Part M Compliant Lift

At Sesame Access we ensure that all of our lifts are Part M Compliant. To see more examples please click here

When designing a Part M compliant lift for wheelchair users or the ambient disabled other standards must be considered to maintain the highest level of safety. Building Regulations, British Standards, the Machinery Directive and European Standards are among some of the many. Generally most of the standards seem to work with each other however there are areas that contradict each other, dependant on the style of building, type of access, and so on. The most important element to consider is the safety of the user, the controller and any surrounding pedestrians. For example, a Part M compliant lift will not only protect the user from being crushed or injured by the movement of the lift whilst on the platform, but also a pedestrian at lower landing.

The sesame system has a solid stainless steel skirt surrounding the workings below the platform when it is in the raised position. This acts as a solid barrier under the lift stopping anyone from climbing in. The down side to this setup is that a pit is required for the skirts to lower into, with the pit depth being generally worked out as the total rise from lower landing level to upper landing level + 150mm.

If pit depth is an issue then Sesame can install a collapsible set of bellows or a roller shutter blind to conceal the lifting actuator below the platform table. As a rule of thumb the pit depth for a Sesame Part M compliant lift with collapsible bellows or a roller shutter blind is either 450mm or 650mm for a platform that travels 650mm or 1400mm respectively. However, Sesame can offer a Part M compliant lift that only requires a 100mm pit depth or even one that does not require a pit at all as an automatic flap can ramp up the 100mm then rise with the lift. All of our lifting platforms are made ready to accept the cladding that you specify, which can be anything from marble to carpet.

When using collapsible bellows or roller shutter blinds safety sensors must be installed to ensure a compatible Part M compliant lift. They are only a soft barrier for pedestrians to fall onto so as the lift lowers the safety sensors must detect the obstruction and prevent the lift from lowering. Once the obstruction is removed then the lift must be raised before it can be lowered again. This prevents a controller from accidentally lowering the platform onto the obstruction by accident.

Platform size must also be considered when designing a lift that is Part M compliant. The British Standard BS:6440:2011 agrees with the platform size specifications stated in Part M. The minimum usable space for a straight access and exit wheelchair lift must be 900mm x 1400mm. If there is a button station on the platform then that is an obstruction that can not be classed as usable space so the table must be made larger to accommodate the minimum usable space as specified in Part M of the building regulations. If the user is expected to turn 90 degrees to exit or enter a lifting table then the clear usable space must be 1100mm x 1400mm. This gives the user extra space to manoeuvre. Additionally, if the wheelchair user is expected to enter and exit from the same door, gate or rising barrier then clear usable space must be 1500mm x 1500mm to allow for a 180 degree turn.

The minimum platform sizes required to allow for a Part M compliant lift has increased in size over the years to conform with the increase in size of peoples wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

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