Accessibility solutions for your home
If you are considering installing a stairlift, platform lift or home lift, you probably have questions. Below are clear answers to the most common ones. If yours is not here, call us on 609 314 500 and we will be glad to help.
Stairlift FAQs
What is a stairlift and what is it for?
Stairlifts are seats or platforms that travel along a rail anchored to the staircase. They can be fitted to virtually any staircase, they are safe and easy to use, they do not block other users of the stairs, and they offer a wide range of customisation options.
A stairlift carries a person up and down the stairs at the touch of a button — and can move small items too. In short, it is a motorised seat running on a rail, powered by rechargeable batteries.
What types of stairlift are there?
At Farré we classify stairlifts by the type of staircase.
We offer straight stairlifts such as the HomeGlide, and curved stairlifts such as the FlowX.
How wide does the staircase need to be for a stairlift?
The minimum width is 680 mm for straight staircases (not counting the space for the user’s bent knees) and around 750 mm for curved ones (reducible to 605 mm in some cases).
Before installing your stairlift we assess your staircase and confirm the feasibility of the installation.
What is the maximum weight a stairlift can carry?
The load capacity of the HomeGlide stairlift for straight staircases is 127 kg, and can reach 138 kg.
The load capacity of the Flow X stairlift for curved staircases is 125 kg.
Can I customise my stairlift?
Yes — our stairlifts come in a variety of upholstery finishes and rail colours so the lift blends in with your home as much as possible.
What happens to my stairlift during a power cut?
Our stairlifts can keep running temporarily on battery power, letting you reach your destination — the next floor — or return to the starting point.
Can a stairlift be installed outdoors?
Of course. The HomeGlide Outdoor stairlift combines all the features of the standard indoor HomeGlide with weather-resistant finishes.
How much electricity does a stairlift use?
Stairlift motors draw very little power and most models run on batteries, so the real consumption is simply the battery charge — similar to a household appliance on standby.
Does the staircase need any building work before fitting a stairlift?
No — as a rule no building work is needed. In any case, during the visit we will advise you and work out the best route for the rail.
How is the rail fixed in place?
The rail sits on brackets fixed to the steps, using the appropriate fixing for each type of staircase (metal, marble, granite, wood, etc.).
How fast does a stairlift travel?
It depends on the model, but speeds range between 0.10 and 0.15 m/s — the maximum allowed by regulations.
Platform lift FAQs
What is a platform stairlift?
A platform stairlift provides greater freedom of movement and removes architectural barriers that often limit wheelchair users, carrying the person — and the wheelchair — safely along the staircase.
Platform design aims to minimise the space taken up on the staircase. They are ergonomic and functional, with folding models that leave the stairs clear when not in use.
Platform lifts are ergonomic and practical, and there are solutions that can be installed both indoors and outdoors.
What types of platform stairlift are there?
At Farré we classify platform stairlifts by the type of staircase.
We offer straight platform lifts such as the Supra Straight, and curved ones such as the Supra Curve.
Straight platform stairlifts are the best option for overcoming architectural barriers on straight flights of stairs, with no turns or changes of gradient.
Curved platform stairlifts are the answer where accessibility has to be guaranteed in any kind of building. They are designed to handle curves and changes of gradient.
How wide does the staircase need to be for a stairlift?
The recommended minimum width is 1.20 m; in any case, before installing we assess your staircase and confirm feasibility.
What is the maximum load of a platform stairlift?
The load capacity of the Supra Línea platform stairlift varies with the gradient. It can carry 325 kg at gradients of 0° to 35°, and 250 kg at gradients of 36° to 45°.
The load capacity of the Supra platform stairlift for curved flights is 300 kg at gradients of 0° to 30°, 250 kg at gradients of 31° to 35°, or 190 kg at gradients of 36° to 45°.
Can you travel standing on the platform?
For safety we recommend travelling seated, avoiding contact with the protective arms. Users who do not use a wheelchair but need support can add a fold-down seat.
What safety features do platform stairlifts have?
Our platform lifts feature active and passive safety devices; the Supra Curve is currently one of the safest platform lifts on the market.
