Key Takeaways
• Lift consultants and access consultants often drive early project decisions, especially during RIBA Stage 2, where building access concepts are first shaped.
• Large consultancy firms such as TUV SUD’s Dunbar & Boardman carry significant influence in the UK and internationally, making them powerful partners for specialist lift solutions.
• Consultants look for clear compliance, dependable engineering, and transparent service models. Sesame Access provides this through engineered hidden lifts such as the Buckingham Listed Building Lift and Kensington Stairlift.
• Many consultants rely on industry events rather than advertising, making professional networks and engineering credibility more valuable than typical marketing channels.
• Read more about how projects are coordinated in how-sesame-access-manages-complex-lift-projects and the commercial approach in accessibility-lift-sales-strategy.
Introduction
Lift consultants play a central role in specifying, reviewing and approving lift solutions across new developments and existing buildings. Their remit includes technical assessment, design-stage guidance, regulatory compliance, and procurement support. For specialist manufacturers such as Sesame Access, understanding how lift consultants operate helps align engineering solutions with real project demands. This article explains how consultants source work, where they collaborate, what they expect from suppliers, and how to engage with them effectively.
The insights below also draw on international experience, industry observations and trends across the lift consultancy sector, where demand for expert oversight continues to grow in the UK and Europe.
What do lift consultants do and why are they important?
Lift consultants act as independent technical advisers. They review drawings, assess access strategy, and ensure compliance with standards such as BS 6440:2011, EN 81-41 and ASME 18.1. They also help ensure that lifts meet architectural, operational and accessibility expectations across different building types.
Many hidden platform lifts and stair-integrated solutions benefit from consultant oversight, particularly in constrained heritage settings, which is why Sesame Access provides engineered products that integrate into architecturally sensitive spaces. Hidden lifts like the Buckingham Listed Building Lift and compact systems such as the Kensington Stairlift often require early design coordination to align with floor levels, structural elements and aesthetic requirements.
Lift consultants are also increasingly present in global projects, especially in regions like the Middle East, where construction cycles are fast-moving and require rigorous engineering control. This global trend is reflected in Sesame’s international case studies and coordination processes explored further in how-sesame-access-manages-complex-lift-projects.
Where do lift consultants network and source new work?
Consultants often rely on long-term relationships, engineering credibility and professional groups rather than traditional advertising. Key examples include:
• Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Lifts Group events, including quarterly meetings and the annual general meeting. These sessions attract building services engineers, access specialists and lift consultants interested in technical discourse and new solutions.
• Industry symposiums such as those held by the Lifts & Escalators Industry Association (LEIA), attended by manufacturers, surveyors, and technical consultants reviewing updates to standards and emerging technologies.
• Major consultancy groups, including TUV SUD’s Dunbar & Boardman, which operate across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. These firms influence large-scale projects and often lead specification reviews across multiple building sectors.
Consultants may also review specialist knowledge resources, including case studies, compliance guides and engineering articles within the Sesame Access Knowledge Hub. This is why quality content and transparency are essential components of successful consultant engagement.
How can specialist hidden lift providers work effectively with consultants?
Lift consultants value clear engineering justification, architectural awareness and demonstrable compliance. Hidden lift systems often support architects and engineers solving technical constraints such as restricted pit depths, heritage conservation requirements or limited space for conventional lift shafts.
Sesame Access aligns with consultants by focusing on:
• early-stage design input during RIBA Stage 2
• sharing detailed drawings, load information, tolerance requirements and installation planning
• transparent service expectations, acknowledging that physical lubrication, cleaning and mechanical checks cannot be performed remotely
• commitment to accessibility engineering, visible in articles such as accessibility-lift-sales-strategy
Consultants regularly highlight that remote maintenance claims can be misleading; diagnostics may be available online, but real maintenance remains on-site. This reinforces the importance of engineering-led product quality and specialist service planning.
What should you consider when selecting or partnering with lift consultants?
Each consultancy varies in focus, capability and availability. Some considerations include:
• Assess the consultancy’s team size, accessibility expertise and track record. A PO-box-only presence may indicate limited resources.
• Check whether they specialise in particular sectors such as heritage, residential, commercial, transport or international development.
• Overseas teams may focus on compliance auditing in markets such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, where consultant regulation is notably strong.
• Understand cost expectations. Some consultants note that complex bespoke lifts can sit outside low-cost service models, which is accurate for engineered systems like the Buckingham Listed Building Lift due to their architectural integration and mechanical complexity.
How do hidden lifts integrate into RIBA Stage 2 development?
RIBA Stage 2 is where concept designs are modelled and space planning becomes tangible. Consultants normally define access strategy at this point, including lift location, structural assumptions and aesthetic integration.
Specialist platform lifts such as the Kensington Stairlift benefit from early involvement because consultants can account for structural openings, support requirements, electrical feed paths and pit tolerances. Early dialogue prevents rework later in RIBA Stage 3 or 4 and accelerates the approval process with building control.
This alignment with consultant workflow is part of Sesame Access’s approach to managing complex engineering programmes, as explained in how-sesame-access-manages-complex-lift-projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What compliance standards do lift consultants check for platform lifts?
Consultants usually confirm conformity against BS 6440:2011, EN 81-41 and ASME 18.1, depending on the jurisdiction. They also check structural interfaces, loading calculations and fire-safety strategy.
How do bespoke hidden lifts integrate with RIBA Stage 2?
Integration begins by assessing space availability, defining pit or retracting stair requirements, and ensuring architectural finishes can be matched. Consultants review early drawings to confirm viability before progressing to RIBA Stage 3.
Do lift consultants prefer early engagement?
Yes. Consultants welcome early discussions when design flexibility still exists. Most decisions around lift type, location and constraints occur before detailed design develops.
Can lift maintenance be performed remotely?
Most maintenance tasks still require physical attendance. Remote diagnostics are useful, but cleaning, lubrication and mechanical checks must be done on site.
Are hidden lifts suitable for heritage buildings?
Hidden systems such as the Buckingham Listed Building Lift are designed specifically for heritage conservation, offering access without altering the visible fabric of the building.
How does a specialist lift provider fit into a consultant’s workflow?
By supporting early design decisions, offering clear structural information, providing accurate tolerances and offering reliable installation planning aligned with consultant oversight.
Call to Action
If you would like advice on how to approach lift consultants for your project, book a Teams Meeting with one of our Project Managers:
https://www.sesameaccess.com/book-a-meeting