Élévaction blog
The Importance of Choosing a Certified Chairlift
Are you experiencing difficulty navigating your staircase at home? Have you decided to install a chairlift to prolong your independence? We celebrate your initiative!
There are three important questions you need to consider when selecting your choice of chairlift.
- Does the chairlift need to meet specific standards?
- What certification cards should the installer have?
- Should the company installing my chairlift be licensed?
This article answers these three questions.
WHAT STANDARDS SHOULD THE CHAIRLIFT MEET?
The first step in selecting a chairlift is to ensure that it meets the standards set out by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
According to chapter IV of the construction code, in Quebec, elevator aids for individuals with limited mobility, including chairlifts, must have an approved prototype that has been certified by one of two people. Either an engineer from l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec or by someone holding a temporary permit issued by the Loi sur les ingénieurs (chapter I-9). The approval of that prototype must also have been transmitted to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Basically, the mobility aid must be certified by the RBQ and be on either the CSA-B613 or the CSA-B355 list for use in a private home and the CSA-B355 list for use in any other type of property.
Ensure that the mobility aid is found on the above lists before making your purchase. You cannot trust that an aid meets the RBQ standards simply because it is on the market or even advertised on tv.
WHICH CARDS MUST THE INSTALLER HOLD?
The technician is required to have their elevator mechanic journeyman cards in order to install your chairlift. Don’t hesitate to speak with the representative during the evaluation to ensure the technician installing your chairlift will provide you with their cards beforehand.
SHOULD MY INSTALLATION COMPANY BE LICENSED?
In addition to your technician holding the appropriate cards, the company installing your mobile lift needs to hold an unrestricted RBQ 14.2 license for installations conforming to Quebec standards.
To verify that the company you have selected is appropriately licensed, consult the Registre des détenteurs de licence RBQ. Once you have located the company, you can click on the section Catégorie entrepreneur spécialisé for a complete list of the licenses held by that company.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A CERTIFIED CHAIRLIFT?
You may face many headaches if you purchase a chairlift that does not conform to the Quebec standards mentioned above.
If a CLSC employee, home aide or otherwise notices that your chairlift is not certified, they are obligated by law to report it. This could result in an order to immediately dismantle the chairlift or risk losing your CLSC services.
In order to receive tax credits for the installation of the chairlift and to qualify for financial aid through the Residential Adaptation Assistance Program, a certification is required. For the certificate to be approved: the chairlift must meet the standards set out by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, the technician installing your chairlift must have their elevator mechanic journeyman cards, and the company installing the chairlift must hold an unrestricted RBQ 14.2 license.
KEEP ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE PERFECT CHAIRLIFT
It’s essential that you do your research and keep on the lookout for the right chairlift for you, especially if you want to avoid the headaches associated with an uncertified product.
Élévaction is a Quebec company specialized in the sale, installation and maintenance of mobility aids. They sell products that conform to RBQ and CSA standards. They have their RBQ 14.2 license, and all of their technicians are elevator mechanic journeymen.
Contact us with any questions regarding our products and services. Our helpful team will be happy to help you!