Different configurations need different support.

Platform lifts provide access across a change in level. The equipment may look very different from one building to another, and it should be identified before a maintenance or repair approach is agreed.

  • Vertical platform lifts: travel straight up and down. They include short-rise arrangements and enclosed installations serving multiple landings.
  • Inclined platform lifts: follow a staircase, with a platform intended to accommodate a wheelchair and its user.

These are distinct from a chair-type stairlift and a conventional passenger lift. Controls vary: many platform lifts require continuous pressure on the travel button, while other arrangements differ. Follow the instructions for the actual model.

The entrance, usable platform space, rated load and operating method all matter. A wheelchair or scooter fitting through the doorway does not, on its own, establish that the installation is suitable for it.

Protect reliable access with planned maintenance.

The maintenance plan should reflect the manufacturer’s guidance, the equipment’s condition, frequency of use and environment. Tell us if the lift is outdoors, used heavily or provides the only practical access to part of the building.

Depending on the design, attention may include landing doors or gates, locking devices, controls, drive equipment and the platform’s protective edges. Battery, charging and emergency arrangements also need consideration where fitted. These are examples, not a universal servicing checklist.

Door protection is especially important. HSE’s platform-lift safety bulletin describes serious risks from poor maintenance and interference with door locks. Safety devices must not be bypassed to keep a lift running.

Forge can discuss planned maintenance, with a clear record of the visit and any follow-up work. Routine site checks should follow the equipment instructions and be undertaken by appropriately competent people.

Report changes before they become recurring disruption.

Doors that become difficult to close, travel that stops unexpectedly, uneven stopping at a landing or repeated fault messages are useful details to report. Tell us when the problem occurs and whether it affects one landing or every journey. Avoid repeatedly resetting equipment to work around a fault.

We can investigate the installation and explain the proposed repair, including whether further checks or parts are needed. One-off repair enquiries are welcome; send the make and model so we can confirm support.

Where ageing components or repeated breakdowns affect availability, a condition assessment can help distinguish a repair from a wider improvement. Any proposed change needs to suit the existing equipment and the users’ access needs.

If someone is unable to leave the lift, use the installed help system and the site’s assistance arrangements. Do not force doors or attempt an improvised rescue.

Plan the site arrangements as well as the engineering.

Before attendance, discuss access to the equipment, the expected work window and how people will reach the areas they need while the lift is unavailable. A repair plan should account for users, staff and visitors as well as the equipment itself.

Maintenance is separate from thorough examination. The relevant duties depend on how the lift is provided and used; a platform lift is not automatically outside safety responsibilities because members of the public use it. HSE explains the distinction between workplace and other use.

Forge can help arrange independent examinations or introduce a provider directly. We do not perform LOLER examinations in-house. Keep maintenance records, examination reports and outstanding recommendations together so that the next steps are clear.

Start with your installation

What to send us.

  • Site postcode, make, model and equipment identification number, if available.
  • Vertical or inclined arrangement, floors served and rated capacity.
  • Fault messages, symptoms, service history and examination reports.
  • Who depends on the lift, alternative access and arrangements for attendance.

Existing reports and photographs from safe, accessible areas are useful. You do not need to open equipment or enter a lift shaft to make an enquiry.

Send an enquiry

Before you call

Common questions.

Do you support every platform lift?

Support is assessed from the make, model, configuration and available technical information. Send those details first. We’ll confirm whether we can assist and whether an initial assessment is needed before proposing work.

Is a platform lift serviced like a passenger lift?

Both need appropriate care, but the equipment and operating arrangements differ. The visit content and frequency should suit the actual installation. A platform lift’s slower speed or lower usage does not remove the need to look after its safety devices.

Can a service visit replace the examination?

No. Maintenance and thorough examination serve different purposes and produce different records. We can discuss servicing alongside separate independent examination arrangements, without treating one appointment as a substitute for the other.

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