With an estimated 10 million of the UK’s 33 million adults, excluding senior citizens, suffering from some form of disability or impairment, it means that millions of British homes need some form of powered access. In fact there has been a giant increase in the numbers of local authorities, housing associations and private developers installing platform lifts in tenanted accommodation.
One recent example is a Hertfordshire family with a family member who is confined to a wheelchair. They decided to install a platform lift at their home to provide easy access to the first floor bedrooms.
The family chose an MC2000 powered platform lift supplied by Invalifts of Atherstone, Warwickshire, because the unit has a small footprint and would neatly slot into the available space next to the stairs at the family home. The total travel height of the model was 2.68m with a 1.3m shaft height above the top floor and reaching two levels.
The actual footprint of the shaft, which was powder coat finished in metallic silver with some glazed panelling, is just 1.56m by 1.15m. An automatic intelligent door opener was fitted at ground level with stainless steel door handles and a reduced height door, 1.2m, at first floor level. Inside the lift also features a brushed steel interior with an exclusive oak floor and a telephone. The whole unit is powered by 240v single phase electricity.
