There’s a few heavy duty stairlift considerations to take onboard if you’re after one. Firstly you will need to take the weight of the user. This measurement needs to be very exact because stairlifts are calibrated for certain weight limits. The Stannah 600 is calibrated to take up to 25 stone. The Platinum Ultimate heavy weight stairlift can take a similar weight limit. The Bruno heavy duty stairlift is calibrated to take up to 30 stone in weight.
Which of these stairlifts to consider is going to be based on your particular staircase. The Stannah 600, for example, is a straight stairlift. It cannot be fitted on a curved staircase. So for a curved staircase you’ll need one of the other models.
Heavy Duty Stairlifts Considerations
When it comes to a heavy duty stairlift, you also need to look at your staircase. In a recent case study we had an issue with a heavy weight stairlift. With this one, the staircase was particularly steep and this caused an issue.
With a particularly steep staircase, the stairlift has to work harder to carry the load up the stairs. Most stairs are angled between 30 and 38 degrees. Modern building regulations sets the maximum pitch at 42 degrees. However, with one of our installations the pitch was more like 45 degrees. On some older houses this can be the case; when the staircase was installed long before the building regulations set the latest standards.
It was unfortunate that on this particular heavy weight installation, the Stannah 600 wouldn’t work! We installed the Stannah 600 which has a weight capacity of up to 25 stone. The user was 20 stone, far below the limit for this particular stairlift. But the incline of the stairs had an impact, and the stairlift wouldn’t operate.
We had to remove the Stannah and re-install another lift. We used a Bruno heavy weight stairlift which has a higher weight capacity – 30 stone.
Heavy Weight Stairlift Considerations – Putting On Weight
The other thing to consider if you are looking at a heavy weight stairlift options is whether you’ll put more weight on. How much weight have you (or your family member) put on in the last year, for example?
This is worth considering because even if you are eligible for a heavy weight stairlift, and are currently under the weight limit, putting on weight could mean you can no longer use the stairlifts once installed.
Heavy Weight Stairlift Considerations – Carrying Equipment
If you are going to need to carry equipment this is another thing to consider if you need a heavy weight stairlift. Bariactric patients are more likely to be in need of supplementary oxygen. If you should need to carry an oxygen tank, or other equipment on the stairlift, this can add to the weight.
So should you be close to the weight limit, this is perhaps something to consider. If a piece of equipment pushes you over the weight limit, you may have problems with your stairlift at a later date. So if possible, and if you’re on the cusp of a stairlift’s weight limit, it might be worth choosing the lift with a larger weight capacity, just in case.
Heavy Weight Stairlifts – Narrow Stairs
When it comes to heavy weight stairlifts, these lifts are designed to accommodate a larger person. As such, they have larger seats and can take up more space. When it comes to narrow or awkward staircases, this can present a problem, particularly if you are pushing the weight limit of the more stealthy models.
This is the Platinum Ultimate heavy weight stairlift which is often used when space on the staircase is an issue. This model has a single rail, which can be more accommodating for narrow and awkward stairs. On the right you can see the Bruno heavy weight stairlift, which is more bulky but also has a higher weight capacity (30 stone compared to 25 for the Platinum).
Heavy Weight & Awkward Stairs
If you need a heavy weight stairlift and have a very awkward staircase, it can limit your options according to how difficult your staircase is for a stairlift and your weight.
For very awkward stairs, we often recommend the Flow X stairlift. However, it’s weight capacity is measured to 19 stone. On a very steep configuration (as mentioned earlier) this might present a problem if you’re close to this weight. Here’s a Flow X on a very narrow staircase. Read the case study on this installation here.
We would consider a stairlift for a heavy weight person on a case by case basis and once we know more about your individual situation. It’s useful to know the exact weight of the stairlift user and to carry out a home assessment/survey to make sure you get the right lift.
Summary
So, as you can see there’s a few heavy duty stairlift considerations to take into account when you’re considering one. Out three main go-to options for a heavy weight stairlift are the Stannah 600 (straight stairlift), the Platinum Ultimate and the Bruno heavy weight stairlift.
The Bruno has the heaviest capacity at 30 stone and the Stannah and Platinum have a weight capacity of 25 stone. However, if you have a particularly steep staircase, this can add a complication.
Steeper stairs put more strain on a stairlift, so if it’s already at capacity, it can struggle. Consider also whether you’re likely to put weight on over time and get a machine which gives you some room for manoeuvre. If you’re carrying any equipment on the stairs, especially heavy equipment such as an oxygen cylinder, that is also worth considering.
If you’re ready to chat to one of our team you can call us on 0800 046 3438. You can also see some of our installations on our YouTube channel here.