Commercial Vertical Wheelchair Lifts and the ADA

It is not only the law, but it is also very important that you make sure your business is handicapped accessible. This ensures that everyone no matter what their physical condition is can have full access to your establishment. Installing a wheelchair lift is an excellent way to ensure that your business is ADA compliant in a cost effective manner.

Wheelchair lifts, or vertical platform lifts as they are usually referred to, allow an easy way to ensure someone using a mobility scooter or wheelchair is able to access areas that differ in elevation.

One of the major advantages of using this type of lift, which is very similar to an elevator, is that there is usually very little home or business modification needed to install these lifts. The biggest concern is usually a secure base, which can be made out of wood or concrete.

These lifts have a small platform that can be raised vertically between two areas. They are commonly used outdoors on the front steps, so are frequently called porch lifts, but they can also be used indoors. There are also portable lifts available that are great for churches and schools. These lifts can be quickly moved, set up, and stored.

Making sure that everyone has the same opportunity to use your business is important for several reasons. Installing a traditional elevator or building a ramp can be very expensive and can take a long time to complete. This is one of the reasons that wheelchair lifts are so popular.

Porch Lifts and You

People who use wheelchairs are generally not able to easily use the stairs. Due to government regulation, most public areas either feature elevators or ramps to allow complete access, but there are still many areas that have stairs. One area that is often hard to access is the front steps of a house. To help improve accessibility, a porch lift can be installed.

Porch lifts are very similar to elevators, but they do not require any major construction to install and are self contained. They are also called vertical platform lifts and wheelchair lifts. A solid metal platform is raised and lowered vertically to allow access to areas of differing elevations.

Most often these lifts are found on the outside of a home, but they can be installed indoors as well. Additionally, businesses frequently use porch lifts to ensure that they are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In commercial settings the lifts usually need to be inspected before they are used, but this is generally not needed for residential use.

A porch lift provides a great way to bridge the gap between two levels of a home safely and reliably.

Porch Lifts: Opening up Your Home

A lot of people in the United States use manual and electric wheelchairs on a daily basis. For these people, and also those who use mobility scooters, a set of stairs can present a very large hurdle, which without the proper type of equipment, can be hard to overcome. The vertical platform lifts is one of the most common ways that this hurdle is overcome and can usually be installed with little or no actual construction.

A vertical platform lift shares many similarities with an elevator. In fact a vertical platform lifts is basically an elevator that is completely self contained and does not need a shaft. They are usually installed onto the front stairs of a home and so are frequently called porch lifts, but they can be installed indoors as well.

A platform is raised and lowered vertically to transport a person on a mobility vehicle, such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter. They are also used by people who have difficulty climbing the stairs and most have a weight capacity that can support multiple people at one time.

The base of a vertical platform lift is generally secured directly to a base that is made out of concrete or wood. Depending on how high up the lift goes, it also might be necessary to secure it to the side of the stairs as well. This is to prevent it from leaning and putting stress on the base, but is usually not needed unless you are lifting more that 4.5 feet.

Using a vertical platform lift can help to open up all areas of your home and will make your area completely accessible.

Vertical Wheelchair Lifts

People who use mobility scooters and those that use wheelchairs are most often not able to easily use the stairs. The stairs can present a very large obstacle and can make many homes with front porches inaccessible. To help improve accessibility a vertical platform lift can be installed, which is a very cost effective alternative to an elevator.

Vertical platform lifts are very similar to elevators, but they are completely self contained, where an elevator requires a shaft. Vertical platform lifts are often referred to as wheelchair lifts and generally do not require any major home modification. They do need a strong base though, but the base can be made out of wood or concrete, and is much less expensive and less work than it would take to install an elevator.

Vertical Platform Lifts are also used in businesses. If you want to install the lift commercially, then you should check your local building codes. This is because wheelchair lifts frequently fall into the elevator category, so might have to be specially inspected. However, this is not required for home use.

