The following article comes from a leading United Kingdom Internet based Lift and Escalator Portal:

Disability Discrimination Act (UK)

Provision of lifts for the disabled

The Following Excerpt From BS5655: Part 6: 2002 - Annex H (Informative), Outlines The Basics.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Act came into force on 2 December 1996 when it became unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably.

From 1 October 1999, service providers have had to make "reasonable adjustments", and from 1 October 2004, service providers have to make "reasonable adjustments" to the physical barriers to access in all buildings.

The main areas of concern for lift provision are the removal of physical barriers and accessibility.

1. The summary of main provisions for disabled access are:
   
   Support rail in car at 900 mm above car floor
2. Clearly signposting of locations
3. Symbols in relief on all buttons
4. Good colour contrast between numbers and the background on all indications
5. Emergency alarm button should include a visual acknowledgement of operation
6. Emergency telephone and inductive coupler for hearing aid users
7. Mirror on rear wall for small cars to enable wheelchair users to see behind them but does not extend to floor level
8. Landing controls to include lift arrival signal
9. Area outside car doors to be well lit (at least 50 lux at the door threshold)
10. Floor surface to be in colour contrast to adjacent floor outside car doors
11. Controls on stairlifts to prevent unauthorised use
12. Stairlifts not to compromise means of escape
13. Stairlifts to be parked to avoid obstruction
14. Lift car interior should be well lit at least 50 lux
15. Provide unobstructed space of 1500 mm x 1500 mm on landings for wheelchairs
16. Car doors to be at least 800 mm
17. Provide wheelchair space in car of 1100 mm x 1400 mm (unmanoeuvrable), 2000 mm x 1400 mm manoeuvrable)
18. Car operating panels placed 900 mm to 1100 mm from the floor and at least 400 mm from the front wall
19. Controls on landing 900 mm to 1100 mm from floor
20. Landing buttons should be easily operable and with tactile indication
21. Car buttons should be easily operable and with tactile indication
22. Audible announcements and visual displays
23. Car and landing call dwell times to be lengthened to 5.0s