Lift Modernisation for Persons With Disabilities

Lift Modernisation

Lift modernisations are great way to revitalise tired looking lifts. Due to the long life lifts have, they can easily fall behind in the latest standards and safety requirements.

In this article we look at:

• Lift Modernisation for Persons With Disabilities Importance
• General guideline to improve accessibility in lifts
• Modernising existing lift for persons with disabilities
• What is required for a lift for persons with disabilities

Lift Modernisation for Persons With Disabilities Importance

There are more than 6 million lifts  in Europe alone, nearly 3 million of these were installed more than 25 years ago! These existing lifts were installed to the safety and accessibility levels appropriate at the time. With the latest advances in new technology and much greater social expectations means these lifts, if not modernised will not meet today’s acceptable levels of safety and accessibility.

iKONIC Lifts offer a number of lift modernisation packages that can revitalise these lifts to today standards, rather than install all new equipment. One being to comply with The Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act provisions came into force on April 2011. It states where needed to make reasonable changes where required to improve services for persons with disabilities.

Disabilities

Many people have a disability or impairment. BS EN 81-70:2018, Annex A has more details. Below are some disabilities that are mentioned. These have been addressed and measures included into the design of new lifts. There are many factors to consider and there are clear guide lines to ensure the full standards are met, for each class.

One thing worth mentioning and to consider with any new installation is always consider existing and future lift user needs. Simply due to, people age and become less capable. Therefore the installation of a seated stair lift might be unsuitable  should user become dependent on a wheelchair in future.

Physical Disability

• Temporary mobility impairment
• Permanent mobility impairment
• Limited range of movement
• Reduced strength and endurance

Sensory Disability

• Impaired Vision
• Impaired balance
• Impaired hearing

Intellectual disability

• Learning difficulties

General guideline to improve accessibility in lifts

Ideally all lifts should comply with EN 81-10:2003, however it is not always practicable to be able to. Many factors are required to be considered, as examples:

The size of the lift shaft will dictate the size of the lift car, some lift companies are able to maximise the space available better than other. The size is important for wheelchair users. Where this is not possible to achieve, it should not prevent lift owners from making other improvements to benefit those who do not need a wheelchair, such as persons with reduced mobility, impaired vision and hearing.

Replacing manual doors with automatic powered doors is of high priority to persons in wheelchairs and those of impaired dexterity. However this is deemed less important for those with impaired hearing or speech.

Fitting a light curtain to lifts which already have power operated doors results in significant benefit to all.

These example show when making decisions on the kind of improvements, the need to relate to the typical use of the lift, the environment and the likelihood of persons and their disability intended to use the lift.

An accessibility matrix is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the different improvements in relation to the type of disabilities. They are as follows:

1 – Some benefit to all

2 – Benefit

3 – Important

4 – Vital

Modenising existing lifts for persons with disabilities

A full lift survey should be carried out, the auditing process should consists of effectiveness ranking and accessibility checklist. Which can be carried out in a four stage process

1. Establishing the lift type, the environment, the probability of persons with different abilities using the lift.
2. The result from the checklist will identify existing accessibility barriers
3. The checklist also determines the possibility of adapting the lift and to remove any barriers
4. The disability matrix provides the benefit related to each improvement.

What is required for a lift for persons with disabilities

The general accessibility of the building needs to be considered and the lift undergoes a stringent checks a brief overview of these include:

Lift Entrances – Door Openings

• Type 1 Lift: Min 800mm entrance clearance
• Type 2 Lift: Min 900mm entrance clearance
• Type 3 Lift: Min 1100mm entrance clearance
• Both lift car and landing doors should be automatic and horizontally sliding.
• Existing Hinge doors with an entrance of 800mm can be replaced horizontally sliding doors with a car entrance of 700mm if the size of the lift doesn’t allow for wheelchair users. Improve accessibility for impaired mobility users.
• Folding car doors that exist may remain if the accessibility for wheel chair users is not restricted.

Accessible and obstacle free landing

• All eligible floors must be obstacle free as defined in EN81-70:2003.
• Adequate local lighting at landings EN81-1/2:1998

Door Dwell Time

• Adjusted Dwell time as defined in EN 81-70:2003

Re-opening device without physical contact

• Automatic doors equipped with protective device preventing physical contact as defined in EN81-70:2003
• Power operated hinge doors effort need to prevent door open or close should not exceed 150 N. Then kinetic energy shall not exceed 4 J in each direction.

Lift Car Dimensions – dimensions of the lift shaft dictate lift car size

• Lift car dimensions in accordance with EN 81-70:2003

Lift Car Equipment

• Handrail in compliance with EN 81-70:2003. If the placing the handrail on the side reduces entrance width it should be placed in the rear wall
• Tip up seat where provided in compliance with EN 81-70:2003. Require relevant car wall strength
• Relevant devices should be installed in compliance with EN 81-70:2003. To allow users to move backwards out of a lift car. i.e. mirrors.

Leveling and Stopping Accuracy

• The stopping accuracy of the lift car shall be + 10 mm
• The leveling accuracy of + 20 mm shall be maintained

Control Devices and Signals

Push buttons, keypads, temporary activation control, positioning of landing devices, car controls, car signals and landing signals. Should comply with EN 81-70:2003.