Hydraulic chair lift

The lift is clad in Portland Limestone to blend in with the surrounding architecture. To see more examples of our completed lifts, please visit our projects page

There are many ways of powering lifts, but some methods are much more effective than others. For a bespoke lift designed to lift large loads over a small rise, a mechanical power source would do the job very well however it would be unsafe for people to use because of the reliance on pulleys and chains. Electric power is very useful because it can provide a continuous supply as long as there is a connection to an electrical power source. However for passenger lifts where slower movement is preferred, hydraulic power is a great option too. However the best and most effective way of powering a lift is by far a combination of hydraulic and electrical power.

As a ground-breaking stair lift manufacturer, Sesame Access have been building wheelchair lifts for over 15 years and our aim is to improve disabled access to landmark sites and many other types of public and private buildings through our unique products that are built into existing staircases. The staircase is replaced by a flight of movable steps that can recede from view and make way for an inbuilt lift platform to appear. By cladding the hydraulic chair lift in matching stone, the hydraulics and majority of the moving parts are obscured from view and the resulting hydraulic chair lift is a stylish, reliable product that the public can use in full confidence.

One key advantage that these lifts have over ramps it that the lift fits perfectly in with the surrounding environment, ensuring the existing staircase or area of the lift matches the rest of the building, often remaining unchanged in appearance.

One of our lifts was installed at Wimpole Street in London. The hydraulic chair lift consisted of a 2 step horizontally retracting staircase, concealing a platform which could be raised to 695mm, complete with lower and upper landing and clad in Portland limestone to blend in with the architecture. The lift frame was built out of mild steel and also included a rising wheel-stop and control post to allow the hydraulic chair lift to go up or down as responsive to the user’s request.

When it comes to Heritage buildings, this could often be very difficult since they wish to maintain their site in the same period architecture as they can’t afford to lose the authenticity of the building. Naturally, any construction work on their site might compromise the building’s character. Sesame Access have been working in response to the guidelines laid down by English Heritage for a considerable amount of time and as such have provided a hydraulic chair lift as a fitting supplement to any Grade I, Grade II or Grade II* listed buildings.

As each hydraulic chair lift is designed with wheelchair users in mind, it has a low lifting capacity. This is mainly due to the types of metal we use to build such lifts. As with any metal, the lift will endure wear and tear over many years. We generally advise a maximum supporting weight of 350 kg though these lifts can withstand a load up to 2 tonnes. This weight however is not advised as it can significantly shorten the life of the lift. Alternatively and available on request, if the lift design is altered to allow for the primary use of carrying heavy loads, we can relax the restrictions accordingly.