not in use.

Did you know? Features of Wheelchair Platform Lifts

THE GOALS TO ACHIEVE WITH THE PROCESS OF LIFT MODERNISATION

Getting the entire elevator replaced with a new one is a huge expense and a better alternative to this investment is getting lift modernisation done.

There could be numerous benefits of getting this modernisation done, but before starting you need to understand when to get lift modernisation done and what are the benefits.

In this post, we will have a look at the entire concept and what would be the involved lift modernisation cost.

What Is It?

• When it comes to lift modernisation, the first thing to understand is that it is simply the advanced maintenance.
• This would basically involve all the steps taken in the frequent maintenance and also replacing all the worn out and damaged parts of the lift.
• These steps are taken with the goal of keeping the machine in a perfect condition and to make it strongly immune from frequent break-downs and untimely stopping.
• Other than this, the steps taken in the process of lift modernisation involves all the processes that make the finished product is fit for use and fully complies with safety regulations.
• The experts also ensure that there are no compromises whatsoever in the design of the cab or the working mechanism.

You may also know : Features Of Lift Modernisation Services

Mechanics

• As far as the mechanism is concerned, the process of lift modernisation aims to replace these mechanical pieces with brand-new alternatives.
• This is again done with the aim of improving the performance of the elevator and updating any outdated or worn out moving parts.

Aesthetics

• Some experts believe that the task of lift modernisation can be very helpful in enhancing the overall aesthetics of the elevator.
• This is mainly done and the experts focus entirely on the moving part of the motors.
• This is something very important as a matter of fact that if the interior of an elevator is outdated then it can have a serious impact on the aesthetical value of the entire building.

WHAT LIFT MAINTENANCE SHOULD DO IN ITS SERVICES IN SYDNEY?

A lift or an elevator is complex machinery that has thousands of moving parts and ensures that people are transported up and down in a safe and quick manner. These machines area lifeline for elderly people and those having mobility related issues and therefore, it is the responsibility of everyone to keep them in a perfect condition.

This can be done with the help of timely lift maintenance Sydney and for this; the first requirement is of a reputed lift maintenance company.

You can find the best lift maintenance company with these tips that we have discussed in the form of services that they can offer.

Inside the Car:

The ideal lift maintenance Sydney company should –

• Examine the interior of the elevator car for damage to the walls, ceiling, and handrails
• Examine the position indicator lights and replace any burned out lights
• Operate the elevator going up and down
• Check the leveling accuracy, acceleration, and deceleration.
• Make any adjustments deemed necessary
• Check that the door moves smoothly and does not slam or bounce
• Make sure the door restrictor operates properly and make any necessary repairs

Outside the Car:

As far as the outside of the car is concerned, an ideal lift maintenance company will help you by taking the following steps.

• He should check the hall stations and lights and replace any burned out lights
• He should also inspect the door panel and clearances
• Other than this, he should also test the Phase 1 firelighters’ service

Inside the Machine Room:

The inside part of the machine room is very important in terms of flawless operation of the lift and here, an ideal lift maintenance company would help you by –

• Making sure the machine room does not contain any material unrelated to the elevator
• Checking all the components for leaks, unusual vibration or wear
• Inspecting electrical components for evidence of overheating or failure
• Lubricating the components, if necessary

AN OVERVIEW OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS AND THEIR MECHANISM

Whether you are looking to get an elevator installed or you have one at your facility, in both cases, you will have to stay in constant touch with a reputed elevator service company Sydney. This will be mainly for maintenance and occasional repair work that would become very occasional when you have a hydraulic elevator.

Yes, this is by far the best version of lifts or elevators and as compared to its competitor, the traction elevators; this one is even preferred more.

Here in this post, we will have a look at some interesting things about this kind that everyone must know before getting it installed.

WHAT IS A HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR?

According to the experts of an elevator service company in Sydney, you will basically find 2 types of elevators with names, traction elevators and hydraulic elevators. In the traction version, you will find steel ropes or belts being used on a pulley system and on the other hand, there are hydraulic elevators that are powered by a hydraulic jack. This means that there are fluid-driven pistons that travel inside the cylinder to make the cabin move up and down.

HOW DO HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS WORK?

Experts of elevator service company Sydney say that understanding the overall mechanism of hydraulic lifts is very easy. The reason is that unlike traction elevators, hydraulic systems don’t use overhead hoisting machinery.

This means that in this version, the cap gets lifted with the help of an electric motor that work by pumping the oil into the cylinder to move the piston up and down. Other than this, you will also find some electrical valves that are fitted basically to control the release of oil for a gentle ride.

You may also know: Types of Care and Maintenance Rendered By an Elevator Service Company

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS?

Not all hydraulic elevators are created equal and there are several variations that make each system unique and the names are –

• Holed Hydraulic
• Holeless Hydraulic
• Roped Hydraulic
• Machine Room-Less (MRL) Hydraulic

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS?

• Quicker to install than other elevator types
• Less expensive to install and maintain
• Ideal for transporting heavy loads
• Occupy less space in a building
• Option to have machine room-less configuration

SAFETY FEATURES OF RELIABLE INCLINED PLATFORM LIFTS

One of the many challenges that a wheelchair bound person faces in his day-to-day schedule is of tackling the areas that have no ramps and have stairs instead. In such situations, either there is no accessibility at all or he/she has to depend upon other 3-4 people to conquer.

However, things can be managed really easily, if at these areas, an inclined platform lift is installed. The biggest feature of these installations is that they can be used commercially as well as for residential purposes.

Let us have a quick look at this accessibility option that wheelchair users or people having mobility issues have.

WHAT IS AN INCLINED PLATFORM LIFT?

