Q Lifts Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Q Lifts residential and low-rise platform lifts, including lift sizes, installation requirements, building consent, indoor and outdoor lifts, wheelchair access, servicing and retrofitting a lift into an existing New Zealand home. Our lifts are designed, engineered and built in the Waikato and installed nationwide.
The product
Where are your lifts made?
We design, engineer and build our own lifts in our Waikato factory, and supply and install them throughout New Zealand. We have our own full-time installers on the road, along with a network of contractors we work with.
Can the lift go outside?
Yes. Our indoor and outdoor lifts are fundamentally the same lift, but are finished and protected differently. Outdoor components are hot-dip galvanised and painted, while all outdoor electrical enclosures are stainless steel and powder coated, helping the lift stand up to coastal conditions.
What models do you offer?
We offer four lift models covering different travel heights:
Q Rise 3 (under 1 m)
Q Rise 4 (up to 1.5 m)
Q Vista (up to 3.6 m)
QAscent (up to 8.7 m)
We also supply portable access lifts and a pool hoist.
Which model do I need?
It comes down to travel height and environment. A Q Rise handles a garage-to-house step or split-level access, either indoors or outdoors. Q Vista covers a typical single-storey rise outdoors, while Q Ascent takes you through floors, up to 8.7 m.
Do you do glass lifts, or the type that drills into the ground?
No. Q Vista and Q Ascent run up a mast against a wall, with everything above ground, and Q Rise lifts are free-standing. None need a hole drilled for a ram, which is the main difference from in-ground hydraulic lifts. You can have glass in the doors, but we don't build a full glass lift.
Can an outdoor lift be enclosed?
Yes. You can choose an open platform, or add a roof or a fully enclosed waterproof cabin. Roofed and enclosed lifts are built as fully enclosed low-speed lifts under NZS 4334. We build to order, so there's plenty of flexibility.
Size and space
What size is the platform?
Q Vista and Q Ascent: from 900 × 900 mmup to 1400 × 1400 mm, and anything inbetween.
It doesn't have to be square.
Q Rise: 1150 × 1200 mm, 1150 × 1500 mm or 1210× 1500 mm.
Lifts in commercial and public buildings are at least 1400 × 1400 mm, as per NZS 4334 requirements.
How much space do I need to allow?
The mast adds 200 mm to one side, so the cavity is 1100 mm × 900 mm at the smallest and 1600 mm × 1400 mm for a full 1400 mm × 1400 mm platform.
Can you go smaller than 900 mm × 900 mm?
900 × 900 mm is what we recommend. Smaller is possible but tight, because we recommend doors of at least 810 mm. Commercial lifts need 900 mm clear doors. Talk to us about your layout.
Will a wheelchair fit?
Yes. Plan on a platform of at least 1.2 × 1.0 m, or 1.2 × 1.2 m for more room to turn. Our Q Rise lifts are all wheelchair-sized.
How much headroom do I need at the top floor?
You need at least 1980 mm of clear headroom at every lift entrance. Above the top floor, the mast runs about 1400 mm above the platform, but it doesn't have to go through your roof.
How much can it carry?
Home lifts are rated for 270 kg: three people, or a wheelchair user and one other. Commercial lifts are rated for 340 kg: four people, or a wheelchair user and two others.
Can I use it for groceries and luggage?
Yes, and plenty of our customers do exactly that. Load it, send it up, and walk the stairs yourself.
How it works
Does it need a wall?
Not always. Q Vista and Q Ascent run up a mast fixed to a wall; if there's no suitable wall, we build a frame for the lift to mount to. Q Rise lifts are free-standing on a concrete pad.
Which way do you get in and out?
You can access the lift from up to three sides — the mast takes the fourth. For example, you can enter from one side at ground level and exit from a different side upstairs. Four-way access is not possible, but you can have two doors on one level.
Can the cabin have walls?
You can have up to three walls, but only if all the doors are on one side. If you enter from more than one side, you're limited to a single wall. The safety barriers and handrails you need depend on the lift type and height, and we design every lift to NZS 4334.
What drives it?
Q Vista and Q Ascent use an oil hydraulic ram working at a 2:1 ratio. The ram is half the height of the travel, much like a forklift, and the platform runs on a roller bogie in two channels up the mast.
Does it only stop at floor levels?
No. Micro sensors allow it to stop at any height, not just fixed floor levels.
What safety features does it have?
Safety strips run around the moving walls with a gap of about 10 mm. If a finger or toe touches a strip, the lift stops immediately. Q Vista and Q Ascent also have safety gear that catches the platform if a chain fails. Every lift has an emergency down function and an alarm.
