Delivering major turnkey lift upgrade in Midlands School

Stannah Lifts has carried out a turnkey access project on behalf of Hall Green Secondary School, a co-educational Academy in Birmingham with a reputation for inclusion. The Stannah Lifts team was responsible for removing and replacing four lifts with a Maxilift MRC passenger lift and three Midlift platform lifts. Stannah liaised with Hall Green Secondary School directly in this turnkey project, managing the removal of existing lifts and builders work to enable the installation of new Stannah lifts, whilst working as the principal contractor in compliance with CDM 2007. The project was designed to maximise the movement of nearly 900 pupils, some with physical disabilities, between two levels in various areas of the school campus. All the lifts were installed during term breaks to minimise disruption. Sited in the main teaching block, the 8-person Maxilift MRC passenger lift is a wall-mounted, single-entry model operating hydraulically between two floors over a distance of 3635mm. The motor room cabinet (MRC) is located several metres away, meaning the lift shaft can be smaller and the installation more cost-effective. The car interior is finished in a vandal-resistant, rigidised stainless steel, with a studded, black vinyl floor and silver half-height mirror to complete the aesthetic. The lift is also supplied with evacuation controls so the lift can be used in an emergency to vacate the school premises, this requirement is contained in BS9999:2008 which covers Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. A Midilift XLplus vertical platform lift operates between two floors over a distance of 3600mm within the stairwell in the main reception area. Finished in light grey vinyl skin plate it features a powered panoramic fully glazed doors, two handrails and intercom. A Midilift SL vertical platform lift operates in the Science and ICT block between two floors over a distance of 3560mm. Finished in light grey vinyl skin plate the lift features a panoramic fully glazed door, one hand rail, light grey vinyl floor and intercom. A Midilift SL vertical platform lift operates between floor and stage level in the hall over a distance of 890mm. To minimise the lift’s profile, the surrounds and interior are finished in RAL7021 black, with a light grey vinyl floor, handrail and intercom. At ground-level a ramp removes the need for a pit and the car is accessed via a full-height, fully glazed door. At stage level the door is half-height with a glazed panel. All three Stannah Midilifts were supplied in a self-supporting structure for cost-effective, easy installation. The Midilift XLplus is automatically operated whilst the Midilift SL models are manually operated. School Business Manager, Brendan Campbell comments: “We’re all pleased with the lifts and it really makes a difference to our wheelchair-using pupils; they really appreciate having something new and modern rather than their out-of-date counterparts. Stannah also upgraded the main passenger lift to an evacuation lift – something we’ve been wanting for ten years! It was largely the enthusiasm, knowledge and understanding of our needs that swayed us towards Stannah in the first place. It’s been a real positive project for us and everyone at Stannah has played a part in this – we’re happy we went with Stannah.” All four Stannah lifts meet all regulations and directives and help Hall Green Secondary School meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. A full range of optional features and finishes is available for all lift products which alsomeet the requirements of all relevant standards. They are serviced by the West Midlands & Mid Wales branch of Stannah Lift Services, part of a nationwide network providing 24 hour, 365 days a year support.

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