Wheelchair elevators are a modern convenience that was quite rare only a few decades ago. Modern computer designs, along with technological innovation have made owning your own home wheelchair elevator a possibility for most people.
Most wheelchair elevators are sold either as a kit for homeowners or professionals to install. But there are also more elaborate, custom-built installations. Today, we will delve a little deeper into the do-it-yourself home wheelchair elevator (also known as a platform lift) and offer some insight into how they are constructed. Read on to learn how to install a wheelchair elevator in your home.
What Is a Wheelchair Elevator?
A wheelchair elevator, or platform lift, is a simple device that operates much like a forklift or cable lift. With the cable lift design, a vertical elevator shaft is installed which supports the frame and mechanics of the system. Often, an electric motor or hydraulic device then lifts a platform from one level of the home to another. The most common application is near the stairwell and utilizes a hallway or closet.
These designs tend to be custom designed for the home, with the elevator shaft often built into the design of the home. Most residential elevators are designed for no more than two floors, but these sophisticated wheelchair elevators can span any number of floors as they tend to be built to commercial specifications.
Generally, most residential elevators are considered suitable for wheelchair use. However, there are some personal transport versions that are less than 30” in width, making them unsuitable for use as a wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lifts we will discuss today will usually meet or exceed the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010) requirements, but check with your manufacturer.
What Are the Dimensions of a Wheelchair Elevator?
As with some other ADA guidelines, the section that deals with wheelchair elevators discusses clearance more than specific dimensions.
Wheelchair lifts are built to ensure the comfort and safety of the passenger, so details matter. For example, the floor in front of the wheelchair elevator (known as the landing) must not be significantly higher or lower than the floor of the lift when it is parked. Small differences in floor level may not seem significant to an able-bodied person, but to those in a wheelchair, they often do.
Here are a few examples of details that are important to the design and use of a wheelchair elevator:
Floor Levels Must Closely Match
As mentioned earlier, great importance is given to the floors of both the landings and the wheelchair elevator itself. If the difference is a quarter inch or less, no action is required. If the difference is between ¼” and ½”, whatever trim is used must have a bevel, or angle milled into it. This bevel acts as a tiny ramp, aiding the wheelchair user to travel over it. Any difference of ½” or greater would require a wheelchair ramp, designed to wheelchair ramp specifications.
Minimum Widths For Clear Passage
The minimum width requirement is what may make older personal elevators unsuitable for wheelchair users. The ADA is more concerned about the passenger’s ability to enter the wheelchair elevator and maneuver than about how much space the elevator has. The wheelchair elevator should provide at least 30” x 48” of space, inside the elevator, clear of any gates or doors. Public elevators are required to meet more stringent requirements, but wheelchair elevators designed for personal use do not.
The 3” x 5” Rule
Essentially the 3” x 5” rule says that if there is a door that the wheelchair user must pass through to access the elevator, it must be no further than 5” from the door to the wheelchair elevator. This keeps the space between the door frame and the wheelchair elevator gate close together, which in turn keeps the gap in the floor between the landing and the wheelchair elevator to a minimum.
The ADA guidelines require that the distances between the gates or doors and the finished floor stay within manageable distances to prevent a wheelchair user from becoming stuck between the landing and the floor of the wheelchair elevator. Known as the running clearance, this gap must remain within ½” minimum to a 1 ¼” maximum.
Can I Install a Wheelchair Elevator In My House?
You may be asking yourself, can I even install a wheelchair elevator in my home if one isn’t already pre-built. The answer is yes. However, a house will need a couple of key elements to allow for the installation of a wheelchair elevator.
As mentioned previously, there are as many wheelchair elevator designs as there are wheelchair elevator companies. However, most will share a couple of requirements that you can look and prepare for. Knowing these requirements will make it much easier to install a wheelchair elevator in your home.
Do I Have the Required Space For a Wheelchair Elevator?
All elevators, including wheelchair elevators, will require structural support to some extent. Some designs function much like a commercial elevator, often with large cars designed for multiple passengers. The maximum vertical height for a wheelchair lift is about 14 vertical feet.
Other elevator designs are more focused directly towards those in a wheelchair. Each design will vary with the size of the car, the landing, and the mechanism powering the wheelchair elevator.
Until you find a wheelchair elevator you like, you can brainstorm for a good location. Plan on a space at least six feet by six feet at a minimum. More space is always better because it may provide additional design options. If you find a wheelchair elevator you like, you can download the specifications, or add 18”-24” to the dimensions of the elevator. This will provide a rough estimation of how much floor space you will need.
You will also need to ensure there are no vertical obstructions from floor to floor. For example, the space on the first floor might be adequate, but a second floor corner post may be in the way.
It’s a great idea to hire a structural engineer to visit your home and make sure the framing is adequate and there are no structural modifications required. Chances are good you will also need a 4” minimum concrete pad, so the structural engineer can design that for you as well.
Do I Have to Modify the Floor For a Wheelchair Elevator?
Generally, you will need to have an appropriately sized concrete pad underneath the wheelchair elevator car.
Typically you will need vertical structural support, either in the form of a cable lift or a hydraulic lift, although designs evolve constantly. Cable lifts raise and lower the car located within an elevator shaft. In most installations, an electric motor, mounted above the car, does the lifting.
Newer versions eliminate some of the size requirements by utilizing hydraulic power instead of an electric motor. These wheelchair elevators have the advantage of a smaller footprint, because nothing needs to be installed above the car. The mechanics of course still require space, but these designs lend themselves better to tight spaces.
Where Is the Best Location For a Wheelchair Elevator?
The most common location for a wheelchair elevator is outdoors, or in a garage. The reason is mostly practical. These spaces usually already have 3000 psi to 4000 psi in concrete pads installed. Especially when adding the wheelchair elevator as a retrofit, installing the wheelchair elevator outdoors usually provides the easiest access between floors.
Interior wheelchair elevators are often more complex to design for a retrofit project, because a clear space is needed in the same location for both floors. Often, it is more practical to just attach the elevator shaft to an exterior wall and pour a small concrete pad just for the wheelchair elevator.
Wheelchair Elevators Will Grow In Popularity
There seems to be little question if the wheelchair elevator industry will grow, but rather by how much. As the population ages and wheelchair elevator technology advances, wheelchair elevators will likely become a standard feature. Wheelchair elevators can make all the difference in mobility for someone in a wheelchair, so the financial investment is often secondary to the improvement in life quality it can provide.
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