New Code of Practice Will Give Rise to Debate

In previous articles we have attempted to provide clarification concerning the plethora of legislation and codes of practice relating to platform lift design and installation. We have looked at the influence of the Disability Discrimination Act, Part M of the English and Welsh building regulations, British Standard 6440 and the EEC Machinery and EMC Directives. It is no surprise, therefore, that, in this edition, we tackle the newest document to be introduced - BS8300:2001.

Issued in 2001, BS8300 is a new code of practice which provides guidance on good practice in the design of domestic and non domestic buildings and their approaches so that they are convenient to use by disabled people. It is a revision and amalgamation of two previous standards, BS5619 and BS 5810. The new standard applies to all aspects of the building, including car parking provision, access routes to and around the premises and entrances and interiors. Lifts, as an essential amenity for disabled people in multi storey buildings, are covered.

BS8300 goes further than the codes of practice which it replaces. The design recommendations, where relevant, are based on actual user trials. As BS8300 embraces so many issues relating to disabled access within one code of practice, it will, undoubtedly, become a much used source of reference by architects and specifiers alike.

BS8300 does not cover the subject of platform lifts in great detail. In section 8.4.4, it states that platform lifts should conform to BS6440, a specific code of practice for powered lifting platforms for use by disabled people. It does make one recommendation, which was not detailed in BS6440. For the first time in a British Standard document, there is a clear statement concerning platform size. It states "The minimum clear dimensions of the platform should be 1050mm wide and 1250mm long."

We welcome this initiative. To our surprise, however, the recommendation for minimum platform dimensions appears inconsistent with those laid down in Approved Document M of the English and Welsh Building Regulations. This is surprising considering that Approved Document M gives definitive specifications of a buildings features providing access for the disabled, which must be complied with. It clearly states in paragraph 2.14 of Approved Document M, "Requirement M2 will be met if a lift has a car whose width is at least 1100mm and whose length is at least 1400mm". Several years ago, we took the strategic decision to invest in our Companion Prestige platform lift range to bring it fully into compliance with Approved Document M. As such, it clearly exceeds the minimum recommendations for platform dimensions, laid down in BS8300. The same can not be said for many other platform lift suppliers, who standardise on a 1000mm wide platform.

Apart from Approved Document M and the new BS8300, the other important pieces of legislation concerning platform lift installations are the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and the EMC directive 89/336/EEC (covered here). All of our lifts carry the CE mark. This is a declaration of conformity with these directives, which must be complied with. The primary function of the EC directives is to ensure that the products are well designed and built and that they are fit for the purpose for which they are sold. Also that reasonable precautions are in place to protect the user against injury. In summary, this means that all Movement Management platform lifts, regardless of travel height, are safe.

Undoubtedly BS8300 will, if it hasn't already, provoke more debate on the specifications for platform lifts. We would welcome your view.

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