ISO 9386-2:2000

Overview

ISO 9386-2:2000 is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specification for powered stairlifts used by persons with impaired mobility. It defines safety rules, dimensional requirements and functional operation for permanently installed, power-operated stairlifts that move users in a substantially inclined plane. The standard applies to stairlifts for seated, standing and wheelchair users that travel between fixed levels, with a rated speed up to 0.15 m/s and rail inclinations up to 75°. Notably, ISO 9386-2 focuses on the safety- and function-related requirements rather than every general electrical, mechanical or building construction detail.

Key topics and requirements

ISO 9386-2 covers technical and safety subjects essential to compliant stairlift design and installation, including:

• Scope and definitions: intended use, limitations and user patterns.
• General safety and design: protection against hazards, guarding, rated load and speed limits, and resistance to operating forces.
• Guide rails and mechanical stops: requirements for rails, folding rails and end stops.
• Safety gear & overspeed governors: design, control, release and inspection requirements.
• Drive systems: specifications for different drive types (rope, rack & pinion, chain, screw-nut, hydraulic, friction, etc.) and braking.
• Electrical installation: safety circuits, motor protection, wiring, residual current devices and battery operation.
• Carriage design: configurations for chair carriages, standing platforms and wheelchair platforms.
• Testing, inspection & servicing: initial tests after installation and periodic examinations, plus documentation and labels.
• Environmental protection: requirements for equipment installed outdoors.
• Annexes: Annex F (normative) on safety circuits; informative annexes A–E and G provide purchaser guidance, testing recommendations and public/private access distinctions.

Applications

ISO 9386-2 is used to ensure safe and functional installation and operation of powered stairlifts in:

• Residential properties with limited access stairways
• Public and commercial buildings where accessibility solutions are required (with additional provisions described in Annex G)
• Outdoor applications where protection against environmental influences is needed

Typical practical uses include specifying product requirements, commissioning installations, performing acceptance tests, writing maintenance schedules, and preparing operating instructions and labels.

Who should use this standard

• Stairlift manufacturers and product designers
• Building owners, facility managers and installers
• Accessibility consultants, specifiers and procurement teams
• Test laboratories, safety inspectors and certification bodies
• Architects and building services engineers involved in accessibility design

Related standards

• ISO 9386-1 (Vertical lifting platforms) - related part of the ISO 9386 series
• ISO/TR 9527 - referenced for location and dimension guidance in ISO 9386-2

Keywords: ISO 9386-2, powered stairlifts, stairlift safety, accessibility standard, lifting platforms, persons with impaired mobility, stairlift dimensions, functional operation.