Can a platform stairlift be installed outdoors?
Of course. The Supra Straight and Supra Curve platform lifts are fully suitable for outdoor use, with weather-resistant finishes.
How much electricity does a platform stairlift use?
Consumption is low. Battery-powered models only need a 24V supply, and the batteries recharge automatically at the charging points.
Does the staircase need building work before fitting a platform stairlift?
In most cases they are fitted directly onto the stairs or secured to a wall, avoiding building work — which also saves time and cost.
How is the rail fixed in place?
The platform rail can be fixed to the wall (provided it is strong enough) or to the floor using brackets on the steps.
How fast does a platform stairlift travel?
It depends on the model, but speeds range from 0.07 m/s to 0.13 m/s on straight sections with the higher-speed version.
Home lift FAQs
What is a home lift?
A lift is a vertical transport system designed to move people or goods between the floors of a building — the most comfortable everyday accessibility solution for multi-storey homes.
What types of lift are there?
There are several types of lift for different needs: electric lifts are common in residential and commercial buildings, while hydraulic lifts suit low-rise buildings and single-family homes.
Do you need to wait for the Industry Department’s authorisation before starting up a new lift?
Filing the Responsible Declaration entitles the owner of an installation covered by industrial safety regulations to bring it into service immediately, without prejudice to any other authorisations required for the activity of which the installation forms part.
Obtaining the RITSIC registration number is not a precondition: the lift can operate once the Responsible Declaration has been filed.
Is a lift maintenance contract mandatory?
Yes — regulations require owners to hold a maintenance contract with a duly registered and authorised lift company.
Is an in-car telephone mandatory in existing lifts?
Regulations require this communication system in existing lifts in buildings with temporary daily occupancy; a maximum of one year is allowed from the periodic inspection that flags it.
A maximum of one year from the date of the periodic inspection is allowed for this, where the inspection body so specifies.
Do lifts in single-family homes need official servicing and inspections?
Yes — owners of lifts in single-family homes must also hold a maintenance contract with a registered company, which carries out the mandatory servicing.
What is a periodic inspection?
It is the mandatory statutory inspection that lift owners must arrange with an authorised Control Body within the legal deadlines.
The inspection is performed by a qualified engineer from the Control Body, accompanied by a technician from the maintenance company.
A formal report is drawn up for each inspection, recording the outcome — either a pass, or a list of the defects found, the deadline for putting them right and the date of the next inspection.
How often must lifts pass their periodic inspections?
Every 2 years in industrial and public-access buildings; every 4 years in residential buildings with more than twenty homes; every 6 years in all other cases.
In buildings with more than twenty dwellings, or serving more than four floors, lifts must undergo a periodic inspection every 4 years.
In buildings not covered by the above, lifts must undergo a periodic inspection every 6 years.
Must the landings in front of the lift doors be permanently lit?
Regulations require sufficient permanent lighting on the landings in front of the lift doors, whether natural or artificial.
This lighting must provide at least 50 lux at floor level.
Lift owners must therefore put in place the means to ensure this lighting is both adequate and permanent.
Can the car lighting be switched off or dimmed?
The car lighting may be switched off or dimmed provided the following conditions are met:
For all lifts:
1. Opening the landing door immediately switches the normal lighting back on:
2. If the car starts a journey and stops abnormally outside the unlocking zone of any landing door, the switch-off or dimming system must be disabled and the car must remain permanently lit with its normal lighting until the lift is returned to service.
For lifts with power-operated landing doors:
1. The lighting may be switched off or dimmed while the car is parked at a floor with the landing door closed
For lifts with manually operated landing doors:
1. Sin mirillas transparentes
The lighting may be switched off or dimmed while the car is parked at a floor with the landing door closed, provided that the presence of the car behind the door is indicated by an illuminated signal that can only come on when the car is about to stop, or has stopped, at that floor. That signal must stay lit for as long as the car remains at that floor.
2. With one or more transparent vision panels.
The lighting may be dimmed while the car is parked at a floor with the landing door closed, provided the level of dimming still makes it possible to tell, before opening the door, whether or not the car is behind it.