Requirements for Adding a Stair Lift to Your Home

According to the CDC, falls among individuals over 65 are a growing public health problem. Fortunately, home modifications like stair lifts reduce the likelihood of dangerous falls. 

Many individuals that consider adding a stair lift wonder if their homes are fit for a stair lift. Since stair lift installation is not as invasive as other home accessibility measures, it’s likely that your home can easily accommodate the device. 

Understanding these stair lift installation requirements makes shopping for a stair lift a much easier process. 

Read on to learn about stair lift requirements.

Requirements for Adding a Stair Lift to Your Home

There are several factors at play when it comes to the addition of a stair lift. 

Type of Building and Stair Lift 

The first to consider is the type of building and type of stair lift. Residential buildings allow indoor and outdoor stair lifts. Commercial buildings have stricter regulations. The chart below summarizes the criteria.  

	Residential	Commercial
Indoor Stair Lift	Yes. This is the most common type.	It depends. The building and the lift must meet regulatory codes.
Outdoor Stair Lift	Yes. Arrow Lift offers units made specifically for outdoor use.	No. Outdoor commercial stair lifts are not approved.

Physical Space

Another important thing to consider is the space available. The chair is attached to a rail that follows the path from top landing to bottom landing. This rail is then attached directly onto the stair treads. With standard stair lifts, there must be room for this rail to extend past the bottom landing so that you can safely exit the chair. 

See: What will a stair lift cost me?

The amount of space needed depends on the staircase, but we can offer an estimate for this stair lift requirement. Light and medium-duty stair lifts need about 24 inches beyond the bottom step, while heavy-duty models require around 30 inches.

Available space at the bottom of the stairs also impacts what features are needed on the lift. For instance, a folding (retractable) rail might be necessary if there is a door or hallway located perpendicular to the staircase to avoid a tripping hazard.

Another option, if you don’t have a lot of room at the top or the bottom of your staircase, would be to select a curved rail stair lift. This would allow the chair to be parked around the corner and away from the staircase. 

Staircase Width

Most staircases are wide enough to accommodate a stair lift. All stair lifts can fit on a standard 36-inch wide staircase. Certain heavy-duty models might require the removal of a handrail to fit.

For narrow staircases, light-duty models will likely fit, but there are some rare cases in which there is not enough room for a stair lift to operate. Generally, a heavy-duty stair lift will not fit on a narrow staircase.
The best way to determine the stair lift installation requirements for your specific staircase is to schedule a home appointment.

Electrical Availability

There are also stair lift electrical requirements to consider. Stair lifts are powered on batteries that need to charge continually. As such, the stair lift must be located relatively close to a standard power outlet.

Power cord length varies depending on the stair lift model, running from 8 to 20 feet long. If the nearest outlet is not close enough, an electrician can add one closer to the staircase. However, this is an uncommon occurrence.

Not All Situations Are Ideal for Stair Lift Installation

At Arrow Lift, we have over 35 years of experience installing stair lifts. We have worked with unique staircases to deliver accessibility solutions to our clients. We recognize when a certain situation is not well suited for a stair lift. 

See: Get a free consultation for a stair chair lift installation.

In some cases, transferring a user from a wheelchair to the stair lift regularly is not feasible. In this situation, a home elevator is a better solution. Weight limits also play a role in stair lift requirements, which you can learn more about here. A physical limitation such as a joint issue that makes bending knees difficult would not be ideal for a standard style seat of a stair lift, but there might be other options available.  Feel free to consider stair lift alternatives to find a solution that fits your criteria.

Find the Stair Lift that Fits Your Home and Your Needs

We hope that you found these stair lift requirements useful and informative. Arrow Lift is dedicated to providing individuals with reliable and high-quality mobility solutions that fit seamlessly in their homes. Our many customer reviews are a result of our commitment to integrity and excellence.  

In addition to installing the stair lift you choose, we also offer maintenance and repair services for all of our clients. 

Contact us now to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation, and learn more about how a stair lift can be added to your home.