I have a question often is whether to buy a porch lift or a ramp for wheelchair access in a house or building. There are several factors to determine what is best for your particular situation should be investigated.
The first question I always look at the level of its excess. The height is not a huge problem that can lift with a porch, however, be a ramp for wheelchairs, because they determine the length of the ramp.
Wheelchair
In most countries in the United States and Canada, the construction of the ramp will be increased 1 foot for every inch. So if you have a 24 "rise, you need to build your wheelchair to the ground at least 24 'long.
While 12 "to 1" ratio is a rather gentle slope for people in wheelchairs or on foot power, it can still be a challenge for those who use manual wheelchairs, building codes and usually require a landing the user of a flat place to rest at least every 30 '. If your Increase is 36, "the ramp to 36 'long with an intermediate landing somewhere on its overall length. These may affect the landing of a 90 or a 180-degree turn, or you can activate online with no.
Is the length of the ramp, which is usually the determining factor if the ramp is a better choice than to raise a portal.
The price of the ramp is raised to increase the length and at a certain point the cost will exceed the cost of installing an elevator porch.
What is the length> Accessibility will be so tired after climbing the ramp do not bother to look first?
The local climate is a factor. If time must always be clear of snow and ice suspended in northern climates. The longer the ramp, the more work will be.
Another climatic factor is rainfall, although there is virtually no chance of ice or snow. The longer the ramp, the more likely you will want to keep a sort of blanket over them to add users that will be drydrastically the cost.
How much space for a ramp can be a problem. Most people have no room for a very long ramp.
The costs of maintenance of the ramp to increase with the length, especially if the ramp is made of wood.
Porch Lifts
Porch lifts, also known as vertical platform lifts are self-contained mini-lifts, which are mounted a platform for the implementation of the wheelchair and the tower houses all the electrical andmechanical parts used for lifting and lowering of the platform.
They take little space with a footprint of about 5 'by 6', regardless of the amount of lift. Porch Lifts in standard sizes are from 3 ', 4' and 6 'extensions with some manufacturers offering lifts to reach up to 12 inches and above. These dimensions determine the maximum travel of the elevator and are not fixed, so if A 43 "lift height for a 4 'order and set it to stop at the level of 43'.
Porch seem liftsexpensive at around U.S. $ 3,000 for an elevator installation and most basic, if necessary, with the construction of a cement placed on the pad, the electrical service and a self-closing door at the top of the ladder, but can be less expensive a long ramp. Another advantage of purchasing a lift porch on building a ramp for wheelchairs, they moved when the user and have a resale value, when the lift is no longer necessary. I often get requests for new and used lifts, ramps, porch are crap, but more or less whenno longer needed.
Porch lifts can be used in commercial applications, but may be more of an expense, a ramp, because the building codes. In my field of commercial elevators must be authorized to have access to enter and together for safety. These requirements add to cost and must start a business from someone in the control of keys and available to users if they want to participate, use the elevator.
Conclusion
There is no right answer andIn any case, the decision makers the benefits and pit falls need to balance the various options. Price, climate, elevation, user abilities and all rooms will be taken into account in the final decision.
