In order to provide accessibility for people in wheelchairs, new construction generally requires the inclusion of an elevator. But alternatives for low-rise needs, such as ramps and vertical wheelchair lifts are permitted for both new construction and retrofitted existing facilities under certain exemptions in lieu of an elevator (see Sidebar, ADA Compliance, p. 3).

A portable or permanently installed vertical low-rise device that raises and lowers a wheelchair to places that would be otherwise inaccessible to a person in a wheelchair is known as a vertical wheelchair lift or vertical platform lift. (Lifts that carry wheelchairs up stairs are known as "inclined" wheelchair or platform lifts.)  As an alternative to a permanent space-occupying ramp that seldom adds to design integrity or spending valuable time assembling a cumbersome portable ramp system, lifts are the optimal choice for adaptations of existing buildings and, often, new construction. Vertical wheelchair lifts are used to reach different levels of commercial and public buildings such as stages, platforms, or similar elevated surfaces. Numerous applications are found in schools, colleges and universities, convention centers, auditoriums, arenas, churches and synagogues, hotels, conference centers, parks and recreational facilities, casinos, historic buildings, courthouses, senior activity centers, outdoor amphitheaters, fairgrounds, commercial buildings, company offices, retail stores, museums, various institutional buildings and other government facilities. 

PRODUCT DIFFERENCES

Since vertical wheelchair lifts must meet ADA guidelines, the major manufacturers have developed and tested all applicable operating and safety devices of their products for compliance. But vertical wheelchair lift design, applicability to differing building uses and ability to meet demands of clients vary considerably between manufacturers. Differences in products such as how they address some safety issues, portability, durability and aesthetics present building owners, facility managers, architects, and specifiers with a wide spectrum of choices ranging from the utilitarian to higher-end niche models. As is usually the case, higher-end niche models offer added value in operating features, aesthetics and durability.

A first step in the process of specifying a vertical wheelchair lift is to consider who will be using the lift and how often. In addition to wheelchair users, there are many other people who are temporarily or permanently unable to mount stairs. These include people using walkers or crutches, anyone with a medical condition that precludes climbing steps or even civil rights icon Rosa Parks who, in her later years, made her entrance on a Los Angeles stage through the use of a wheelchair lift. A vertical wheelchair lift intended for a school stage, say, should meet the needs of anyone unable to walk up steps.

Other users are service and maintenance staff. What are the demands on staff time for moving and activating a portable lift or maintaining a permanently installed lift; do they take away from other obligations?

It would appear that frequency of use should dictate the type of model needed. For instance, minimal use should justify the selection of an economical model. But amount of use should not be the only factor to consider. Reliability is a key demand because ADA requires accessibility equipment to stay in working order. When reliability, durability, length of warranties and ease of functioning are factored into life cycle costs, a higher-end model could be a better business choice.

PERMANENT OR PORTABLE?

One factor that may impact a decision regarding the selection of a vertical wheelchair lift is the requirement that permanently installed vertical wheelchair lifts must comply with building code requirements. Portable vertical wheelchair lifts, on the other hand, are considered equipment and are not required to meet building codes. It is worth noting, however, that some lower end portable vertical wheelchair lifts omit key safety features required for permanently-installed lifts, which could impact the safety of individuals in and around the lift.  Therefore, a thorough product safety review is necessary when specifying a portable lift.

If a lift is needed for multiple locations within a particular building (convention center), or for relocation throughout an entire area (school district), specifying a portable model would be preferred over installing multiple permanent lifts. In small communities, such as Beloit, KS, a portable lift bought by the school district is often lent to the city.

Space and surface requirements

Specifiers should be aware that permanent and portable vertical wheelchair lifts need to be positioned to provide ADAAG floor and ground space requirements for wheelchairs. In addition they should note how much space a wheelchair lift occupies, since models on the market differ widely. A typical small footprint model takes up 5-1/2 ft of floor space in front of a stage, making it ideal for auditoriums or other venues with limited space between the stage and seating area.

Specifiers should also note ADAAG floor surface requirements for wheelchair lifts. The level change between the surface of the lower landing floor and the floor of the lift should not exceed ½ inch; a ramp must be used for level changes greater than ½ inch.  Apart from that, any carpeting used is limited to a maximum thickness of half an inch. Furthermore, all edges of the carpet must be fastened down to the floor surface to prevent any incidences of tripping the wheelchair. (see Sidebar, ADA Compliance, p. 3)