What is a Platform Lift?

For over a hundred years now, lifts have been key to the efficient movement of people around buildings with more than two floors, or with split level flooring. In commercial buildings it is now a legal requirement that adequate provision is made for people with impaired vision or mobility, and in most cases this comes down to the installation of either a passenger or a platform lift.

What is the Difference Between a Passenger and a Platform Lift?

Passenger lifts are an excellent solution for buildings expecting heavy lift usage, due to the lift being the only way to move between floors. A typical passenger lift will carry between 3-33 people and will travel at speeds faster that 0.15m/s. This type of elevator installation requires either a legacy lift shaft, or the excavation of a new lift pit and shaft.

Platform lifts do not require a lift shaft, but they are designed to carry fewer people than the passenger lift – typically 1-5 users. The platform lift travels at speeds of 0.15m/s or less and are ideal for buildings where stairs are the normal way to access split level flooring or multiple floors. This kind of lift is normally used primarily to enhance disable access.


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What Kind of Platform Lift?

Tower Lifts provide bespoke lift installations for commercial and domestic premises across the retail, leisure, hospitality, domestic and heritage sectors. We have learnt, over the years, that no two installations will be the same, but there are a range of platform lift models that we use as our building blocks to create a unique solution:

Enclosed Vertical Platform Lifts – these lifts operate in a similar way to a passenger lift, serving up to five floors. The system installation can be either electric or hydraulic, and it utilises state-of-the-art technology for optimum performance and an excellent user experience.

Step Lift – where access is required across split level flooring, or up a short flight of steps, this open platform lift is ideal for wheelchair use. The installation can be designed to merge with the operating environment aesthetic, and the controls are DDA compliant.

Inclined Platform Lifts – if you have a straight, curved or even spiral staircase we can provide access using the inclined platform lift. These are manufactured to the highest standards, coming complete with anodised aluminium rails, airtight wiring and a special painted finish.

A Bespoke Platform Lift Solution

Whatever your platform lift requirement, the Tower Lifts design and installation team will work closely with you to determine your requirements and find the very best solution for your needs. Every single one of our lift engineers bring expertise as an installer and has years’ of experience creating bespoke platform lift installations to put at your service.


Tower Lifts carry out design and installation on a varied range of lifts throughout the UK including:

Domestic Lifts • Food Lifts • Bespoke Platform Lifts • Service Lifts • Platform Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts • Heavy Duty / Car Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • MRL Lifts • Fire lifts • Residential Lifts • low-Headroom Lifts