| Provision
of lifts for use by the disabled
With October 2004 approaching, building
owners are running short of time to ensure comply with the
requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).
The following extract from BS5655 Part 6 2002 - Annex H (Informative),
outlines the basics that need to be considered.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Act came into force on 2nd December 1996 when it became unlawful
for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably.
From 1 October 1999, service providers have had to make "reasonable
adjustments" and from 1 October 2004, service providers
have to make "reasonable adjustments" to the physical
barriers to access in all buildings.
The main areas of concern for lift provision
are the removal of physical barriers and accessibility. The
summary of main provisions for disabled access are:
- Support rail in the lift car at 900
mm above the floor
- Clearly signposting lift locations
- Symbols in relief on all operating buttons
- Good colour contrast between numbers and the background
on all indications
- The emergency alarm button should include a visual acknowledgement
of operation
- An emergency telephone and inductive coupler for hearing
aid users
- A mirror on the rear wall of small lifts to enable wheelchair
users to see behind them but does not extend to floor level
- Landing controls to include a lift arrival signal
- The area outside the lift car doors to be well illuminated
(at least 50 lux at the door threshold)
- The floor surface to be in colour contrast to the adjacent
floor area outside the lift doors
- Controls on stair lifts to prevent unauthorised use
- Stair lifts must not to compromise means of escape
- Stair lifts to be parked to avoid obstruction
- The lift car interior should be well illuminated to at least
50 lux
- Provide an unobstructed space of 1500 mm x 1500 mm on landings
for wheelchairs
- Car entrances to be at least 800 mm wide
- Provide a wheelchair space in the lift car of 1100mm x 1400mm
(unmanoeuvrable), 2000 mm x 1400 mm (manoeuvrable)
- Car operating panels positioned 900mm to 1100mm from the
floor and at least 400mm from the front wall
- Controls on the landing to be positioned 900mm to 1100mm
from floor
- Landing buttons should be easily operable and with tactile
indication
- Car buttons should be easily operable and with tactile indication
- Audible announcements and visual displays
- Car and landing call dwell times to be lengthened to 5.0
seconds
If you would like further specific details
of how DDA affects your lift, please contact Swift Lift UK.
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