Wheelchair Lifts and Vertical Platform Lifts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

The residential wheelchair platform lift is the most popular alternative to unsightly ramps, overcoming architectural barriers to accessing the home from outdoors and accessing two or more living floors within the home.

Residential Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs)

The most common use for the residential vertical platform lift (VPL) is to access the home from the outside via a porch or garage.  Another use for VPLs is within the home, providing access to two or more living floors.  In low-rise applications, typically 72 inches or less, the unenclosed model is utilized most often.  In taller applications exceeding 72 inches, homeowners most often choose either a factory enclosed model incorporating safety glass, Plexi-glass or metal panels, either steel or aluminum.  Alternatively in taller applications, the vertical lift may be enclosed in masonry or stud drywall and fitted with doors and gates.

As a high level summary, key elements of residential VPLs include the following:

Platform	Steel constructed platform with 36” high guard panels and grab rail with non-skid platform surface.  Steel comes in standard powder-coated Ivory with a number of optional colors available
Controls & Fixtures	Constant pressure up/down control switch on the platform and hall call control stations at each landing.  Telephone and emergency lighting optional
Doors & Gates	Upper landing gate standard.  Low-rise unenclosed applications include a folding hinged ramp and, at times, may be fitted with a platform-mounted lower-landing gate.  In taller applications a platform gate is most common
Platform Configuration	Given extreme climate changes throughout the year in the Midwest, the outdoor lift typically uses screw drives.  The indoor lift may utilize either screw drive or hydraulic.
Drives	Given extreme climate changes throughout the year in the Midwest, the outdoor lift typically uses screw drives.  The indoor lift may utilize either screw drive or hydraulic.

• Car sizes up to 18 sq feet including:  36” x 48”, 36” x 54”, 36” x 60” or 42” x 60”
• Low-rise outdoor applications up 72 inches (6’) with two stops
• Taller applications up to 14’ with three stops
• Screw drives at typically 10 feet per minute (fpm)
• 750 lbs load capacity
• Constant pressure platform and hall controls
• Wide range of safety features

To receive a more comprehensive overview or simply to ask questions, please contact us directly or provide us some information and we’ll contact you.

Commercial wheelchair lifts are intended for all public and private professional buildings including schools, universities, office buildings, houses of worship and for common areas in multi-family dwelling units. The wheelchair platform lift is the most popular alternative to unsightly ramps and often overcome architectural barriers with cost efficiency.  The most significant delineation of platform lifts is whether these travel vertically, known as vertical platform lifts (VPLs), or along a set of stairs, known as incline platform lifts (IPLs).

Commercial Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs)

The commercial vertical platform lift requires an enclosure or shaftway surrounding the wheelchair lift with a travel height of up 14 feet. A factory enclosed model comes self-contained with a wraparound, non fire rated, shaftway enclosure, complete with gates, doors, interlocks and controls. Popular factory enclosures include safety glass, Plexi-glass and metal panel enclosures, being either steel or aluminum for outdoor use. The other option is the onsite construction of masonry or stud drywall enclosure, oftentimes built by a general contractor. Where the enclosure is built separately the configuration is often referred to as ‘shaftway by others.’

As a high level summary, key elements of the commercial vertical lift include the following:

Platform	Steel constructed platform with 42” high guard panels and grab rail with non-skid platform surface.  Steel comes in standard powder-coated Ivory with a number of optional colors available
Controls & Fixtures	Constant pressure up/down control switch on the platform and hall call control stations at each landing.  Telephone and emergency lighting optional
Doors & Gates	Factory enclosed model comes standard with lower landing door and upper landing gate.  Where the shaftway is built separately (also known as ‘shaftway by others’) , fire-rated doors are often fitted at the upper and lower landings
Platform Configuration	Platforms come standard with straight through entry and exit with options available for entry and exit on same side and 90 degree entry and exit
Drives	Most platforms available with either screw or hydraulic drives each having unique benefits and best applications

Our Commercial VPLs share common features and functionality:

• Car sizes up to 18 sq feet including: 36” x 48”, 36” x 54”, 36” x 60” or 42” x 60”
• Up to 14’ travel standard with up to three stops
• Screw drives and cable hydraulic lift systems available
• Screw drives typically run at 10 feet per minute (fpm) lift speed
• Hydraulic drive systems typically run at 20 fpm
• 750 lbs load capacity
• Constant pressure platform and hall controls
• Wide range of safety features
• Full Height cab options with 30 fpm lift speed (see below)

Full Height Cab - If a more refined VPL is sought, DME offers models with full height cabs having a look more similar to a commercial LULA with 6’8” interior height, suspended style ceiling, optional wood grain finishes and high-speed hydraulic drive system.  Full Height Cab systems, however, retain many platform lift features such as constant pressure controls and 14 foot maximum travel height.