May, Accessibility Month: 7 Real Improvements to Make Your Community More Accessible

May, Accessibility Month: 7 Real Improvements to Make Your Community More Accessible

May, Accessibility Month, is a good opportunity for homeowners’ associations, residential buildings, offices and shared spaces to ask an important question: can everyone enter, move around and use the building safely and independently?

Accessibility does not only benefit people with reduced mobility. It also helps older residents, families with baby strollers, people with temporary injuries, delivery workers, visitors and anyone who needs to move around comfortably and safely.

Making a community more accessible does not always mean carrying out a major renovation. Sometimes, small but well-planned improvements can completely change the daily experience of those who live or work in the building.

Below, we review 7 real improvements to make your community more accessible and how to start implementing them.

1. Accessible ramps at entrances and level changes

One of the most common problems in older communities is the presence of steps at the main entrance, inside the lobby, in courtyards or on the way to the lift.

An accessible ramp can be a practical solution when there is enough space and the level difference is not too steep. However, simply placing an improvised ramp is not enough. To be truly useful, it should have a suitable slope, a non-slip surface, a comfortable width, handrails when necessary and safe integration with the surroundings.

How to do it

The best starting point is to request a technical assessment of the access area. Before installing a ramp, the community should review:

• The height of the level difference.
• The available space.
• The daily use of the entrance.
• Safety on rainy days.
• The need for railings or handrails.
• Compatibility with doors, mailboxes and circulation areas.

A well-designed ramp can remove a daily barrier without negatively affecting the appearance or movement within the building.

2. Stairlifts for communities with difficult stair sections

When there is no space for a ramp or the slope is too steep, a stairlift can be a very effective alternative. This type of solution makes it possible to overcome flights of stairs without the need for complex structural work.

Stairlifts are especially useful in entrances with stairs before reaching the lift, garage accesses, mezzanines or communal areas with level changes.

How to do it

Before installing a stairlift, the community should analyse the type of staircase, the available width, the frequency of use and the profile of the people who will need it.

There are different options depending on the case:

• Chair stairlifts for people with reduced mobility who are able to sit down.
• Platform stairlifts for wheelchair users.
• Foldable solutions to reduce the occupied space when not in use.

The key is to choose a safe, comfortable solution adapted to the real route inside the building.

3. Lifting platforms for accesses with limited space

Lifting platforms are one of the most versatile solutions for improving accessibility in buildings. They work especially well for short or medium-height level differences where a ramp would take up too much space or would not be viable.

They can be installed in entrances, interior access points, garages, commercial premises, offices or communal areas.

How to do it

To determine whether a lifting platform is viable, the following should be assessed:

• The height that needs to be overcome.
• The available location.
• Electrical supply requirements.
• Boarding and exit space.
• The type of user.
• Integration with the entrance design.

A properly installed lifting platform can turn an inaccessible entrance into a comfortable, safe and functional access point.

4. Automation systems for heavy or difficult-to-open doors

A door that is too heavy can become a real barrier. This often happens in older building entrances, garage doors, office building access points or doors with very strong closing mechanisms.

Door automation systems allow people to enter and leave without having to push with force, struggle with keys or depend on someone else.

How to do it

The community can consider installing systems such as:

• Automatic opening with a push button.
• Presence sensors.
• Remote controls.
• Adapted access control systems.
• Electric locks.
• Automatic sliding or swing doors.

It is also important to review the closing time. A door that closes too quickly can be dangerous for older people, cane users, wheelchair users or families with strollers.

Accessibility often begins with the first gesture: being able to open the door without effort.

5. Proper lighting in entrances, staircases and communal areas

Lighting is not usually the first thing mentioned when talking about accessibility, but it is essential. A poorly lit community increases the risk of falls, trips and disorientation.

Lighting should be sufficient, even and placed at strategic points: entrances, staircases, landings, lifts, garages, corridors and passageways.

How to do it

A real improvement may include:

• Replacing old lights with LED lighting.
• Properly calibrated motion sensors.
• Extra lighting on steps and level changes.
• Lighting in garages and storage areas.
• Avoiding dark areas or strong light contrasts.
• Periodic maintenance of light fixtures.

An accessible community should also be a safe community. Being able to see the route clearly helps everyone, especially people with low vision or mobility difficulties.

6. Clear, visible and easy-to-understand signage

Accessibility is also about orientation. A person should be able to easily understand where the lift is, how to access the garage, where the exits are and which areas are for communal use.

Accessible signage improves the experience of residents, visitors, suppliers and emergency services.

How to do it

The community can review whether the current signs are clear and visible. Useful improvements include:

• Signs with good contrast.
• Letters of an appropriate size.
• Signs placed at a visible height.
• Directions to lifts, ramps and exits.
• Signage in garages and on different floors.
• Floor numbers that are easy to identify.
• Simple and direct visual information.

In busy buildings, offices or large communities, well-planned signage reduces confusion and improves safety.

7. More comfortable, safer and better-adapted lifts

The lift is a central element in the accessibility of any building. But it is not enough for a building to simply have a lift: it should also be comfortable, safe and easy to use.

A lift can create barriers if the cabin is too narrow, if the doors close too quickly, if the buttons are too high, if the interior lighting is poor or if floor information is unclear.

How to do it

The community can consider improvements such as:

• Adjusting the door opening time.
• Improving lighting inside the cabin.
• Installing more accessible control panels.
• Adding visual and audible indicators.
• Checking the levelling between the cabin and each floor.
• Preventive maintenance to avoid frequent breakdowns.
• Partial modernisation of the lift if the equipment is outdated.

It is not always necessary to replace the entire lift. In many cases, a partial modernisation can improve accessibility, safety and comfort without replacing the whole installation.

How to start: assessment before deciding on the work

Before investing in an improvement, the community should carry out a complete review of the building. Often, a community thinks of a specific solution, such as a ramp, when a lifting platform or stairlift may be technically more suitable.

A professional assessment helps define:

• Which barriers really exist.
• Which areas cause the most difficulty.
• Which solution is safest.
• Which option requires less construction work.
• Which improvement offers the greatest long-term benefit.
• What maintenance each system will require.

Accessibility should not be improvised. Every building has its own layout, daily use and specific needs.

Benefits of improving accessibility in a community

Investing in accessibility does not only respond to a specific need. It also improves the value, safety and functionality of the building.

A more accessible community can achieve:

• Greater comfort for residents and visitors.
• Reduced risk of falls and accidents.
• Better quality of life for older residents.
• More independence for people with reduced mobility.
• More practical access for families and professionals.
• A better image for the building.
• Greater long-term property value.

These improvements also show that the community is thinking about both the present and the future. An accessible building is a building better prepared for the real needs of its residents.

Accessibility: a decision that improves daily life

May, Accessibility Month, can be the ideal moment for a community to stop seeing these improvements as an expense and start seeing them as an investment in wellbeing, safety and coexistence.

Ramps, stairlifts, lifting platforms, automation systems, signage, lighting and lift improvements can transform the way people live and move around the building.

At General Elevadores, we help communities, buildings and property owners find practical solutions to improve accessibility, safety and the performance of their installations. If your community needs to assess an accessibility improvement, review an existing lift or study the installation of a lifting platform or stairlift, our team can advise you with a solution adapted to your building.

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