We all know that with age it becomes difficult for our elders to move from one place to another or climb stairs. We often renovate our homes for our elders so that they do not find any difficulties in their old age. For people with limited mobility and those who find it difficult to climb stairs, a platform lift is a safe solution for mobility issues.
A platform lift is a machine just like an elevator that helps by assisting handicapped people. These lifts are relatively low-cost when compared to conventional lifts. These lifts are available for both residential as well as commercial buildings. These lifts are widely used in businesses, schools, etc because these are very affordable and require very less space.
A platform lift is very beneficial as they make buildings more accessible. These come in various range of styles, and designs and can be installed in both indoor and outdoor spaces. These lifts do not require much space. so, when considering a platform lift make you’re to consider the user space of the lift and the shaft of a lift. Also, these lifts are very durable there is no need for regular maintenance and repair. So, some of these features have led to an increase in the demand for platform lifts.
So, in this article, we will discuss various types of platform lifts and important things to keep in mind before installing platform lifts.
TYPES OF PLATFORM LIFT:
1. FULLY ENCLOSED PLATFORM LIFTS:
It is clear from the name that these lifts are fully enclosed. People who use these lifts get closed into a cabin. This lift helps people to travel and can be used in both commercial and residential settings. These lifts serve up to two or three floors.
2. INCLINED PLATFORM LIFT:
An inclined platform, the lift carries passengers. This type of lift is very easy to install. These lifts can carry a wheelchair up a straight set of stairs, which makes them perfect for home use as well as for office use.
3. OPEN PLATFORM LIFT:
This wheelchair lift is used to transport passengers up to 3 meters. To install such lifts there is little or no requirement for alterations. The cabin of such a lift is partially open as the users only need to travel a short distance. These lifts are mostly used in commercial buildings.
4. EXTERNAL PLATFORM LIFTS:
An external lift is the one in which a shaft is added to the outside of the building. This lift is suitable for multi-level buildings. Most public places like schools have these types of lifts.
VARIOUS IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE BUYING A PLATFORM LIFT:
1. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL:
It is very important to hire a professional to install a platform lift. Only a professional can do the right measurement as it is crucial to get an accurate measurement of the ceiling’s height to the floor. Any wrong measurement can make the installation process much harder for you.
2. CHECK THE SAFETY FEATURE:
Along with structure, design, and size, “safety” is a very important factor to keep in consideration. As these lifts are for the help of disabled persons it is very important to keep safety features in mind. A lift is installed to make life easier and not to damage it further.
3. SPACE AND LOADING CAPACITY:
It is important to make sure that a wheelchair can fit inside the lift. There are various types of platform lifts, it is important to choose the lift according to your requirement and space capacity.
4. DRIVE SYSTEM:
There are different drive systems used in platform lifts such as hydraulic drive system, screw, and nut drive system, and encapsulated chain drive system. Different drives will affect the space requirement. Also if choosing a hydraulic drive system, you must allocate extra space for the fluid tank.
5. AUTO DOORS:
There are various designs for the doors of the lift. It is important to ask an expert or lift provider about the lift you choose. to ensure you’re investing in the right lift, that meets your requirement.
6. BUDGET:
Budget is another important factor that you need to take care of. There is a variety of platform lifts in the market ranging from low to high prices. One should always select one that fits your budget.
So, with the help of these features choosing the right kind of lift can be easy. The above article guides you about various types of platform lifts. Investing in a platform is a challenging task you need to have an update regarding various types of lifts. To make your space accessible, a platform lift is one of the most affordable solutions. Most business owners choose platform lifts because they are of low cost and require very little space.
