In our latest ‘technical guidance’ article, Richard Clarke, sales and marketing director at one of the UK’s leading lift and escalator specialists, Schindler, examines some of the key issues surrounding the specification, maintenance, and operation of lifts in hospitals to help ensure the highest standards of safety and reliability.
Lifts are an essential means of providing vertical transport for all users, from the very young to disabled, elderly, and infirm people, and others unable to safely use stairs – but are one of the few types of transport available for continuous unsupervised use. They can also be among the safest modes of transport when designed and maintained to strict standards.
Hospital lifts are even more critical, providing access for patients in wheelchairs or beds travelling between theatres and wards, and are fundamental to maintaining efficient traffic flows for patients, staff, and visitors, inside large and complex buildings. A lift breakdown could result in clinical appointments being delayed, or worse, compromise emergency patient care.
The lifecycle of a lift is longer than most other forms of transportation and building equipment. Lift design thus has to be carefully considered, and the equipment precisely maintained to ensure ongoing safety, performance, and accessibility.
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