Section 4.2 of the Technical Handbook & Lifts (Scotland)

This handy guide to Section 4.2 (Scottish Part M) explains what this regulation is and its various implications on lifts in building projects in Scotland. Read on to learn something new! What is Section 4.2 of the Technical Handbook? Section 4.2 is the section of the Technical Handbook building regulations in Scotland that refers to the accessibility and use of buildings. Section 4.2 lists the mandatory standards that must be adhered to in the process of ensuring your building is fully accessible to all building users. It provides rules around fulfilling the requirements of providing access to a building, within a building and between storeys. Section 4.2 is only applicable in Scotland, Part M is the English equivalent. What does Section 4.2 advise about vertical circulation? Section 4.2 covers the mandatory standards that must be adhered to in the process of ensuring your building is fully accessible to all building users, either when planning a new building or when adapting an existing one, advising that vertical circulation should suit both the building and the people who'll be using it. Circulation within buildings should allow all building users, including those who require disabled access to move freely and without difficulty at all times. This can be considered and achieved at the building design stage in accordance with British Standards BS 8300 - Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people code of practice, however there are exceptions to the rule. Exceptions include building refurbishments and conversions. When converting a building, the requirements are to meet the standard ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’, with access being no worse than before (Regulation12, schedule 6 in the Technical Handbook). What type of lift does Section 4.2 recommend? Although the requirements will obviously vary considerably depending on the type of lift you are installing and the building type in which you are installing it, there are some general requirements that apply. Firstly that you carefully consider whether the type of lift you're planning to install is ‘fit for purpose’ and that ‘a building should be accessible to everyone’, whilst recognising that ‘it may not be necessary or, in some cases, reasonably practicable to provide full access to all parts of a building.’ Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that: in non-domestic buildings, safe, unassisted and convenient means of access is provided throughout the building in residential buildings, a proportion of the bedrooms must be accessible to a wheelchair user in domestic buildings, safe and convenient means of access is provided within common areas and to each dwelling in dwellings, safe and convenient means of access is provided throughout the dwelling in dwellings, unassisted means of access is provided to, and throughout, at least one level. Exceptions noted include limited access, e.g. stepped access (in a residential building such as a hotel, to accommodation unsuitable for a disabled user) or (a raised area in a public building where an equivalent service is available on a lower level) – see Standard 4.10. Typically in non-domestic buildings with two or more floors, this means is a passenger lift first and foremost and a platform lift if it is not possible due to building or usage limitations. For smaller distances a platform lift can be the first choice. What are the general requirements for lifts under Section 4.2? For both passenger and platform lifts any lifting device should be designed and installed to include the following general provisions: a clear landing at least 1.5m x 1.5m in front of any lift entrance door tactile controls on each level between 900-1100mm above the landing, within the lift car on a side wall between 900-1100mm, above the car floor and at least 400mm from any corner lift doors, handrails and controls contrast visually with surrounding surfaces landing signalling system that gives notification of the lift two-way communication, operable by a person with a hearing impairment, that allows contact with the lift if an alarm is activated, along with a visual alarm indicator. What specific guidance is there to the type of lifts I might need to install? Section 4.2 and Passenger lifts StannahPassengerLiftGenerally, unassisted access between storeys should be provided by a passenger lift, with the installation meeting the recommendations of BS EN 81-70: 2003. However in some circumstances, when altering existing buildings or within new buildings with a small storey area, it may not always be reasonably practicable to install a passenger lift which is where an enclosed platform lift can play its part. In addition to general provisions for lifting devices, a passenger lift should be provided with: automatic lift door(s) with a clear opening width of at least 800mm a lift car at least 1.1m wide by 1.4m deep a horizontal handrail located 900mm above the floor on any wall a half-height mirror on the wall facing the doors to assist a wheelchair user (except for through-cars) within the lift car, tactile control buttons and in a lift serving more than 2 storeys, visual and voice indicators of the storey reached a system to enable the adjustment of the door dwell time to suit the level of use

For more information on Section 4.2 of the Technical Handbook & Lifts (Scotland) talk to Stannah Lifts