Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair access is important and often a legal requirement. The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) aims to eliminate prejudice against the less able. Its 2004 amendment stipulates that service providers, institutions of education, and employers must make provisions for wheelchair access in their buildings. This includes taking reasonable steps to tackle physical building features that obstruct wheelchair users.

Physical Building Features Obstruct Wheelchair Access

The DDA defines a physical building feature as:

• Anything that obstructs a wheelchair user’s entry or exit from a building
• Anything arising from a building’s design or construction
• Fixtures, fittings, furnishings, equipment or materials
• Other physical elements on the premises that affect wheelchair access routes

Service providers, institutions of education, and employers must remove or alter offending building features so they do not obstruct wheelchair access routes.

Reasonable Adjustments to Improve Wheelchair Access

The diversity of wheelchair access requirements and building designs means there is no legal definition of a ‘reasonable adjustment’. However, possible measures include replacing steps with a ramp or platform lift, improving access to toilets or washing facilities, and widening doorways to accommodate wheelchair access.

Platform Lifts Aid Wheelchair Access Routes

We offer a wide selection of platform lifts to improve wheelchair access. These have varying load capacities, power requirements, travel distances, platform sizes, and control types. Models are available for internal or external use. Platform lifts are a cost effective means of meeting DDA wheelchair access requirements.

Our platform lifts come in a range of colours and finishes to suit any environment. This makes them ideal for public venues where appearances count. We have over twenty-five years experience and cater for customers with specific wheelchair access needs.

Wheelchair Access a Priority at Scheff Foods

Scheff Foods supplies frozen ready meals and pastry buffet products to the food service industry. It recently opened a new £5m production facility in Birmingham, which as a workplace must comply with DDA wheelchair access requirements. A movemanSKG Prestige platform lift allows less able employees to reach the building’s upper floors.

The two-stop Prestige at Scheff Foods travel nearly five metres between two floors. Conveniently placed controls allow wheelchair users to operate the lift independently, and a cream finish means it blends with the surroundings. Thanks to movemanSKG, Scheff Foods meets DDA wheelchair access requirements.