Planning a handicap-accessible elevator: Standards, dimensions, and solutions
A handicap-accessible elevator is much more than just “a lift that fits a wheelchair.” It must enable people with limited mobility to use it independently, safely, and intuitively—from entry and operation to exit. This is precisely why there are clear standards and planning principles such as DIN 18040 and DIN EN 81-70 for passenger elevators, as well as EN 81-40 and EN 81-41 for stair and platform lifts.
Lehner Lifttechnik develops and supplies suitable solutions for this: from wheelchair lifts and platform stairlifts to vertical platform lifts such as Sigma, Elevex, or the Liftboy series, which are specifically designed for people with limited mobility.
- What does “handicap-accessible elevator” actually mean?
- Standards & Requirements: DIN 18040, EN 81-70, and EN 81-41
- Areas of Application: Public buildings, residential construction, and detached houses
- Handicap-accessible elevator with a platform lift – when a classic elevator doesn’t fit
- Key features of a handicap-accessible elevator
- Planning in practice: How Lehner Lifttechnik supports you
- Conclusion: Combining technical standards with everyday suitability
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about “handicap-accessible elevators”
What does “handicap-accessible elevator” actually mean?
The term “handicap-accessible” is not precisely protected by law, but in the elevator sector, it is mostly used when an elevator is designed so that people with disabilities can use it in the usual way, without particular difficulty, and generally without outside help. This is exactly the goal formulated by barrier-free building regulations such as DIN 18040 for buildings and apartments.
For elevators, this specifically means:
- A wheelchair can enter and turn without maneuvering acrobatics.
- Door widths, cabin dimensions, and load capacity are designed for wheelchairs and accompanying persons.
- Control elements are accessible and understandable at sitting and standing heights.
- There are visual and acoustic signals as well as tactile information.
In practice, one speaks of a “handicap-accessible elevator” if at least the requirements for a barrier-free elevator according to DIN EN 81-70 and the corresponding references in DIN 18040 are met—or if platform lifts according to EN 81-40 / EN 81-41 are tailored to this target group.
Standards & Requirements: DIN 18040, EN 81-70, and EN 81-41
Three groups of standards form the foundation for handicap-accessible elevators and platform lifts.
DIN 18040: Barrier-free construction
DIN 18040-1 (publicly accessible buildings) and 18040-2 (apartments) define when a building is considered barrier-free. For multi-story buildings, the standard requires, among other things, that at least one elevator is dimensioned such that it can accommodate a wheelchair and an accompanying person and is accessible without steps from all barrier-free areas.
DIN EN 81-70: Accessibility of passenger elevators
The EN 81-70 standard describes how a handicap-accessible passenger elevator must be designed:
| Requirement | Details (Type 2 – Standard New Construction) |
|---|---|
| Cabin dimensions | approx. 1100 × 1400 mm |
| Clear door width | min. 900 mm |
| Capacity | 1 person in a wheelchair + accompanying person |
| Control elements | approx. 90–110 cm height, tactile / Braille |
| Signals | Acoustic & visual floor indicator |
| Equipment | Handrails, slip-resistant flooring, contrasts |
EN 81-40 and EN 81-41: Stair and platform lifts
Stair and platform lifts—the typical products from Lehner—are legally considered “machines” and fall under different standards:
- EN 81-40: Stairlifts and inclined platform lifts
- EN 81-41 / ÖNORM EN 81-41: Vertical platform lifts for persons with limited mobility
They regulate, among other things, safety (emergency stop, crush protection, fall protection, emergency lowering), platform sizes for different wheelchair types, load capacity, railings, doors, and operation.
Areas of Application: Public buildings, residential construction, and detached houses
Standards and guides distinguish between three typical fields of application for handicap-accessible elevators:
Publicly accessible buildings
In government offices, medical practices, educational, and cultural buildings, strict requirements according to DIN 18040-1 and EN 81-70 apply—including at least one Type 2 elevator or larger.
Multi-family houses and residential complexes
Barrier-free accessibility of apartments, especially in age-appropriate or assisted living—often as a combination of a passenger elevator in the stairwell and supplementary platform lifts in individual areas.
Detached houses and small properties
Here, “handicap-accessible elevator” is often interpreted more broadly and includes home lifts, vertical platform lifts, and platform stairlifts.
Particularly in the private sector, platform lifts are often the more economically sensible alternative to a classic passenger elevator—with comparable daily benefits for wheelchair users.
