What is the Victoria Chair Lift?
The Victoria Chair Lift is a vertical set of retracting stairs that transform into a platform lift for seated users. It includes a protective toe guard around the platform and is designed for buildings where a hidden, space-efficient accessibility solution is required.
What is the difference between the Victoria Chair Lift and the Buckingham Lift?
Both lifts use vertical retracting stairs, but the Buckingham Lift uses a rising barrier that lifts up through the upper landing to protect the opening created when the stairs retract.
The Victoria Chair Lift instead uses a gate at the upper landing, which can be manual or automatic.
Why would I choose a gate instead of a rising barrier?
A gate is used when there is insufficient space under the upper landing to accommodate the rising barrier mechanism. A gate requires less depth beneath the landing and is therefore suitable for tighter structural conditions.
What are the pit depth requirements?
For rises up to 620 mm, the minimum pit depth is 770 mm. For rises above 620 mm, the pit depth increases by the same amount as the additional rise. A 30 mm cladding allowance is required. Pit-depth rules are similar to the Buckingham Lift, with small dimensional differences.
Does the Victoria Chair Lift offer both manual and automatic gate options?
Yes, the Victoria Chair Lift can be supplied with either a manual or automatic gate at the upper landing. Each option has different space requirements behind the top step riser.
How much space is needed behind the top step riser for a manual gate?
A manual gate typically requires a riser wall build-up of around 45 mm (including cladding and bedding). The gate mechanism usually sits approximately 242 mm behind the top step riser and has a depth of around 130 mm. The width of this area varies depending on the glass width specified for the gate.
How much space is needed for an automatic gate?
An automatic gate normally requires a deeper pit behind the top step riser, typically around 660 mm back from the riser and approximately 748 mm deep. The mechanism width is usually fixed at around 690 mm.
Can the pit depth for the automatic gate be reduced?
Yes, Sesame Access can design reduced-profile automatic gate systems if the project requires a shallower pit. This must be reviewed during the design process.
What are the machinery and power requirements?
The Victoria Chair Lift uses a standard 10-metre cable route from the control cabinet to the lift, longer lengths can be accommodate by special design. Where possible, the machinery location should be indoors.
Can the Victoria Chair Lift be installed outdoors?
Yes, it can be installed externally. The main contractor must ensure adequate drainage, and the lift can be clad in any suitable material to match the surrounding architecture.
Do the stairs need equal tread depths and riser heights?
Yes. All vertical retracting stair systems require equal treads and risers. If a staircase has varying tread or riser dimensions, the correct product is the Wellington Lift.
What is the maximum travel for the Victoria Chair Lift?
The Victoria Chair Lift is designed for travels up to 1 metre. Above this, enclosures up to a height of 1100mm on the platform become mandatory, and alternative products should be used.
Can the Victoria Chair Lift support standing users?
No, it is a seated-user platform lift. The toe guard fully surrounds the platform during travel. If both standing and seated users need to be accommodated, consider the Seattle ADA Lift.
What other vertical retracting stair lifts are available?
Sesame offers a full family of vertical retracting stair lifts, including:
Buckingham Lift
Wellington Lift
Edinburgh Access Lift
Pimlico Lift
Seattle ADA Lift
Why choose vertical retracting stairs instead of a horizontal retracting staircase?
Vertical retracting stairs only require space directly beneath the upper landing. Horizontal retracting systems need lateral space under the staircase, which is not always available. Vertical systems are ideal when structural steels or heritage constraints limit available space.
Is the Victoria Chair Lift suitable for heritage buildings?
Yes. This style of lift is commonly used in listed buildings because it hides completely within the staircase and preserves the original architecture. For example, here is our vertically retracting stairs installed at the front door of the Bank of England https://www.sesameaccess.com/v...
Does the lift require a fire-rated shaft?
No. It is an open platform lift and does not sit inside a fire-rated lift shaft.
Can a battery backup system be added?
Yes. A UPS system can return the lift to stair mode during a power failure. However, it does not allow the lift to be used for evacuation; a separate evacuation plan is required for wheelchair users.
Is the Victoria Chair Lift suitable for wheelchair users?
Yes. Wheelchair users can travel while seated. The surrounding toe guard and the gate ensure safe operation during travel.