Staff Training: Bespoke Accessibility Lifts Done Right

Key Takeaways

• Staff training turns a finished installation into a confident, repeatable day-to-day accessibility experience.

• Safe Working Load discussions often surface real-world edge cases that are best validated after commissioning, not guessed early.

• Fire strategy must be explicit, because accessibility lifts are not evacuation lifts.

• UPS battery backup behaviour should be understood as an engineered safety decision, not just a feature.

• Small refinements such as barrier sensitivity and clearer signage can materially improve user confidence.

Introduction

A bespoke accessibility lift can be beautifully engineered and still underperform if the people operating it do not feel confident using it. That is why staff training is not a formality. It is the final step where engineering intent meets real-world use, including questions that only show up when teams see the lift in action.

This article summarises the practical themes that commonly emerge during training for a retracting stair lift, including Safe Working Load conversations, fire strategy clarity, and how UPS battery backup is designed to protect users and reduce operational confusion.

How does staff training make a bespoke lift “work” for people?

Training does three things that drawings and handover packs cannot.

It builds confidence through first use.
It captures real operational concerns.
It aligns engineering, safety, and visitor-facing teams on what the lift can and cannot do.

Two comments from the training discussion capture the tone of a good handover:

“It was good to meet your team. The lift looks amazing.”

“Really enjoyed the morning (despite the rain). The whole project looks amazing.”

What are the real engineering decisions that get refined after commissioning?

This is the part many projects miss. A bespoke system is often engineered to a known design intent, then refined once real use cases appear in training.

Why was Safe Working Load reviewed after the design phase?

Safe Working Load is typically agreed during design, but training can surface genuine edge cases that are hard to predict without seeing the lift in use. A real example raised during the session was a combined wheelchair and user weight that exceeded the original Safe Working Load.

That led to an engineering review request rather than a rushed assumption.

“The original values on the items below were agreed at design phase. Very happy to review them though.”

This is a practical, people-first way to handle load planning. It avoids over-specifying a lift based on hypothetical extremes while still creating a clear pathway to reassess when real user needs emerge.

If your project includes uncertain load profiles, that is often a signal to consider a fully engineered solution like the Thames Retracting Stair Lift or a Bespoke Lift engineered around your constraints.

What is the correct fire strategy for an accessibility lift in the UK?

Why can’t accessibility lifts be treated as fire escape lifts?

A key training point was that the lift cannot be used in the event of a fire and that the fire plan should use evacuation chairs.

This is consistent with the broader principle explained here: Why open platform lifts cannot be fire escape lifts in the UK.

When you set expectations clearly at training, you prevent a dangerous assumption later. It also makes day-to-day conversations easier for staff, because they know exactly what the emergency plan is and why it exists.

Where do British Standards fit into day-to-day operation?

Compliance matters, but compliance does not automatically equal usability. Staff training bridges the gap between standards-led engineering and a confident visitor experience.

If you want to explore the standards context that often informs lift specification and signage decisions, use the British Standards technical overview.

How should UPS battery backup be explained to staff and safety teams?

UPS battery backup is often described as a feature, but it should be explained as a safety decision with a specific purpose.

Training confirmed the expected behaviour:

• The UPS battery backup switches on automatically during a power failure.

• No staff action is required.

• The system can support at least five full cycles.

• In a fire scenario, battery use is limited to restoring the stair configuration if the stairs are in.

That last point is not a limitation to apologise for. It is a deliberate design choice that prevents the lift being mistaken as an evacuation route during an incident.

Why should Safe Working Load signage be made visible to visitors?

One of the most practical recommendations from training was to make Safe Working Load easier to communicate by placing it where visitors can see it, including on a call-for-assistance plate.

This reduces awkward conversations, increases transparency, and gives staff an objective reference when explaining access limitations.

When is a bespoke lift the right call, and when is a standard product enough?

This decision framework is useful for architects, facilities teams, and access consultants who need clarity early.

When is bespoke engineering usually the right answer?

Bespoke is often the right call when:

• The entrance geometry is non-standard or the lift must integrate into steps.

• The visual impact must be minimal or concealed.

• The building has constraints that limit conventional enclosures, pits, or ramps.