Handicap-accessible elevator with a platform lift – when a classic elevator doesn’t fit
A conventional passenger elevator according to EN 81-70 is not always the optimal solution: limited space in the stairwell, high structural effort (shaft, pit, machine room), and often disproportionately complex when retrofitting in existing buildings. This is where platform lifts from Lehner Lifttechnik come in.
Planning a handicap-accessible elevator or platform lift?
Send us photos or plans of your installation situation—we will advise you on the best solution together with a regional partner.
Key features of a handicap-accessible elevator
Regardless of whether it is a classic passenger elevator or a platform lift: a truly handicap-accessible system is characterized by certain features established in standards such as EN 81-70 and EN 81-40/41.
| Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Cabin/platform size | Space for a wheelchair including turning movement and, if necessary, an accompanying person (e.g., 1100 × 1400 mm according to EN 81-70 Type 2) |
| Low-barrier access | Entry and exit as threshold-free as possible, adapted ramps for platform lifts |
| Control elements | Ergonomic height (approx. 90–110 cm), clearly labeled, tactile, and with Braille if required |
| Signals | Visual and acoustic floor indicator, direction of travel, door closing processes |
| Safety | Emergency stop, crush protection, fall protection, emergency lowering, emergency call system |
| Lighting & handrails | Good orientation even for people with visual or balance impairments |
Planning in practice: How Lehner Lifttechnik supports you
A “handicap-accessible elevator” is always an individual project. Standards provide the framework—how this can be implemented in your building is best clarified together with experts.
Step by step to a handicap-accessible elevator
- Needs analysis: Who uses the lift? Which levels need to be accessed?
- Assessment of the installation situation: Photos, dimensions, plans of stairs, landings, or shafts
- Standard-compliant system selection: Alignment with EN 81-40/41, suitable platform sizes, and load capacity
- Integration and design planning: Integration into architecture, weather protection, coordination with the client
- Installation & Service: Professional installation, instruction, and regular maintenance
This is how a handicap-accessible elevator system is created step by step, meeting both technical standards and the practical requirements of your everyday life.
Conclusion: Combining technical standards with everyday suitability
A “handicap-accessible elevator” is not a marketing label, but the result of clear standards (DIN 18040, EN 81-70, EN 81-40/41), well-thought-out planning of dimensions, operation, and safety, as well as a design tailored to people with limited mobility.
In many projects—especially in existing buildings, smaller buildings, or detached houses—platform lifts from Lehner Lifttechnik are the key to handicap-accessible access without the complexity of a classic passenger elevator:
- Platform stairlifts for existing stairs
- Vertical platform lifts such as Sigma, StepSaver or Liftboy for entrance situations, raised ground floors and multiple levels
- Expert planning and service supplemented by experienced partners
If you are planning a handicap-accessible elevator or platform lift, early coordination is worthwhile—so that standard requirements, architecture, and everyday practice fit together from the start.
All information in this article is for non-binding information only and is provided without guarantee; for further information, please contact Lehner Lifttechnik directly.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about “handicap-accessible elevators”
“Barrier-free” is clearly defined in standards such as DIN 18040 and, for elevators, refers to minimum requirements according to EN 81-70 (e.g., elevator Type 2). “Handicap-accessible” is not a protected legal term, but is commonly used when an elevator meets these or comparable requirements and is specifically designed for people with limited mobility—for example, regarding cabin dimensions, door width, control elements, and safety functions.
For new buildings with barrier-free requirements, elevator Type 2 according to EN 81-70 is usually required: approx. 1100 mm width × 1400 mm depth and 900 mm door width—space for one person in a wheelchair and an accompanying person. For vertical platform lifts, EN 81-41 specifies comparable platform sizes for different wheelchair types (e.g., 900 × 1400 mm or larger).
Legally, slow-moving platform lifts (up to 0.15 m/s) are subject to the Machinery Directive and standards EN 81-40/41, while classic passenger elevators are subject to the Lift Directive. Technically and in everyday life, however, vertical platform lifts can provide equivalent barrier-free access—for example, as handicap-accessible access to house entrances, raised ground floors, or multiple floors when a passenger elevator is not structurally or economically feasible.
For accessible applications, the following Lehner systems are particularly suitable: vertical platform lifts such as Sigma for indoor and outdoor use, Liftboy lifting platforms for smaller height differences, as well as platform stairlifts for straight and curved staircases when a shaft lift is not possible.
Which variant is sensible for your project can be most reliably clarified in a personal consultation and planning discussion.