What happens in a power cut?
Every Q Lifts lift has battery backup as standard. The control box runs on a battery kept charged from the wall, so a power cut doesn't leave you stranded.
What power supply do I need?
A 10 amp socket. Low-use installations run on a 12 volt system; for high-use or commercial applications, we use 240 volt.
Where does the control box go?
It is a 600 mm × 300 mm × 1000 mm enclosed box containing the battery and electrics, with a plug on it. It usually sits in a cupboard beside the lift. It can be up to approximately five metres away, provided we can run a conduit and hydraulic hose.
Installation and site
Do I need a pit dug?
Q Ascent and Q Vista are generally set in a 200 mm pit — about one block deep — formed as part of the slab, which provides flush access. All Q Rise models sit entirely above ground; however, you can also use a Q Rise with a pit if you want level entry.
What if I don’t want a pit?
Without one, the platform comes down to 170 mm and you'll need a ramp up to it, about 2 m long. We can supply the ramp, or your builder can form it.
What about an existing concrete floor?
You would cut the slab, dig down approximately 300 mm, lay a new pad and form it up. It is a straightforward job.
What sort of slab does it need?
A standard 100–120 mm reinforced slab is enough.
Can it be retrofitted to an existing home?
Yes. Outdoors is generally the easier and cheaper retrofit. Indoors depends heavily on your layout and usually requires more building work. Nothing is insurmountable, and older homes, including villas, are not a problem.
How accurate does the builder need to be?
The shaft needs to be square and true within approximately 3 mm. We have a little tolerance, but not much.
What is the lead time?
Once we have pre-wired, the lift takes around four to six weeks to build, and then we come and fit it.
What is the process from start to finish?
Your architect designs the lift into the project using our architect pack. Once the shaft is framed up, we come and pre-wire — running cables where they need to go and measuring every noggin so the lift is built specifically for your house.
Your builder then lines the shaft and fits the doors using the locks we supply. We build the lift, return to fit it, and wire it up.
Can I make provision now and install the lift later?
Yes, and it can be a smart move. Design the shaft in, then pay for the pre-wire and measure while the walls are open. We keep the drawings on file and you can use the space as a cupboard in the meantime. Years later, the lift can be installed without touching your linings — you would just need to renew the consent.
Consent and certification
Do I need building consent?
Usually, yes. On a new build, it goes through as part of your building consent.
Do you handle the consent?
We don't lodge the consent, but we supply the compliance documents for the lift. Our lifts are designed to NZS 4334:2012, the New Zealand standard for platform and low-speed lifts. We provide the PS1 and PS3 your council needs and engage an independent inspector for the PS4. Your architect or engineer covers foundations and walls using the information we provide.
What standard are your lifts built to?
NZS 4334:2012 Platform lifts and low-speed lifts, the New Zealand standard for this type of lift.
Finishes
What does the cabin look like inside?
However you want it. Walls are usually lined in ply, which is harder-wearing than GIB, and you choose the colour, trims and rails. You can also add a mirror if you like.
Flooring goes on top of the platform, so you can match the carpet, vinyl or tiles used throughout the rest of your home.
What about the doors?
For built-in lifts, you can use the same internal doors as the rest of your house. Glass panels are also an option, and we offer automatic-opening doors. The doors must accommodate our latches and safety mechanisms and be smooth on the inside.
Servicing
What maintenance does it need?
For homes, we recommend an annual service, just like a car. It isn't mandatory, but it keeps the lift safe and helps at resale.
Lifts in commercial and public buildings must be on the building's compliance schedule: an independent qualified person (IQP) inspects them at least once a year and issues a Form 12A for the building's warrant of fitness. For commercial lifts, we recommend servicing every six months.
Does a lift add value to the house?
It can. A lift makes a home suitable for more buyers, including people planning to stay put as they get older.
What warranty do you give?
Every Q Lifts lift comes with a 2-year warranty from the date it's installed, as long as we service it at least once every 12 months. View of Terms of Trade.
Quoting
Do you need to visit my site to quote?
Not at the early stage. We can quote from a video-call walkthrough, and if we are in your area, we are happy to call in. You are also always more than welcome to visit our showroom.
What does a quote cost?
Nothing. Once we understand the site layout, we can give you a figure quickly.
What affects the final figure?
Site complexity and specification. An outdoor retrofit that attaches to the house is the simplest. An indoor lift depends on your layout and generally involves more building work.
Can I get funding for a lift?
You may be eligible through Enable New Zealand or ACC. See our partnerships page for how it works, or talk to us.
