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Ensuring your home elevator is safe is critical, particularly for children. On August 6, 2019, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued an advisory highlighting safety concerns with the spacing between the gate and landing doors on home elevators.

The announcement addressed potential hazards due to large gaps between the elevator’s landing doors and the car’s gate. To read the full advisory, you can download the notice here.

The concern revolves around the spacing between elevator doors. Previously, the “3-inch and 5-inch Rule” governed these distances. However, experts now believe these gaps are too large and pose a risk to children.

In New Jersey, for example, the spacing standard has changed to the “¾-inch and 4-inch Rule.” Non-compliance with this standard increases the risk of serious accidents.

Home elevators are regulated by national safety codes, which are often adopted by individual states. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has revised its standards, replacing the 3-inch and 5-inch Rule with the ¾-inch and 4-inch Rule.

If you’re unsure whether your elevator meets the updated safety standards, consult a home elevator professional to inspect your system. They can identify potential risks and recommend solutions to minimize the space gap.

If you’re building a new home, ensure that your elevator installation complies with the updated code (¾-inch and 4-inch Rule).

A professional assessment is essential to determine the best solution. Common options include:

• Door Build-Outs: Attachments installed on the back of the door to reduce the gap to a safe size. This requires precise sizing and dimension verification.
• Moving Landing Doors: Adjusting existing landing doors so they sit closer to the landing sill edge.

Safety is paramount. A home elevator must be safe for all occupants, especially children. Ignoring these safety guidelines could lead to severe accidents.

Yes: If the portable lift is configured for unassisted operation, it must comply with ASME A18.1 safety standards, as it functions like a vertical platform lift. ADA requires unassisted access, so portable lifts should not be exempt from safety compliance. The term "portable" refers to equipment easily moved but not permanently fixed, and reputable manufacturers produce portable lifts that meet safety standards.

No: Some jurisdictions (AHJ) may not require permits or inspections for portable lifts. However, sellers and installers remain liable for compliance with codes and standards, even without inspection. If the lift causes an accident or violates ADA requirements, liability may fall entirely on the contractor or seller, often beyond insurance coverage.

To ensure safety and compliance, choose lifts from reputable manufacturers that meet ASME A18.1 standards and avoid cutting corners to reduce costs.

Yes, you can buy a stairway chair lift online, but it often leads to unforeseen costs and challenges. While online shopping is convenient, purchasing lifts directly from websites or platforms like eBay can result in improper fits, installation issues, and limited support. Complex installations, such as for curved or outdoor stairways, require professional expertise.

Self-installed lifts may not comply with safety standards like ASME A18.1 and NFPA 70, and repairs can be costly if local contractors don’t support the equipment. The Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (AEMA) advises against online purchases due to safety and code compliance concerns.

Hiring a trained, certified local accessibility contractor ensures proper installation, adherence to safety standards, and ongoing support. Local dealers can provide expert guidance, stock parts, and back up manufacturer warranties, offering a reliable and stress-free experience. Spending more upfront for professional installation often saves money and hassle in the long run.

Yes, you can buy a vertical platform lift (VPL) online, but doing so without professional guidance can lead to non-compliance and safety issues. A lift installed in Florida without permits or inspections exemplifies this problem—it was falsely labeled as "portable" to bypass regulations and lacked required safety features like platform and landing gates.

Online sellers may not inform buyers about permits, inspections, and compliance with standards like ASME A18.1 and ICC/ANSI A117.1. Proper installation also requires addressing structural, safety, and usability standards, which demand expertise.

Hiring a qualified local accessibility contractor ensures code-compliant installation, permits, inspections, ongoing maintenance, and liability coverage. Mislabeling a lift as "portable" does not exempt it from compliance if installed on an accessible route. For public accommodations, adherence to ADA and state laws is mandatory.

Inclined Platform Lifts (IPLs) and Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs) are legal and recognized by the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) as part of an accessible route in existing buildings. They are permitted in new construction only under very limited circumstances.