Product Overview
Q: What is the Sesame Kensington Stairlift? A: The Kensington is a horizontal retracting stair system where the stairs retract to reveal a platform lift below. It's designed for accessibility where the total rise is less than 500mm, complying with BS6440:2011 standards.
Q: What are the three main variants of the Kensington? A: The Kensington comes in three configurations:
- Kensington with stainless steel skirts
- Kensington with bellows
- Kensington with low profile scissor lift
Q: What is the maximum total rise for the Kensington? A: The maximum total rise is 499mm (just under 500mm). This is because BS6440:2011 requires a gate or barrier at the upper landing if the rise exceeds 500mm.
Q: What happens if my rise exceeds 500mm? A: You would need either the Mayfair Stairlift (with rising barrier) or the Regent Stairlift (with a solid gate). These are different products that will be covered separately.
Pit Depth Requirements
Q: How do I calculate the pit depth for the Kensington with stainless steel skirts? A: The formula is: Total rise (mm) + Cladding thickness (mm) + 150mm = Minimum pit depth. However, due to the mechanism, the pit depth cannot be less than 435mm + cladding thickness.
Q: What are some examples of pit depths with 30mm cladding? A: With 30mm cladding thickness:
- One riser (150mm): 465mm pit depth
- Two risers (300mm): 480mm pit depth
- Three risers (450mm): 630mm pit depth
- Maximum rise (499mm): 680mm pit depth
Q: What is the minimum pit depth for the Kensington with bellows? A: The formula is simpler: 435mm + cladding thickness, regardless of total rise. With 30mm cladding, this equals 465mm pit depth. The total rise still cannot exceed 499mm.
Q: What is the minimum pit depth for the Kensington low profile version? A: The formula is: 320mm + cladding thickness, regardless of total rise. With 30mm cladding, this equals 350mm pit depth. The total rise still cannot exceed 499mm.
Q: Which Kensington variant should I choose based on available pit depth? A:
- Maximum pit depth available: Choose stainless steel skirts (most economical)
- Limited to ~465mm: Choose bellows version
- Limited to ~350mm: Choose low profile version
- Less than 350mm: Consider the Thames Retracting Stairlift instead
Q: What if I don't have sufficient pit depth for any Kensington variant? A: If your pit depth is less than 350mm (with cladding), you would need to consider the Thames Retracting Stairlift, which uses an electric wheel stop system instead.
Platform Dimensions
Q: What are the standard platform dimensions for the Kensington with removable handheld post? A: The platform is 1,405mm long × 1,057mm wide, with a usable space of 1,405mm long × 1,000mm wide (accounting for the handheld post location).
Q: What are the platform dimensions for the Kensington low profile version? A: The platform is 1,588mm long × 1,192mm wide, with a usable space of 1,585mm long × 1,035mm wide.
Q: What is the minimum usable space width permitted by UK standards? A: The minimum usable space for a straight route access lift is 800mm according to BS6440:2011. However, we typically start with wider platforms to accommodate different wheelchair types, powered wheelchairs, and users with additional equipment like oxygen bottles.
Q: Can the platform width be customized? A: Yes, these lifts are bespoke. We can make them narrower (down to 800mm minimum) for historic or listed buildings with narrow staircases, or wider for different user requirements. Note that very wide platforms increase the price.
Lift Pit Dimensions
Q: What are the lift pit cut-out dimensions for the standard platform? A: For the 1,405mm × 1,057mm platform with removable handheld post, the pit cut-out required is 1,484mm long × 1,209mm wide.
Q: What are the three options for user handholds? A:
- Removable handheld post (no buttons, just something to hold onto - can be stored away when not in use)
- Fixed button station on the side of the platform (permanently visible)
- Rising button post (drops through the floor - requires 1.6m pit depth and increases platform width)
Q: Does the removable handheld post have buttons on it? A: No, the removable handheld post does NOT have buttons. It's simply something for the user to hold onto for stability. Control buttons are located at the upper and lower landings, or on a fixed button station if specified.
Stair Pit Requirements (Behind Upper Landing)
Q: How much space is needed behind the top step riser for the stairs to retract? A: Standard request is 1,200mm from the top step riser to the back of the pit. This cannot be less than 800mm minimum.
Q: Can the stair pit depth be reduced from the standard 1,200mm? A: Yes, but it depends on how far your bottom step travels. If the bottom step riser travels 700mm or less horizontally from the top step riser, you can use 1,200mm pit depth with a single-acting RAM (most economical option).
Q: How do I calculate the stair pit depth for different travel distances? A: For every 1mm the pit shrinks below 1,200mm, you lose 2mm of travel distance. For example:
- 1,200mm pit depth = 1,555mm travel distance
- 1,100mm pit depth = 1,355mm travel distance (200mm less)
- Minimum 800mm pit depth must be maintained regardless of calculation
Q: What if my calculated stair pit depth falls below 800mm? A: The minimum is always 800mm. If calculations suggest less, you must use 800mm with a more expensive double-acting RAM system. Alternatively, if cost is crucial, you can opt for a cheaper system by limiting travel to 700mm, which requires 1,200mm pit depth.
Key Questions to Answer
Q: What information do you need from me to specify a Kensington? A: We need:
- Total rise (height to overcome)
- Number of steps
- Riser height of each step
- Tread depth of each step
- Available pit depth below lower landing
- Cladding thickness and material types (upper landing, risers, treads, lower landing)
- Internal or external installation
- Site layout drawings, photographs, DWGs and PDFs
Q: How do I calculate the number of risers vs treads? A: For a three-step system, you have three risers (vertical faces) but only two treads (horizontal surfaces), as the upper landing serves as the final tread.
