Stairs, Lifts & Access

About Stairs, Lifts, and Access

Accessibility has become more prominent in architectural design in New Zealand during the last decades. While the stairs have long been a staple of residential design, a growing trend of “ageing in place” followed by overall raised awareness on mobility issues, brought a variety of lifts onto the big scene. Accessible housing enables independent living for a broad population and includes excessive use of grab rails, handrails, and all belonging accessories. 

Ceiling hatches equipped with ladders, on the other hand, make the home layouts more practical, providing access to areas that are rarely in conventional use. Safety access panels keep the installations easy to reach yet securely confined and fire-protected. 

Applications

The purpose of stairs is to provide a way of moving between levels; therefore, staircases are applicable in virtually any space in need of such connection. 

While all lifts are generally used for transporting people and items between floors in New Zealand, different designs are suited for different purposes. Hydraulic elevators, for instance, are ideal for low traffic or low-rise buildings. Shaftless models are good for environmentally sensitive structures, while the cable-based designs can bridge longer distances than piston-based. 

Wall and floor hatches with access doors are primarily used for side spaces that are not frequently used. They also serve to conceal a variety of installations, furnace areas, plumbing, and electrical equipment. 

Types of Stairs, Lifts, and Access in New Zealand

Staircases

Staircases connect two different levels/floors/storeys, providing easy, comfortable, and safe access. Their design typically bears both functional and aesthetic values, making it an attractive visual feature. Standard residential types of stairs in New Zealand include:

• Straight: Affordable and simple, this staircase design also requires a lot of space to stretch in its full length. It’s available in prefabricated, ready-to-connect sections and belongs to the easiest types to install.
• U-Shaped: Starting straight and then bending at the 180-degree angle, this type of stairs is space-savvy and easy to fit.
• L-shaped: Bending at a 90-degree angle at the landing, L-shaped staircases can fit inside unused corners, leaving the rest of the floor area free. 
• Circular: This design continually curves from bottom to top in an elegant move. It’s available in prefabricated sets in New Zealand but requires professional installation. 
• Spiral: Curving around a centre pole or in a helix style, this economical and durable design presents a notable visual feature. It comes prefabricated and in knock-down kits, made from a variety of materials.

Lifts

Lifts enhance comfort in residential buildings and improve accessibility for people with mobility issues. In addition, they also raise the market value of the property in New Zealand. Lift design ranges from internal platforms for transporting small objects to sizable, attractive glass cabins.

• Cable elevators: Cable-based systems are a traditional choice for residential elevators. They are available in various sizes and capable of carrying considerable weight capacity.
• Hydraulic lifts: Piston-powered, heavy-duty lifts designed to provide a smooth ride, suitable for different applications.  
• Wheelchair lifts: Designed for individuals with disabilities, available in several types in New Zealand.
• Dumbwaiter: Convenient and compact elevators for transporting small objects between floors. 
• Pneumatic: A space-efficient, cable drum structure designed to provide a safe and quiet ride. 
• Screw-drive: Slow pace systems without machine room, efficient and economical. 
• Glass: Highly attractive visual feature, easy to fit. 
• MRL: Machine-room-less, low-footprint lifts ideal for limited areas.  
• Shaft-less: An excellent solution for existing homes that requires minimum modification during fitting. 
• Vacuum: Modern, air-pressure-based systems with a small footprint. 

Balustrades

Balustrades play a vital safety role, preventing falls and injuries in risky places, while also adding visual interest to the shielded feature. In New Zealand, their design ranges from traditional to modern, with a variety to suit any staircase style. A typical balustrade comprises a handrail, balusters or spindles, newel posts, and a base rail.

Handrails

Railing features keep the user safe when experiencing a sudden loss of balance. They can be mounted to a wall or fixed at the top of balustrades. 

Wall-mounted handrails are a space-savvy solution ideal for confined staircases and places in need of a grab rail. Integrated handrails are typically a part of a system found on the top of the balustrade.

Hand Rail Brackets

A handrail needs a fastening accessory to keep it securely mounted to a wall or a balustrade. Handrail brackets are available in different materials and finishes in New Zealand to suit various designs.  

As their name indicates, handrail brackets for glass are designed for railings and balustrades made from that material. Handrail brackets for balusters are typically screwed on the side of the panel or glued to its top, while brackets made for wall mounting keep the rails safely mounted in place close to the vertical surface. 

Wall and Ceiling Hatches

Wall and ceiling hatches comprise a scope of different access panel types in various sizes and designs. Access panels are designed to enable an approach to the areas behind ceilings, walls, and floors, mainly for utility and maintenance reasons. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Stairs, Lifts, and Access

In New Zealand, depending on the size of the home and specific requirements, the right staircase style and type should be the one that checks all or most boxes at once. A straight staircase is simple to install and a good choice if the available space permits it. At the same time, a curved or spiral model bears a load of style points, but might require some compromise on accessibility and comfort. Whatever the choice, there are several factors to consider that all staircase types have in common:   

• Maximal pitch 
• Available headroom 
• The depth of the treads
• The height of the risers
• The maximum number of steps before an obligatory landing 
• Balustrade height and distance between railings    

Before choosing a lift in New Zealand, it’s essential to know the available safety features and whether or not those are included in the package. Some basics include the emergency battery backup that will allow the lift to land safely in case of a power failure. Adjustable cabin speed should also be on the list. 

Warranty - along with servicing availability, frequency, and prices - should be discussed before the final decision. It will reveal a part of the true cost-effectiveness regardless of the initial price tag. 

Most reliable companies will be open to assist in choosing the most appropriate design for specific conditions. That includes determining the actual available space and the best way to fit the desired model.