If you only need the lift for a short time or need to have the ability to easily move the lift, then a portable vertical platform lift might be a good option. The portable lifts are great for churches and schools, because within minutes they can be moved or set up.

Wheelchair Lifts in the Home and Business

If you are someone that uses a wheelchair or a mobility scooter, you might not be able to easily access all areas of your home. Usually areas that have stairs are hard to overcome for those that use personal mobility vehicles. Often the front porch is the set of stairs that provides the biggest problem, which is why many people choose to install vertical platform lifts.

A vertical platform lift is a special lifting aid that is in many ways very similar to an elevator. However, unlike an elevator, if you plan on installing a vertical platform lift, there is generally no need to build a special shaft or modify the actual building. The lift is completely self-contained and only needs a sturdy wooden or concrete base.
Most of these lifts, which are often called wheelchair lifts, is capable of supporting around 750 pounds. The heaviest scooter you are likely to encounter weighs less than 250 pounds, so often several people are able to use the wheelchair lift at once. A few portable models are available, which are designed to be quickly moved or set up. These portable models tend to have a lower weight rating.

Individuals who own businesses commonly install vertical platform lifts as well. A commercial wheelchair lift will need to have a few extra features that are often not needed on residential lifts. Most importantly is a keyed entry, which will ensure that the lift is only used in a safe and proper manner. Businesses that want to install a lift should consult their local building codes, because often it falls into the elevator category, but this is not needed for a residential installation. Vertical platform lifts provide a quick and inexpensive way to make a business ADA accessible.

Using a wheelchair lift is an excellent way to improve independence and allow a person to access all areas, without being hindered by the stairs.

Putting Up a Porch Lift

Using a mobility scooter or wheelchair is a very common way to improve a person's ability to get around. While these devices can typically take you over most types of terrain, they are not able to traverse the stairs, so it is usually necessary to install a porch lift.

Porch lifts, or vertical platform lifts, are a type of elevator that is used to allow people in wheelchairs or scooters to access areas of differing elevation. Unlike an elevator like you would find in an office building, porch lifts are completely self-contained. They do not require you to build a shaft and typically do not require any major modification to your home. They do however require a sturdy base that is made of wood or concrete, and depending on the height, it may be necessary to bolt the unit to the wall.

These lifts serve a very great service to many people all over the country. They are often used in commercial settings as well, because they provide a very cost effective alternative to an elevator, while still adhering to ADA regulations. They are easy to use and install and for commercial settings there are many features, like locks and manual override, which will ensure that the device is used properly and will never leave you without a means of entering and exiting the building.

Those that install and use a porch lift are able to easily and safely access their home, which helps to improve freedom and make certain that they can live independently.

Conquering the Stairs in a Vertical Platform Lift

People who rely on wheelchairs or mobility scooters to get around are often faced with many obstacles when away from the home. Perhaps the largest obstacle is the stairs. If you area a business owner, then you are required by the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 to make certain that your building is accessible to those who are mobility challenged.

There are many ways to make certain that your business is accessible to people. If you have a set of steps leading to your business then you are obliged to provide wheelchair access to your building. While most buildings today are designed to be accessible, many built before the 90's are not as mobility friendly.

To help make your building more accessible, a vertical platform lift is often the best, easiest, and least expensive way to allow full access. A vertical platform lift, or wheelchair lift, is basically a self contained elevator that is designed to lift a person in a wheelchair or scooter across areas of different elevation. Unlike a traditional elevator though, the cost of purchasing and installing a vertical platform lift is much lower and does not require extensive construction.

If you intend to install a commercial vertical platform lift setting it is important to consult your local building codes, because in many states they fall into the elevator category. It is also imperative that you buy a unit with keyed access so you can lock it when not in use. There are several other safety features, such as upgraded door systems, that you should also make certain that you lift has.

Installing a vertical platform lift is often the easiest and least expensive way to ensure that your business is ADA compliant. Most often they can be installed much quicker and with less construction than a ramp system would be and they are always less expensive than a full sized elevator would be.