Wheelchair lifts make entering a home convenient for a handicapped person and can make commercial buildings ADA compliant. In fact, adding a wheelchair lift to a home or commercial building is comparable to installing a ramp. What makes a wheelchair lift different from a ramp is the amount of space required. A ramp with 5 feet of rise takes up over 120 square feet. A wheelchair lift only occupies 20 square feet. In many cases, a wheelchair lift costs less than a ramp. With a metal frame, a home or commercial wheelchair lift typically has a 34 by 54 inch platform and 42-inch side guards around. A ramp, 16 inches or longer, is added for access to the platform. The metal platform and ramp, additionally, has an anti-skid surface.

When a wheelchair lift is being used, it operates by a screw-drive or hydraulic lift system. The controls are continuous pressure, which means the user must hold a button while the lift is moving. If the user lets go of the button, the lift stops immediately. Once the user is on the platform, he or she holds a button to get the lift to start and stop during travel. Depending upon the model, the platform will move at a speed of eight to 25 feet per minute and can support up to 750 pounds. In case of emergencies, a stop button and audible alarm are added to the setup.

All wheelchair lifts require a 42” high gate to be located at the top point of the lift to prevent a fall hazard. When the vertical travel distance exceeds 6 feet, an enclosed elevator shaft is required. In the case of the latter, up to 12 feet of travel and 3 stops are allowed. Some models of wheelchair lifts come with a metal or plexiglass shaft, while others need to have a shaft built into a building to operate. In all cases, the wheelchair lift operates the same way, but the only difference being the distance the wheelchair travels.

Although designs for wheelchair lifts vary, most take about two days to install into a home or commercial building to make ADA compliant. Those with elevator shafts may take a bit longer to add.

A dumbwaiter is often used to transport materials from one floor to another in a home or commercial building. In fact, products like Jeeves have specific home and commercial dumbwaiter models. Commercial models, in particular, are common in multistory restaurants as a way to get dishes and food from floor to floor. Typically, dumbwaiters range in support capabilities from 75 to 500 pounds, with the latter being the largest type of commercial model on the market. If you’re looking for a dumbwaiter to add to your home or commercial building, here are some qualities to look for:

• A motorized design. Many use a winding drum or machine traction drive mechanism like an elevator.
• An LCD display that indicates its current operation.
• UL certification. At the moment, Jeeves’ models are the only ones on the market with this type of certification.
• A rail or trolley system with slack cable safety brakes.
• A cab that is already wired and setup to reduce installation time.
• Shelves inside for a food service dumbwaiter.

Most dumbwaiters are made from steel or wood. Dumbwaiter cabs used for food service must be made of stainless steel. The cabs should be able to move at 30 feet per minute and be powered by 115 volts. Larger models may need more power, however. Additionally, most dumbwaiters have some safety mechanisms, such as a slack cable, a final limit, a trolley brake, and an interlock door.

Commercial dumbwaiters vary between capacities of 125 and 500 pounds. Some are designed for traveling 70 feet total and to go seven stops. Those specifically for food service typically have shelves inside for support food and dishes. In all cases, however, a dumbwaiter is only used for objects – no person should ever attempt using one as an elevator.

One convenient way to modify your home is with stair lifts. One of these can be installed on a staircase for someone who can no longer take the stairs. As many older adults and seniors are modifying their homes instead of purchasing a ranch-style house for retirement, stair lifts fall into the same category as home elevators. Adding one between floors makes getting around a multi-story house easier. In fact, manufacturers have a few types: straight, curved, and outdoor stair lifts.
What are some of the qualities you should look for in a stair lift? Some of these include:

• A swivel seat that locks at both ends of the lift. The seat should swivel between 67 and 90 degrees on both ends.
• Two call/send controls.
• 18 to 22 inches between armrests on the seat.
• Foot plate and carriage safety sensors, in case any problems occur on the lift.
• A seatbelt.
• Self-locking gear, rack, and pinion drive. Locking shouldn’t be done manually.
• A seat that can support from 275 to 350 pounds.

Out of the types of stair lifts that can be installed into a home, a straight design is most common. But, some homes, particularly those with a Victorian style, have a curved staircase inside. In this case, manufacturers make a custom curved stair lift that goes around spiral staircases and those with 90 to 180-degree turns. Sometimes, a stair lift is needed to get inside a house, and outdoor models are ideal for this.

The code book for elevators is ASME A17.1. The section pertaining to residential elevators is section 5.3. Not all states are regulated for home elevators, and some states have supplemental set of codes. The ASME A17.1 is the best source for universal code information. Here are some of the common home elevator regulations for machine rooms:

• Machine room must house only equipment related to the elevator. This cannot contain a hot water heater, furnace, or stored materials.
• There must be a fused disconnect for the elevator main power and a fused disconnect for the elevator lighting. These disconnects must be located in the machine room. The disconnects should be lockable in the off position.
• The machine room must be well lit, with the switch within 18 inches from the lock side of the door. There must be a GFI outlet located in the machine room.
• The required size of the machine room varies in different states. In general, if there is 36” of serviceable space in front of the controller and machinery, then the size is required. Usually, a shallow closet is acceptable. When the door is opened, there should be 36” of serviceable space in front of the equipment.
• A phone line must be available in the machine room. This line is routed from the machine room to the elevator cab. A phone must be in the cab for emergency use.
• The door(s) to the machine room should be self

Traction Elevators utilize a motor and gearbox located at the top of the hoistway to provide lifting power. The car is lifted by chains that run over pulleys at the top of the hoistway, and then attach to counterweights. Counterweights are used to offset the weight of the car, making the raising and lowering require less power. This means that the motor can be smaller and quieter. The motor typically utilizes a variable frequency drive which allows the motor to ramp up and down smoothly, similar to hydraulic operation. The elevator controller (approx. 25’W x 23’H x 8”D) can be mounted in the hoistway, eliminating the need for a machine room.

The benefits include no-machine room design, energy efficient, lower cost, smooth start/stop. The no-machine room option saves space in your floor layout and cost in materials. The smaller motor utilizes less energy than other types of elevators. The traction elevator is ideal for 3 or more levels as the incremental cost for increased vertical travel is much less than hydraulic elevators.

The negative points include some noise from above, and difficult manual lowering. Since the motor is located in the hoistway, you can hear the humming of the motor as it runs. It is not loud, but you are aware of it. If the elevator stops between floors for any reason, manual lowering requires the use of a hand crank.