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from: Vertical Platform Lifts: The Safe Stair Elevator
For those in a wheelchair one of the most difficult things to do
can be to enter and exit our home. Often times the front stairs
are much steeper and narrower than the inside steps and this can
make it harder or impractical to build a ramp to enter your
home. For others it puts too much strain on the body to use a
ramp. There is a solution and that solution is vertical platform
lifts.
Vertical platform lifts are often referred to as wheelchair
lifts. They are in essence an elevator, usually installed
outdoors, that raises the individual on a small reinforced steel
platform. Most residential units utilize an electric motor to
lift the unit using a very efficient gear system called a worm
gear. Usually very little maintenance is required, but it is
important to follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer.
Vertical platform lifts are generally designed to be permanent
fixtures in that they should be bolted to a sturdy base made out
of concrete or lumber. There are some exceptions to this
however. Some units are available that are portable and can be
moved very easily and require little installation or setup. The
unit is on wheels, but can be securely bolted to a base if they
are not going to be moved or depending on the lifting height.
These types of units are great for churches, schools, and
restaurants.
With certain units it is possible to create a temporary base.
This is ideal if you need to quickly set up your new vertical
platform lift or if you are about to move to a new home and do
not want to install your new vertical platform lift twice. It is
imperative that you consult your manufacturer's installation
instructions to see if your unit is compatible with this type of
installation, but a temporary installation can be done on
certain units by burying two pieces of rough cut lumber in 2
inches of sand or gravel so that the top of the boards are level
with the ground. The distances and measurements of the boards
will be provided by your manufacturer if this type of
installation is possible with your vertical platform lift. Most
units should also be secured to the side of the stairs or house
if they are lifting a distance greater than 52 inches.
Whether you are purchasing a new vertical platform lift for your
self or for a friend or family member it is imperative that you
honestly access the expected weight load. If you are going to be
using the wheel chair lift with two people than access the max
weight that of the heaviest people that could be on the lift at
any given time as well as the weight of the wheelchair.
Generally most lifts will support at least 500lbs and it is
possible to upgrade the lifts so that they hold more weight.
A vertical platform lift is a great investment and can let you
establish a normal everyday routine.
About the author:
Brad Brubaker is a technical writer for www.vertical-platform-lifts.com. They are the premier source for Wheel Chair Lifts in addition to mobile platform lifts.
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