1. According to the experts working at a reliable lift provider in Sydney, a reliable inclined platform lift provides an easy accessibility to people having limited mobility issue of mobility related issues to travel diagonally from one floor to another.
2. This might sound a complicated thing, but when with this installation being present, there would be no space for any complication at all and the travel would become very simple and straightforward.
3. For using this lift, one will have to move onto the semi-enclosed platform, flip the switch to move up or down your staircase, and you’ll be transported to your destination.

SAFETY FEATURES:

• There are numerous safety features used in these installations to help the user feel safe while using a reliable inclined platform lift.
• For example – there would be an emergency stop button and then, battery backup is also there to tackle the issue of power outage.
• This means that in situations of power outage, the battery will be able to move the platform up and down five times.
• Other safety features include slack/broken chain safety, platform safety aprons, safety clutch, and much more.
• The fact regarding these installations is that they are generally designed to be as less invasive as possible at the time of installation.
• The team from the chosen lift provider in Sydney will make sure that during the installation process, least amount of damage is done to the walls.

IMPORTANT PROBLEMS TACKLED THROUGH LIFT MAINTENANCE

With timely maintenance of the lift or elevator, there comes an assurance that the machine would continue to perform like new for a long time.

There are a number of steps to take as far as lift maintenance or lift modernisation is concerned.

Elevator or lift maintenance technician will clean, adjust and replace worn parts, inspect, test and fine tune ride quality.

This PowerPoint presentation has focused entirely on what steps can be taken by lift maintenance companies as a part of standard procedure.

Power Failure:

• Power failure can be very distressing and can bring the machine to a standstill
• Any issue with power supply can result into flickering lights to a complete breakdown of the unit
• Power failure can be down to a city-wide outage or it could also the most common issue related to the motor
• As a part of lift maintenance, the team will first conduct a power quality supply
• They will also test for ‘clean’ electrical energy running through your system
• The team will also determine your lifts Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Worn Sheaves:

• Experts of lift modernisation or lift maintenance can also take care of worn sheaves
• A sheave is a pulley with a grooved wheel designed to hold a rope or belt
• Rubbing of ropes can start the wear and tear of the sheaves and it could become uneven
• The lift maintenance experts will fix by either regrooving or replacing the sheave
• They will also recommend you to check the sheaves on a regular basis to trace the issue in a timely manner

Contamination:

• Another problem tackled through the steps of lift maintenance is contamination because the components need to be well lubricated with clean oil
• This lubrication is even more important for hydraulic lifts, if they are used on a daily basis
• The lack of lubrication can cause wear and tear and can even break off tiny metallic particles
• To counteract this issue, lift maintenance experts will conduct an oil analysis
• They will also inspect oil samples used throughout the lift system

Three Popular Kinds of Commercial Lifts and Their Attributes

As far as commercial lifts are concerned, they are several in number and all of them are used in different scenarios and for different purposes. This means to get the most effective one installed for your reasons, it is important to know about all of them and this is what has been done in this post.

Traction lifts

• Traction lifts are categorised as commercial lifts and they are generally used for the transferring of passengers and thus, designed as “easy to install” and “reliable”.
• According to the dealers, they are one of the most popular types of lifts using considerably less power than hydraulic systems that achieving high speeds.
• There is a wide range present in the markets and they can be used for carrying loads from 250 kg and using an up to 3000 kg (about 20 persons).

Goods Lifts

• This version of commercial lifts is designed to deliver optimal and safe usage in a variety of work environments and still delivering the anticipated performance.
• They can be used in areas including restaurant, commercial kitchens, retail environments, offices, etc. and they are designed to be entirely safe for the kids.
• At the same time, you will find that the mechanism uses very less power for the perfect operations for businesses.

Low Pit lifts

• This version of commercial lifts has the same characteristics as of the general passenger lift, but there is one difference that it has one-touch controls and sliding doors.
• This version is immensely popular as a matter of fact that it can be used in a wide range of environments including public access areas, offices, schools and retail stores.
• The only limitation of this type of lift is the speed, which limited to mainly 0.15m per second, but still they are tagged as cost-effective lifts, hard-working good lifts for businesses.

Why Require Experts For Outdoor Stair Lift Installation?

Getting a new lift installed is not an easy thing and this project requires careful planning and implementation of all the strategies developed. But right in the beginning, you will require a highly experienced as well as a reputed installation team. You need to search for the one and if you think that any company could do this for you, here are some reasons why you need to rely only upon the most experienced campaigners.

Requirements of a Good Provider

• When you are thinking about getting lifts for houses, the first requirement is of a company that has been in the industry for a long time and understands the requirements completely.
• They should reflect their commitment and moreover, they should always be ready to help you by supplying the highest quality raw material as well as services related to the installation of outdoor stair lifts.
• It should be a company with an established culture in which the mission and vision are clearly put in place and the view of both employees and all potential customers.
• Moreover, it is extremely important that the company chosen by you values teamwork and orientation towards the client as the most important thing.

Elevator

• In terms of construction, the company should be ready and equipped to deliver any service for lifts for houses.
• The staff should be fully updated with the latest happenings of the industry and should be really quick decision makers.
• One more interesting point to take note is that the company should give a deadline and make sure that it is not missed at all.
• Another important requirement to look for is the guarantee offered by the provider of elevators or lifts for houses and for this; they should be ready to apply strict codes of controls and quality compliance.

Legislation

• Most importantly, the company chosen by you will be ready to help you in matching all the legislation, rules, laws and conditions related to outdoor stair lifts installation.
• At the same time, the company chosen by you would ensure that they follow these regulations and meet and exceed all its processes.