Accessible Solutions: Multi-Floor Access

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In the Northeast, for example, most single-family homes are constructed with full basements because of the cold climate and the hilly topography. Basement levels and upper floors are not typically accessible to wheelchair users. There are three alternatives to provide access to a home's second floor level: (1) elevators, (2) stair lifts, or (3) platform lifts. In most instances, the most accessible alternative is a residential elevator. Several factors, including cost, may determine the practicality of each option. Methods of Providing Access to Multiple Floor Levels There are three common alternatives to provide access between floor levels. These are residential elevators, stair lifts, and inclined platform lifts. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.           Building an elevator hoistway into a new home is not expensive, although it will enlarge the floor plan. Cutting a hoistway through an existing floor system in some homes can be relatively easy, depending on the number of floors to be penetrated and the existing structural system.             A stair lift can be installed on a narrow stairway and the track can be configured for installation in most stairwells. The collapsed chair is typically stored at the bottom of the run until it is called for use.             Stair lifts are relatively inexpensive alternatives for retrofit into existing homes. Stair lifts require users to transfer at the top and bottom of each stair run.       Elevators - Residential elevators are an increasingly affordable option to provide access between floor levels. Installed elevator costs begin at approximately $16,000 excluding the architectural modifications that may be required. These costs vary depending on whether the elevator will be installed in a new home or new addition or if it will be retrofitted into an existing house. Residential elevators can provide wheelchair access to a second floor or basement or to both levels with a total vertical rise up to 50'. Residential elevators are either cable operated or hydraulically powered and travel on a single side-mounted rail. Hydraulic models are typically more expensive, but provide smoother and slightly faster operation. Residential units vary in weight capacity, cab size, and cab configuration. Most manufacturers offer cabs that are large enough (36" x 48") and have sufficient load capacity (500 to 750 lbs.) to accommodate wheelchairs and motorized scooters. In order to install a residential elevator, an open shaft must be provided through the home's structural frame at all floors that the unit will serve. Each floor must include elevator access doors at an appropriate location. Typical installations include a swinging door at the shaft entrance and a folding collapsible gate inside the cab. Homeowners can specify entry doors on any of three cab walls. Elevator manufacturers also offer cabs equipped with multiple entry doors. With two entry doors, access can be provided from different directions on different floors. This arrangement greatly increases the design flexibility and reduces maneuvering for wheelchair users. Cabs with two doors, for example, allow wheelchair users to pull straight in on one floor and then exit straight ahead (rather than back out) on another floor. In addition to the shaft, elevators that serve basements require construction of a shallow pit in the floor slab to allow the cab floor to align with the floor surface. Some installations also require an overrun in the attic. • Elevators for Existing Homes - Residential elevators can be most easily and inexpensively installed in a new house or addition. In existing homes, the major difficulty and expense is constructing a clear hoistway shaft. This requires cutting a vertical shaft (approx. 45" x 52") through each floor's existing floor framing. Retrofitting an elevator in an existing home is a complex problem that requires an architect or structural engineer to ensure that proper functional and structural provisions are made. Another alternative for existing homes is construction of a small addition specifically to house the elevator shaft. A plan for this option can be difficult to develop because most homes have centrally located stair halls and it is hard to find a location appropriate for the elevator on each floor. The most practical alternative is typically a short passageway between the existing house and the new elevator addition. This option may be more expensive than opening a shaft in an existing structure, so it is usually cost-effective only when the elevator addition serves multiple floors. • Planning for a Future Elevator - If a wheelchair user is planning to construct a new house or an addition to an existing home, it can be relatively inexpensive to make provisions for future elevator installation. This approach postpones the elevator purchase and reduces future inconvenience if an installation later becomes desirable or affordable.

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