Tips on how to make your community more accessible

Over the last few decades, lifts have become one of the most widely used means of transport in the world, making it a totally mass medium. Moreover, it is a means of transport that uses one of the most planet-friendly technologies. However, there are aspects that need to be taken into account in neighbourhood communities, such as the lack of accessibility in some buildings. If you are looking for a way to improve accessibility in your community, in this article you will find all the solutions for vertical transport that Hidral can provide to your building.

What is accessibility in the community?

Accessibility in buildings, especially in neighbourhood communities, is a requirement that aims to improve the movement and inclusive use of all common areas. This condition helps to achieve real autonomy and greater safety for all those who have a limitation and/or disability.

Since 4 December 2017, all buildings have to ensure a fully accessible environment for all people. However, more than half of the buildings in Spain do not have a lift or are not fully accessible and, if we add to this fact the ageing of the Spanish population, we quickly grasp the importance of vertical mobility as an imminent requirement.

Accessibility provides greater quality of life and safety for residents, significantly improves their market value and, as a consequence, their property value. Improving the accessibility of the lift or removing architectural barriers is more than necessary and can be less costly than it may seem. Adaptation in terms of accessibility is a legal obligation, but also a social obligation.

How to improve your community of neighbours?

With the advance of technology and society, some measures have been created to address this need, such as the existence of annual, state or local grants and subsidies. The awareness of society and the financing of some lift companies, such as Hidral. There are many accessibility options that can be implemented in buildings that provide safety, versatility and quality. Here are some of the products offered by this company to facilitate accessibility in the common areas of residential buildings.

Stair lifts

This is one of the best alternatives for improving and overcoming architectural barriers at low heights, as they help to easily overcome different levels. It is a fully adapted base that, attached to an axle, allows people to go up and down to avoid flights of stairs or unevenness.

This platform is compact and takes up very little space when not in use, as it folds into the wall to leave enough room for passage. In addition, they are made of safe materials that can easily support the weight of a person in a wheelchair.

Vertical platforms

On the one hand, we can find the vertical platform with an open gap. This mechanism is designed to overcome small unevennesses and to guarantee access to both public and private buildings. In addition, it does not require pits and allows boarding at 180 and 90 degrees. Its accessibility provides more autonomy to the user compared to other types of solutions. This model requires less space for access as it has automatic vertical displacement protections at the bottom.

On the other hand, there is the PH400 vertical platform, the best option when it is necessary to pass two levels no more than four metres apart, there is no possibility of making a pit for a lift, the height is reduced and the user has reduced mobility.

Accessible lifts

This is one of the most robust options, as they are designed for large routes with several floors to be served or stops. It is one of the best solutions to implement when a building is more than three storeys high and does not have a lift. These lifts must weigh between 450 and 800 kilos and their speed must be 0.6 metres per second. Furthermore, their doors must be automatic and sliding, the lighting must be adequate and the lift button panel must also include characters in Braille, in relief and chromatically contrasted.

Hidral helps you to eliminate barriers in your homeowners' association

Hidral takes care of everything so that your community does not have to worry about anything. Our catalogue of products will help you to have a completely accessible service thanks to the elimination of architectural barriers in your community. Our specialists will study your case in detail and will provide you with competitive prices through our own manufactured products.