A people-first guide to designing a bespoke platform lift above an active air extraction void, with practical insight into pit depth, volumetric modelling, drainage coordination, and why independent step design can protect both accessibility and building services.
This Knowledge Hub guide explains how a constrained heritage entrance can still achieve straight-route wheelchair access when the available envelope is only 1480mm between the façade line and the pavement vault wall. It covers the “1400mm golden number”, why 90-degree travel is often a poor autonomy outcome, how small threshold moves (30–35mm) remove pinch hazards, and how limited vault wall shaving (around 50mm) can unlock a safer, simpler solution.
When a listed building entrance has a 340mm level difference and tight pavement constraints, ramps are not always the best solution. This article explores hidden platform lift alternatives, pit depth considerations, drainage planning and four bespoke product options that preserve heritage architecture while delivering compliant wheelchair access.
