Does my House Have Enough Space for a Lift?

When lifts were first introduced into homes and buildings, they were considered a luxury for the wealthy. However, they have since become more cost-friendly, customisable and flexible for many homes and for those with mobility needs. Whether you’re looking at installing a simple two-storey elevator or a multi-floor lift, we’ll explain how to calculate if your house has enough space for you to install one.



Size requirements for a home lift

The type of lift you require in your home depends on whether or not you need a lift for ambulant people or whether you require additional space for the lift to be used by wheelchair users. If you need the lift to be big enough for wheelchair users, the floor space on the platform or cabin should be at least 1100mm x 1400mm. If the lift is in a private dwelling and the size of the wheelchair is known, you can get away with a smaller shaft and the lift manufacturer can make it to your bespoke specifications.

Platform size vs shaft size

The size of the shaft is also dependent on the type of drive system used to power the lift up and down. The lift can be made to much smaller dimensions if it is used as a home lift or by ambulant individuals. A platform lift can easily fit within a stairwell, or any other available area, taking up no more space than an armchair.

While you may have established you have enough footprint space, you must also consider the headroom heights. The headroom height at the top of the landing is a crucial measurement. Check with your lift manufacturer to see what their minimum headroom height is as they will vary depending on which manufacturer you choose. This measurement is taken from the finished floor level at the top landing to the ceiling or first obstacle. The headroom requirement for a platform lift is typically smaller than a traditional style passenger lift.

Don’t forget that there also needs to be space below the lift shaft. Most platforms will require a pit of between 55mm and 100mm.

What other options do I have?

If you do not have space for a lift, you may want to consider an inclined lift or a stairlift. An inclined lift can help you deal with a flight of stairs if you have mobility issues. The two most important dimensions are the width of the stairs and the size of the landing zone (foot of the stairs). There are different platform sizes available but the standard for wheelchair use is 800mm x 800mm. A stairlift will fit on most staircases, even curved, but require a wheelchair user to move into another seat to go up the lift.

Are you looking for reliable lift services in Scotland? ADL Lift Services offers lift repair, maintenance, servicing and installation as well as disabled access lifts. Whatever your requirements, get in touch today.