Q: Why does pit depth matter so much? A: More pit depth = cheaper lift and smaller platform size. Less pit depth = more expensive lift and larger platform dimensions. Maximum available pit depth is always preferred.
Installation Location
Q: Can the Kensington be installed externally? A: Yes. External installations use galvanized mild steel or stainless steel construction (vs painted mild steel for internal installations). External installations must include drainage provisions.
Q: What drainage options are available for external installations? A: Three options:
- Gravity drainage to local drain (preferred)
- Sump pit and pump within the lift pit (requires lift to be raised for servicing)
- Independent external sump pit with service hatch (allows independent maintenance)
Machine Room Cabinet
Q: What are the dimensions of the machine room cabinet? A: 1,615mm tall × 1,144mm wide × 300mm deep. The height includes a framework allowing engineers to work at head height.
Q: Where can the machine room cabinet be located? A: Typically located separately from the lift. Ideally within 10m conduit route length from the system. If distance exceeds 10m, hose specifications and motor pump units may need upgrading (additional cost).
Q: Can the hydraulics and electrics be housed under the stairs instead? A: Rarely, and only for internal installations with at least 1.2m stair pit depth. They must be in a non-damp, protected environment. The separate machine room cabinet is far more common.
Q: What are the environmental requirements for the machine room cabinet? A:
- Can be installed internally or externally (waterproof)
- Operating temperature: -0°C to +35°C
- Has built-in ventilation
- Requires minimum 600mm clearance in front for door swing
- Requires 900mm clear working space in front for electrical safety (BS7671)
Q: What power supply is required? A: Single phase, neutral plus earth, 230V AC, 16 amp breaker for standard Kensington systems (both standard and low profile versions).
Q: What hydraulic power pack is used? A: 1.1 kilowatt, 3.2 CC, 4.3 litres per minute, 3.8 litre tank (for both standard scissor lift and low profile versions).
Safety & Operation
Q: Who can operate the Kensington lift? A: Only trained personnel. The lift has a 100mm toe guard that protects wheelchair wheels but does NOT protect standing users from falling off. Users must be wheelchair users or trained operators with keys/remote controls.
Q: What safety features prevent unauthorized use? A:
- Lift automatically switches off after 5 minutes if idle
- Lift switches off automatically after completing a full cycle
- Only trained users are given keys or remote controls
- The 100mm toe guard only protects seated wheelchair users, not standing users
Q: Can independent wheelchair users operate this lift? A: Yes, with proper training and a remote control. They are trained to extend the stairs after use and return the lift to the lower landing position.
Access & Maintenance
Q: How do engineers access the lift pit for maintenance? A: Two methods:
- Through 2-3 service hatches at upper landing (engineers climb down)
- Using engineer's override key to raise the lift beyond upper landing level, then climbing under with safety bars in place
Finishes & Aesthetics
Q: What are the standard finishes? A: Default is brushed stainless steel trims with aluminium panels on the pitching frame. Aluminium panels can be anodized or powder coated. Steel elements can be electroplated or powder coated.
Q: Can I specify custom finishes? A: Yes, any finish can be applied, but it significantly increases the price. To keep costs down, specify custom finishes only for the visible elements when the lift is at rest (top 3mm trims on service hatches, wheel stop, and pitching frame at lower landing).
Q: What is visible when the lift is at rest? A: Only the top 3mm stainless steel polished trims at upper landing service hatches and the wheel stop/pitch trim profile at lower landing (assuming stairs are extended over the lift table).
Related Products
Q: What other horizontal retracting stair products does Sesame offer? A:
- Mayfair: Like Kensington but with upper landing rising barrier (for rises >500mm)
- Knightsbridge: Horizontal retracting stairs + upper landing rising barrier + rising button post
- Regent: Horizontal retracting stairs with swing gate at upper landing
- Westminster Equality Act: Horizontal retracting stairs with 1,100mm rising barriers on the platform (for seated and standing users)
- Whitehall DDA: Horizontal retracting stairs with handrails on platform and rising barriers
- Oxford Disability: Horizontal retracting stairs with gate at upper landing and rising button post
- Cambridge Part M: Horizontal retracting stairs with gate at top landing, gate on lift, and handrails
- Paddington: Horizontal retracting stairs with U-shaped barrier on platform (staff-operated)
- Big Bend: Electric retracting stairs (require less space)
- Thames: Electric retracting stairs with electric wheel stop system (for pit depths <350mm)
Pricing & Documentation
Q: How do I get drawings and pricing? A: Provide your email address from an architectural firm. Once verified, we'll send you the relevant drawing packs and general pricing.
Q: What if I need site-specific drawings? A: After confirming feasibility and budget acceptance, we conduct a 45-minute Teams meeting to extract all necessary information, site layout, drawings, photographs, and DWGs. We then create site-specific drawings for your team and main contractors.
Q: Can these drawings be used for planning applications? A: Yes. Sesame has not been rejected for planning to date.
Q: How do I arrange a consultation? A: Book a Microsoft Teams meeting through our website. Our project managers and design team will help select the correct product, discuss all variables, and provide pricing.
Q: Has Sesame been successful with planning applications? A: Yes, Sesame Access Systems Limited has not been rejected for planning applications to date.