How are elevators for the disabled different from elevators for the disabled?

The world of technology is evolving to help people with disabilities easily climb high floors without help. We're talking about special elevators and elevators for people with disabilitiesв.

Wheelchair platform

A more economical and in some cases the best option is an elevating platform. Its comfort lies in the absence of a cabin and the possibility to adjust the inclination - in contrast to an elevator, which only moves vertically. Such a device is also suitable for transporting and lifting heavy equipment, for example in hospitals.

The special platform can be placed indoors or outdoors. When installing it outdoors, it is important to consider the effects of weather conditions, so the equipment must be protected from temperature fluctuations, strong wind, dirt and moisture.

Types of lifting platforms

Vertical elevators have the principle of an elevator. They move only in the upward and downward direction. Such elevators can be open and closed types, they must also have a shaft, which performs a protective function in this design. Fences are compulsory at a lifting height of 2 meters and more. The maximum level to install the platform should not exceed 4 m.

Tilt platforms are mounted along the steps and can occupy from one to several flights of stairs. The complexity of the installation depends on this. In the first variant it will run in a straight line, and in the second - it will have roundings and turns between floors. The lifting platform can have a horizontal level, which allows it to fold and save space on the landing. One of the main advantages of installing such a design is a simplified package of documents and technical requirements.

Special elevator

The main function of a special elevator is the comfortable movement between floors of people with disabilities. The main requirement for its installation is the presence of a shaft, but this is not the only difference between this equipment and the platform. In order for a wheelchair to enter the elevator comfortably, certain dimensions and requirements for the cabin must be met:

• passage width - at least 0.9 m;
• Cab area - from 1.4 by 1.1 m;
• the keypad should be at arm's length when seated;
• the operation of the doors cannot be automatic. A person in a wheelchair must not be limited in time when entering or exiting the elevator;
• it is necessary to take into account the carrying capacity not only of the wheelchair and the person in it, but also of one or more of his attendants, as well as possible medical equipment. The lifting capacity of the elevator must be at least 600 kg;
• observance of proper cabin finishing - flat non-slip floors, durable wall material;
• maximum height of elevator operation - 12.5 m.

When is it better to choose a platform and when to choose an elevator?

There are a number of situations where a platform would make more sense:

• when the height of the lift outside the room is less than 4 m;
• in cases where the stairwells are wide enough;
• as an alternative to a ramp when driving from the sidewalk to a store, public facility or private home.

When choosing a device, you have to rely on the possibility of installation and consider each case individually. For a multi-storey building it makes more sense to install an elevator, and a platform is more suitable for entering a room or for a low-rise house. The lifting capacity of the device must also be taken into account.

There are situations where the elevator is the only way out. This applies to premises with very narrow flights of stairs and platforms.