When considering a home lift installation, safety should be your primary concern. With AS1735 Australian standards mandating strict safety requirements for all residential lifts, understanding what features to look for ensures you make an informed decision that prioritises the wellbeing of your family.
Not all home lifts are created equal when it comes to safety features. Whether you’re exploring options like our Compass or Iconic lift models, knowing the essential safety elements will help you choose a system that provides peace of mind for years to come.
1. Emergency Communication System with 24/7 Monitoring
One of the most critical safety features in any home lift is a reliable emergency communication system. Australian standards require all home lifts to have an emergency phone that can connect to a help centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our lifts feature a dedicated emergency telephone system monitored by Oracle CMS through a 1300 number that’s displayed on a data plate inside the lift. This system operates 365 days a year, ensuring that if you ever experience an issue, trained professionals follow a specific script to either call our after-hours technicians or send immediate text notifications depending on the level of support required.
The emergency phone must have battery backup to ensure operation during power failures, providing an additional layer of security when you need it most.
2. Multiple Rescue Options: In-Car and External
A truly safe home lift should offer multiple rescue options in case of emergency. Our lifts include both in-car rescue and external rescue capabilities, providing flexibility regardless of the situation.
In-Car Rescue: If you’re inside the lift and experience a malfunction, you can perform a self-rescue by holding the alarm button and simultaneously pressing and holding the down button. This overrides safety features (except slack rope protection) and safely drives the lift down to the lowest level.
External Rescue: For situations where someone is trapped and cannot operate the in-car rescue, family members can activate external rescue using the remote control. By removing the battery cover, pressing the black button, and holding the down button, an emergency siren activates and the lift descends safely, overriding all safety features except critical rope safety mechanisms.
3. Battery Backup System with Emergency Descent
Power outages shouldn’t leave anyone stranded in a home lift. Both our Compass and Iconic lifts include comprehensive battery backup systems, with the Iconic lift particularly excelling in this area due to its streamlined design and efficient power management.
Our battery backup doesn’t simply provide emergency lighting—it actively lowers the lift to the lowest floor and unlocks the doors, ensuring immediate and safe evacuation. The Iconic lift’s compact, efficient design means its battery backup system can operate multiple descent cycles if needed, making it especially reliable during extended power outages.
This emergency descent feature distinguishes quality lifts from basic models that might only provide emergency lighting. With our battery backup, even if your house experiences a complete power failure—such as being struck by lightning—the lift will still safely return passengers to the ground floor.
4. Manual Emergency Lowering Mechanism
In the unlikely event that both the main power and backup systems fail, our Compass lift includes a sophisticated manual emergency lowering mechanism that demonstrates the engineering excellence behind our Australian-manufactured design.
This worst-case scenario feature involves a manual winding system that looks like a steering wheel, which can be inserted into the gearbox to manually lower the lift by winding the mechanism. The Compass lift’s robust construction and precision engineering make this manual system particularly reliable and user-friendly compared to imported alternatives.
While this represents an extremely rare emergency situation, having this mechanical backup ensures that passengers are never permanently trapped, regardless of electrical failures.
5. Advanced Safety Sensors and Detection Systems
Modern home lifts incorporate multiple sensor systems to prevent accidents and ensure smooth operation. Our Compass lift features particularly advanced sensor technology that sets it apart from standard residential lifts:
Light Curtain Technology: The Compass utilises full-height light curtains at the lift entrance that detect any obstruction crossing into or out of the lift during travel. If the light curtain is interrupted, the lift immediately stops and won’t move until the obstruction is cleared. This sophisticated system provides superior protection compared to basic door sensors found in many residential lifts.
Safety Pans: Two safety pans monitor the lift’s path during movement, ensuring nothing obstructs the lift’s travel. If an object (such as a child or pet) potentially obstructs the lift, it stops before making contact and can only move in the opposite direction.
Door Sensors: Advanced door detection systems prevent doors from closing if anything is in the doorway, protecting passengers and preventing damage to the lift.
6. Industry-Leading Warranty and Reliability Standards
While warranty terms might not seem like a direct safety feature, they reflect the manufacturer’s confidence in their safety systems and build quality. Our Compass lifts come with an industry-leading 25-year motor and gearbox warranty, demonstrating our confidence in the Australian-manufactured components and precision engineering that goes into every unit.
Our Iconic lifts feature comprehensive warranty coverage that reflects their reliable, proven design and readily available parts supply. The streamlined nature of the Iconic means fewer complex components that could potentially fail, contributing to its exceptional reliability record.
This extended warranty coverage demonstrates our commitment to the reliability and safety of both lift systems. Additionally, lifts covered by extended warranty require annual servicing – similar to car maintenance – ensuring that safety systems remain in optimal condition throughout the lift’s operational life.
We maintain detailed service records and proactively contact customers annually to schedule maintenance, preventing safety issues before they occur.
7. Compliance with Australian Standards AS1735
Perhaps the most important safety consideration is ensuring your lift meets Australian Standards AS1735, which covers the design, manufacture, installation, and operation of lifts in Australia. This comprehensive standard ensures:
- Emergency communication systems meet strict requirements
- Backup power systems function correctly during failures
- Safety mechanisms prevent accidents during normal operation
- Installation follows proper procedures and safety protocols
- Regular testing and maintenance requirements are established
Both our Compass and Iconic lift models fully comply with AS1735 standards, ensuring that every safety feature meets or exceeds Australian requirements.
Additional Safety Considerations
Beyond these seven essential features, quality home lifts should include:
- Emergency brake systems that can safely stop the lift under any conditions
- Overload protection preventing operation beyond safe weight limits
- Proper ventilation ensuring passenger comfort during extended use
- Non-slip flooring reducing accident risk inside the lift car
- Adequate lighting including emergency lighting during power failures
Why Safety Features Matter
The reality is that thousands of people use home lifts across Australia daily, and safety features aren’t just regulatory requirements—they’re essential protections for your family. In a country where approximately 2,500 to 3,000 home lifts are installed annually, having comprehensive safety systems ensures you’re never part of unfortunate statistics.
Quality safety features also protect your investment. Lifts with comprehensive safety systems experience fewer breakdowns, require less emergency service, and maintain their value better over time.
Making the Right Safety Choice
When evaluating home lift options, don’t compromise on safety features to save costs. The difference between a basic lift and one with comprehensive safety systems often represents a small percentage of the total investment but provides invaluable peace of mind.
Ready to learn more about our comprehensive safety features? Our team can demonstrate how our Compass and Iconic lifts each incorporate all seven essential safety elements, along with the specific features that make each model uniquely suited to different installation requirements. We’ll walk you through the Compass’s advanced light curtain technology and precision manual systems, as well as the Iconic’s efficient battery backup and reliable design, showing you why both models represent the pinnacle of home lift safety.
Contact Velocity Home Lifts today to schedule a consultation where we can discuss your specific safety needs and demonstrate the advanced protection systems that make our Compass and Iconic lifts the safest choice for Australian homes.
