Stair lift for
churches
Thinking of installing a
stair lift in your church? There are a number of different
options and factors to consider.
Many churches feature
designs that make it difficult for some people to access
them.
It may be that the church
has outside steps going up to the entrance.
Or it could be that once
people step inside the church, the design demands that
people climb a flight of stairs to enter the body of the
building.
Is a stair lift the
solution?
In some cases there will be
enough space to fit a ramp that allows access for wheelchair
users and people with problems walking up steps.
However, other situations
might render that impossible and in those cases a stair lift
could be the answer.
Stair lift installers will
be able to advise you on what will be involved - such as the
type of stairlift, its carrying capacity and whether it can
be fitted in such a way that still allows access to the
church for other visitors.
Depending on where the
church is, you may have to have such an installation
approved by local authorities or planning
controllers.
In older churches there may
be issues with the effect that a stair lift could have its
character.
Stair lifts can be mounted
on different types of church stairway - such as wooden or
concrete steps. If there is a flat or sloped area between
sets of church steps the stair lift rail can be run across
these so that the rider does not have to
dismount.
Churches should also
consider insurance and liability issues when installing any
stair lift equipment so it is worth seeking advice on these
subjects.
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