• High-traffic public use requires robust operational clarity and refined safety interactions.

• Load profiles are uncertain and require a review pathway after commissioning.

In these scenarios, solutions like the Thames Retracting Stair Lift or a Bespoke Lift are typically the correct engineering approach.

When is bespoke not necessary?

A standard approach may be sufficient when:

• The space is straightforward with predictable geometry and clear landing zones.

• The aesthetic requirement is not “invisible” and a conventional platform solution is acceptable.

• Traffic is low and the building has adequate space for standard guarding and approach routes.

• The project constraints are primarily budget-based rather than design-based.

If your building is straightforward but still public-facing, a solution designed for high-visibility environments can be appropriate, depending on constraints. A relevant reference point is the Windsor Lift designed for compliance-led access upgrades.

Bespoke vs off-the-shelf matrix

Decision factor	Standard platform lift	Retracting stair / bespoke concealed system
Visual impact	Typically visible	Can be concealed and integrated into steps
Geometry tolerance	Needs conventional clearances	Can be engineered around non-standard geometry
Load edge cases	Fixed at spec	Can be reviewed after commissioning with an engineering pathway
Operational confidence	Often assumed	Built through structured training and refined signage
Fire strategy clarity	Frequently misunderstood	Designed with clear non-evacuation intent and defined protocols

Common misconceptions that training helps correct

Myth: If it meets a British Standard, it will automatically be usable.
Reality: Usability depends on staff confidence, signage clarity, and operational rehearsal, not compliance alone. Use the British Standards technical overview as context, not a substitute for training.

Myth: Safe Working Load is fixed forever once the design is signed off.
Reality: Real use can justify an engineering reassessment, especially for public environments.

Myth: Accessibility lifts can be used as evacuation lifts in a fire.
Reality: They cannot. The correct principle is explained in Why open platform lifts cannot be fire escape lifts in the UK.

Product integration summary

The training themes in this article most commonly relate to the following Sesame Access solutions:

Access requirement	Sesame Access solution
Concealed stair-integrated access with defined fire strategy protocols	Thames Retracting Stair Lift
Non-standard constraints requiring engineered trade-offs and post-commission refinement	Bespoke Lift engineered for complex buildings
Public-facing access upgrades where clarity and confidence are essential	Windsor Lift for compliance-led access

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What should be covered in staff training for a bespoke accessibility lift?

Training should cover normal operation, emergency stop behaviour, call-for-assistance processes, Safe Working Load communication, and the agreed fire strategy.

Can Safe Working Load be increased after installation?

Sometimes. It depends on the engineering margins and the physical system. A formal review is the correct path, especially when real user needs emerge during training.

Can an accessibility lift be used during a fire evacuation?

No. Accessibility lifts are not evacuation lifts. The underlying principle is explained in Why open platform lifts cannot be fire escape lifts in the UK.

How does UPS battery backup actually work in practice?

UPS backup can enable multiple lift cycles during a power failure and typically switches on automatically without staff action. Fire-scenario behaviour may be deliberately restricted to prevent confusion about evacuation use.

Where should Safe Working Load signage be placed for the best visitor experience?

Placing Safe Working Load on a visible call-for-assistance plate helps visitors and staff share the same reference point and reduces friction in real interactions.

What is the best lift solution for steps where you cannot build a ramp?

A concealed, stair-integrated solution such as the Thames Retracting Stair Lift is often the best fit when ramps are not feasible.

How do you make a heritage entrance accessible without changing the appearance?

A Bespoke Lift engineered around architectural constraints can integrate access while protecting the visual intent, subject to site-specific constraints.

What should facilities teams ask at handover for a public building lift?

Ask about Safe Working Load communication, barrier behaviour, UPS battery backup protocols, and the written fire strategy, then validate understanding during training.

What British Standards apply to accessibility lift projects in the UK?

Standards depend on lift type and context. The best starting reference is the British Standards technical overview.

Call to action

If you are planning an accessibility lift in a complex building and want early clarity on Safe Working Load, fire strategy, UPS backup behaviour, and staff training, book a Teams meeting with a Project Manager here:
https://www.sesameaccess.com/book-a-meeting