Commercial Accessibility FAQ

Any lift that penetrates a floor will trigger a fire-rating requirement. The rating may vary from 1 to 2 hours and doors are typically rated 30 minutes less than the rating of the shaftway. For example, if the building requires a 2-hour fire rating, the doors must have a 90-minute fire rating. All fire-rated doors from Savaria meet the 90-minute rating including the two-speed LU/LA elevator doors and the swing-style ProDoor for Savaria vertical platform lifts.

Only authorized Savaria dealers can install and service our products. In most regions, commercial products require additional licensing for the dealer and the individual technicians. Savaria can direct you to dealers authorized for commercial installs in your area.

All commercial lifts and elevators require periodic maintenance to be done by a lift/elevator contractor. Most wheelchair lifts require two maintenance services per year, and LU/LA elevators require four services per year. These are minimum requirements and if your lift/elevator has more daily usage, or is exposed to harsh climate conditions, more maintenance visits will be needed. Some AHJ may require additional maintenance as well.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law passed in 1990 to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in all public areas. It includes specific regulations to accommodate wheelchair users including door widths, ramps, elevators and lifts. The Act is enforced by the U.S. Federal government and includes many details, but some key information to know to meet ADA standards:

• The minimum platform size is 36"x48" (914 × 1220 mm), or 36"x60" (914 × 1524 mm) when it has a 90-degree entrance
• Automatic landing doors are required for Type 1 (same side entrance) ,type 3-4 (90-degree) or if there are 3 stops
• Minimum clear door width of 32’’ (813 mm) is required, and 42’’ (1067 mm) on the adjacent 90-degree side
• Manual landing doors require 18’’ (457 mm) strike-side clearance
• A lift or elevator must be usable for a person with a disability without additional assistance

ANSI 117.1 is a U.S. accessibility standard governed by local building authorities (typically by state). It covers similar requirements as the ADA act for construction of accessible spaces, including:

• The minimum platform size is 36"x48" (914 × 1220 mm), or 36"x60" (914 × 1524 mm) when it has a 90-degree entrance
• Automatic landing doors are required for Type 1 (same side entrance), type 3-4 (90-degree) or if there are 3 stops
• Minimum clear door width of 32’’ (813 mm) is required, and 42’’ (1067 mm) on the adjacent 90-degree side
• Manual landing doors require 18’’ (457 mm) strike-side clearance
• For new construction building, please note different requirements:
  • Same-side entry and straight-through entry must have a minimum platform of 36” by 52” (914 × 1321 mm)
  • 90-degree applications require a minimum platform of 42” by 60” (1067 × 1524 mm)

• A lift or elevator must be usable for a person with a disability without additional assistance

Always check with your local dealer for complete details of what is required in your region as this list is not complete and varies by specific features and construction details at your site.

Yes. A Savaria V-1504 enclosure can be ordered with 3 sides whereby the fourth side is an exterior building wall, however it must be of a flush/soft construction. Typically, an exterior fire-rated ProDoor is provided for the upper landing.

Yes, a Savaria V-1504 enclosure can be installed inside a building where the lift is secured to a second level mezzanine, not through a floor.

Wheelchair users need a barrier-free entrance to the lift. The best scenario is to create a 3” (76 mm) pit below the wheelchair lift so that the entrance is flush with the floor. If for some reason you cannot do that, you will need to add a ramp to the entrance of the lift. Note that a ramp must provide a slope ratio of 1:8 for an existing building (adding a lift), but if this is a new building, the ratio must be a more gradual slope of 1:12. This will also require a landing door operator on that level to meet the ADA or A117.1 standard.

Churches and other places of worship often choose a Savaria V-1504 (in a hoistway), or Prolift for wheelchair users to access multiple levels inside. If you prefer a fully automatic elevator, the Savaria Orion LU/LA elevators are also a great choice.

AHJ is the Authority Having Jurisdiction. It can vary substantially by region. Some cities have their own building code and even lift code, and some states or counties can have specific requirements. Your local dealer will know all requirements of your AHJ in order to assist with your permit application and ensure a code-compliant project.