Stairs can pose a serious risk to anyone of any age – not just wheelchair users. That’s why you should consider installing a platform lift.
Platform lifts usually serve two or more floors and travel no faster than 0.15m/s. They offer a relatively low-cost solution for transporting passengers to their destination in a dignified manner. But where can they be used?
Unlike traditional cabin lifts, platform lifts have a small footprint so can be installed almost anywhere – both inside and outside.
Here are just a few examples:
- Shops
Just having stairs can make it difficult for wheelchair users, individuals with a physical or mental impairment, and parents with pushchairs. Staff who regularly carry stock from one level to another are also at risk of falling or injuring themselves – and it will take them longer.
Platform lifts can make life easier for everyone and ensure busy retail establishments follow the Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act 2010.
Here at Level Access Lifts, we have supplied and installed platform lifts at retail outfits, including H&M, House of Fraser, Monsoon, New Look, Next and River Island – to name just a few.
- Banks
Most bank branches are open plan – so it’s easy to get in and out and to move around inside.
But some have steps leading up to the entrance – or even inside. These make it challenging for those with reduced mobility to withdraw their money, cash-in a cheque or speak with an advisor.
The great thing about platform lifts is that they travel a short distance and make banks more accessible for anyone who has difficulty with stairs. They require very little space and construction (unlike wheelchair ramps!) too.
Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank and TSB are all clients of ours at Level Lifts and have benefitted from our lifts in more ways than one.
- Hospitals
You’ll find that most hospitals and medical practices provide disabled car parking, wheelchair access and mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, manual hoists, walking sticks and crutches, on special request.
The NHS can – and do – use our platform lifts to provide safe, comfortable and independent access for wheelchair users. On top of this, staff can benefit from them by ensuring the safe movement of residents, patients and medical equipment around the building.
- Restaurants
Restaurants, along with shops and hotels, struggle to maximise space when it comes to disabled access. The majority choose to install a wheelchair ramp which – despite being cost-effective – can take up a lot of space. The solution? Install a platform lift instead.
Having worked with the likes of Las Iguanas, Pret a Manger and Starbucks, we are confident that we can provide a lift that perfectly complements the style and ambience of your dining environment, whether it be a café, Bistro or wine bar.
- Homes
In addition to their extensive uses in commercial settings, platform lifts are an asset for homeowners too. They have rapidly increased in popularity as more people are opting to future-proof their homes.
Residential lifts are very versatile. They can be used indoors or outdoors – at the entrance or by steps – to provide a safer, more convenient, alternative to negotiating the stairs.
Installing a platform lift may seem costly initially but can add value to your property. Great if you ever put your home on the market!
If you’d like to know more about platform lifts – and their uses, feel free to get in touch. Our team is always on hand to help and will be more than happy to answer your questions. We can even advise on the best lift for your requirements. So, call 023 8081 4924, email sales@levellifts.co.uk or fill in the online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you.
