The stairlifts we recommend are units we have built experience with over time. We prioritize substance over style, ensuring that each recommendation is based on reliability first and foremost. Our focus is on dependable performance, followed by long-term cost of ownership, and, lastly, aesthetic considerations. We believe that a reliable stairlift, with low ongoing maintenance costs, provides the best value for our customers in the long run.
Some features are supplied as standard on every lift:
– Obstacle Sensors: Every stairlift we supply is equipped with reliable safety sensors that immediately stop the lift if an obstruction is detected. This is a crucial feature, especially when considering the power required to safely transport 120kg or more up an incline. It is important to understand that without proper safety mechanisms, a machine with this amount of power could cause significant harm if it were to trap a body part, such as an ankle, between the lift and the stairs. The safety sensors are essential to prevent such risks, ensuring that users are protected from potential injury. Our company policy is that engineers would never leave a lift in operation with one of these sensors defeated, this is non-negotiable.
– Seatbelt: While seatbelts were once seen as an inconvenience by some stairlift users, they are now recognized as a critical safety feature to keep the user secure during operation. Under the latest EN 81-40:2020 standards, an interlock switch is now required to prevent the stairlift from operating unless the seatbelt is properly fastened, ensuring maximum safety for the user. This added feature reinforces the importance of securing the user properly before use, helping to prevent accidents and ensuring a safer ride.
– Swivel Seat: A swivel seat that rotates at the top of the stairs makes entering and exiting the stairlift much easier and safer. By allowing the user to turn and face forward when getting on or off, it helps to avoid awkward movements and reduces the risk of falls or strain. This simple feature significantly enhances both comfort and safety during use, particularly for users with limited mobility.
– Seat Design: Stairlift seats are thoughtfully designed to be compact and space-efficient. When not in use, the seat, armrests, and footrest can be easily folded, significantly reducing the stairlift’s footprint. This clever design helps to maximize available space on your staircase, ensuring that the stairlift only occupies space when necessary, and leaving the rest of your stairs free for normal use.
– Over-speed Governor: An over-speed governor is a critical safety feature designed to prevent the stairlift from moving too quickly in the event of a motor or gearbox failure. It is fitted as standard on all single-motor stairlifts, ensuring that the lift will safely stop if an issue arises. Multiple motor-driven stairlifts, however, do not typically require this feature, as the likelihood of all motors failing simultaneously is extremely low. This added safety measure gives users peace of mind, knowing that their stairlift is equipped to prevent potentially hazardous situations.
– Speed: Under the EN 81-40 standard (which covers the safety rules for the construction and installation of stairlifts), the maximum speed for a stairlift is generally 0.15 meters per second (m/s), or 15 centimetres per second (cm/s). This speed is considered to ensure a safe and comfortable ride while minimizing any risk to the user. This speed is carefully regulated by either gearbox or overspeed governor design to prevent rapid acceleration or deceleration, which could lead to an uncomfortable or hazardous experience, especially for users with limited mobility.
– Battery-Powered: Modern stairlifts are typically powered by rechargeable batteries, usually a pair of sealed lead-acid batteries, though newer technologies are emerging. These batteries allow the stairlift to function even during a power failure, with 10 to 20 trips generally achievable on a fully charged set. The stairlift automatically charges when not in use, some models this is only when parked at the top or bottom of the stairs, whilst other models have a continuous connection under the track. It requires no user input as the charger and stairlift work together automatically to ensure the batteries remain at their optimum charge level, and modern chargers incorporate power-saving technology, allowing them to be left on continuously without concern. From our experience, turning off chargers to save electricity is a false economy. When lead-acid batteries are left with little or no charge, they can lose efficiency and capacity over time. Under typical indoor conditions, the lifespan of these batteries is usually between 3 to 5 years, making regular charging and maintenance essential for reliable performance
– Power Consumption: To put it into perspective, the amount of power required to boil a kettle once a day would easily exceed the power consumption of leaving a modern stairlift charger connected continuously. Thanks to energy-efficient technology in today’s chargers, they draw very little power once the batteries are fully charged, making it far more economical and practical to keep them plugged in rather than risk battery degradation from inconsistent charging.