In simple terms, platform lifts for wheelchair users or those with physical disabilities reach different floors or height levels more easily. A platform lift is most often seen being used as a wheelchair lift for buildings or offices, but also where a passenger lift is not possible or required. Typically, the vertical lifts can either be open platform lifts or enclosed (with or without a cabin), or as an incline platform lift that follows a flight of stairs.

As platform vertical lifts in the UK fall under the Machinery Directive, they can only travel up to 0.15m/s. Inclined wheelchair lifts are typically slower.

Platform lifts in the UK go by all sorts of names, including access lifts, DDA lifts and disabled lifts to name a few.

Fully installed, a platform lift (or DDA lift) will vary based upon the product chosen but will typically cost between £11,000 and £30,000. This is also dependent on lift travel, finishes and functional options chosen. All platform lifts require building work in addition to the supply and installation cost of the lift.

To meet disabled access lift requirements of public buildings and commercial applications, Part M and Section 4.2 state the minimum platform lift sizes to help comply with the provision for wheelchair access. You can read more about the standards here. For domestic applications you can have a small platform lift size (providing it still meets your requirement).

No, not all buildings need a DDA lift. However, the Equality Act means a DDA platform lift is necessary if it is difficult or impossible for a disabled person to use the facilities or services of a building. So most commercial and public buildings install a DDA lift to make their premises more accessible to everyone.

We do not recommend travel over 12m or 5 stops due to the speed and length of time it would take a user to travel. For travels higher than this, specific lift features, or for high-use applications, we’d always recommend a passenger lift as the first choice.

As every platform wheelchair lift is uniquely built to specification, travel and application, we do not sell used platform lifts.