DDA Regulations for Passenger Lifts

The DDA is intended to guarantee that passenger-carrying lift scan be more comfortably used by hearing and sight impaired person and are suitable for independent use by wheelchair users. The act does not differentiate between employees and members of the public as failure to apply the act may mean that you are precluding the employment of disabled persons. Adequate space must also be available in the lift car for wheelchair users to travel with helpers or other passengers. In general terms, any compliant lift must be provided with the following: The lift door entrance width must be a minimum of 800mm The doors must be fully automatic The pushbuttons must have tactile or Braille surfaces and make a sound when operated The highest car and landing button must be no more than 1200mm from floor level There must be adequate illumination An audio (vocal) floor announcer/floor indicator is required The lift car must have vocal communication with the landing area or have an external phone line There must be a mirror on the rear of the lift car There are also lifts specifically for disabled access use only. These are designed to fit in a limited space and are generally short travel. They can run from a single-phase power supply. The speed is restricted to “very slow” around 0.08 m/s to 0.15 m/s. These include: Dedicated Disabled Access Lift – semi enclosed car, fully enclosed shaft Dedicated Disabled Access Lift - fully enclosed shaft and car Stairlifts with chairs or platforms fitted Vertical short travel platform lifts semi enclosed Steplifts