Sesame Access Systems Limited was contacted by the Institute of Civil Engineers to install a wheelchair access system that would be compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act / Equality Act 2010 in a listed building.
The system was to allow wheelchair users to gain entrance to the building over the stairs leading from the street into to a reception area and then over a further short rise set of stairs within the building.
The unique engineering concept of the Sesame Disabled Access System provided the necessary blend of professionalism and functionality.
A two part solution was installed in order to provide disabled access over both sets of stairs. A six step wheelchair lift was installed at the external entrance of the building, providing easy access to the reception area. It was clad in limestone to weather and fully blend with the pre-existing surroundings. The gaps bounding the moving parts and static area measure just 6mm. The control button box rises from below the stair lift when the stairs retract.
For the internal rise of stairs, a five step wheelchair lift was installed, this time clad in marble to match the internal decor. A swinging gate was fitted rather than a rising barrier at the client’s request.
In much the same way as the external wheelchair platform lift, the internal lift makes use of a rising control button box. When the system is in stair mode for pedestrian use, the box is fitted into the wall, making the lift completely anonymous when not in use.