As any commercial building owner or manager knows, one of the most crucial considerations is ensuring a building is fully accessible to all patrons. Commercial buildings must meet accessible requirements for individuals with disabilities, wheelchair users, and all other occupants.
Whether an existing mobility system is nearing the end of its lifecycle or you’re looking to improve the overall accessibility of your commercial space, RAM Elevators + Lifts can help. Let’s explore some key considerations when choosing the best product for your space, needs, and budget. Let’s dive in and review some key information about installing ramps, stairlifts, VPLs, and commercial pitless elevators.
How Much Space Do You Need?
When upgrading or replacing a commercial accessibility solution, available space is often the most important yet limiting factor. Before choosing an accessibility solution, it’s crucial to consider how it will integrate into your building’s existing layout.
Here are some questions to consider:
- Are there any existing appliances in the way?
- Does your building have a compact floor plan?
- Are there any immovable installations?
- What is the current architecture of your building?
Generally speaking, accessibility products like commercial lifts and stair lifts have the lowest installation footprint. In contrast, options like elevators typically demand greater vertical clearance and more advanced planning. That said, there are also options, such as commercial pitless elevators, which eliminate the need for deep pit excavation.
Products such as commercial ramps have a larger footprint than many initially expect. Retrofitted ramp installations often require extensive floor space to ensure compliance with ADA code and sometimes building-specific requirements.
Keep these spatial requirements in mind as we move into capacity planning.
How High a Capacity Will You Need?
Whether a ramp, stairlift, vertical platform lift, or a commercial pitless elevator, it’s not only about accessibility. Capacity is also a key point to consider. Every accessibility solution has a set capacity that limits the number of occupants who can use it at any given time. This capacity must be abided by to ensure patron safety and building code compliance. How much foot traffic does the building have? What are the busiest times?
Once you have an idea of this, choosing a mobility solution becomes significantly simpler. Commercial elevators offer among the highest capacities and allow multiple patrons per trip, whereas many stair lifts and VPLs can only able to transport one user at a time.
When selecting mobility products for your commercial space, it’s also worthwhile to consider future capacity needs. While low-capacity options like stairlifts may be suitable today, they may not meet the demand of future building traffic increases. In these situations, while a pitless commercial elevator may have a higher upfront cost, it helps future-proof the building against costly upgrades down the line.
Installation Requirements & Downtime
When comparing different mobility solutions, the installation timeline itself is sometimes overlooked. The truth is, installation requirements extend well past the initial costs of the product itself. For example, will there be any structural changes or modifications required to retrofit the device? Does the area have sufficient electrical circuits in place to support the product?
Another key factor of any mobility installation is downtime. While downtime is often unavoidable, knowing what to expect during installation can help you plan accordingly and minimize interruptions where possible. Some options, such as vertical platform lifts (VPLs), offer a quicker and more seamless installation process, as they’re designed to integrate more easily into existing stairs and architecture.
Upgrade Your Accessibility with RAM
Regardless of the sector you serve or the space your business occupies, you can significantly enhance visitor experience and compliance by installing one of RAM’s award-winning commercial elevators today. From our wheelchair accessible Flex Lift VPL to a Crystal pitless commercial elevator—we’re here to support your accessibility vision.
Reach out to us today to explore more about our selection of commercial mobility products. We’ll put you in touch with a RAM dealer in your area, who will guide you through everything, from the installation plan to long-term maintenance and servicing.