Occasionally there might be the requirement to provide a lift that is long / deep enough to transport a single stretcher home bed within a private residential property.

In order to minimise the amount of internal space that the actual lift would occupy within a domestic property it might be advantageous to design the lift cabin floor to be rectangular rather than square – but not too narrow, bearing in mind that space will be needed within the lift cabin to accompany the occupant of the stretcher bed lift and maybe room has to also be provided for ancillary medical equipment.

Another example of where a rectangular made to measure lift may be required inside a property is when there is the need to transport a large powerchair / wheelchair whose occupant needs to be seated  leaning backwards at an angle utilising a reclining seatback with a tall headrest and also at the same time is using elevated extendable footrests – all of which will add to the overall length / footprint of the wheelchair.

 

When an Invisible Step Lift might be the only solution 

There are certain situations where the installation of an Invisible Step Lift might be the only practical solution for providing disabled access for a wheelchair user.

In the following photo you can see a recent example of a project that received local authority DFG approval. The client needed wheelchair access into the communal entrance to a block of flats where he lived, however a fixed installation of a ramp or a traditional low rise step lift would have blocked vehicle access to the garages.

The obvious solution to this problem was to install an invisible step lift capable of vertical and horizontal travel which when not in use would be concealed by retracting under the brick paved surface thereby granting unimpeded access to the garage area for all the residents. Pictured below is the Invisible Step Lift in use.

 

Short Rise invisible step lifts capable of vertical travel only can be a convenient solution for providing disabled access for persons seated in a wheelchair or standing with a walking aid. In situations where there is insufficient space within a property for a ramp, such as inside a porch, narrow hallway or corridor a short rise invisible step lift can provide disabled access over a single step.

 

Another example, again inside a property, is where an Invisible Step Lift may be required in order to provide wheelchair access over a step or several steps into a kitchen. This is especially important in narrow galley shaped kitchens where space is at a premium and a ramp would fully or partially obstruct access to kitchen cupboards and appliances.

The above 3 photos of a kitchen show the shallow pit with a finished depth of only 130mm that was required in the kitchen floor into which the invisible step lift, capable of vertical and horizonal travel,  would fully retract into when not in use.

Further information about Invisible Step Lifts can be found on the Invisible Step Lift by Oyster Mayfair website page at:

https://www.oystermayfair.co.uk/the-invisible-step-lift-by-oyster-mayfair/