Stairlifts in Kansas: what the Elevator Safety Act leaves out

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
We cover the sales tax on every order Free shipping on all orders over $500 100% of our profits support people with disabilities

Stairlifts in Kansas: what the Elevator Safety Act leaves out

Kansas families pricing a stairlift usually want to know two things before anything else: will the state send an elevator inspector, and does the work need a licensed elevator contractor? Under the state's Elevator Safety Act, a chair lift on the stairs of a single family home sits outside that program on two separate counts.

That does not mean there are no rules at all. Your city or county may still have its own building requirements, and the choice of lift should fit the stair, the rider and the Kansas weather if any part of the climb is outdoors.

Two exclusions in the Kansas Elevator Safety Act

The definitions section of the act, K.S.A. 44-1802, begins broadly: "Elevator" means "any device for lifting or moving people, cargo or freight within, or adjacent and connected to, a structure or excavation, including an escalator." It then lists what the term does not mean, and the second item on that list is "any power-driven stairway, moving walkway or stairway chair lift." In other words, a stairway chair lift is not an elevator for purposes of the act.

A second section reaches the same homes from another direction. K.S.A. 44-1803(b) says the act's provisions "shall not apply to elevators that are" located, among other places, "in a single family residence." So even a lift that did count as an elevator, such as a home elevator, would be outside the act when it serves a single family home. Subsection (c) adds that an exempt elevator "shall be inspected by a licensed elevator inspector upon request by the owner or the owner's agent and payment of the inspection fee," which means a homeowner can still ask for an inspection voluntarily.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal runs the program. Its elevator page repeats that "conveyances installed in owner-occupied private residences as defined in the Act" are exempt, and explains that for covered elevators, installation permits "can only be issued to a Kansas licensed elevator contractor" and that "No elevator shall operate in Kansas without a Certificate of Operation." Those requirements describe the regulated world of commercial and multi-unit buildings, not a chair lift in a family home.

What about platform lifts and lifts in churches, shops or apartment buildings? The Fire Marshal's page does not address vertical platform lifts directly, and the single family exemption does not reach a building shared by several households. If your project is anything other than a stair lift in a one-family house, put the question to the Fire Marshal's elevator unit before ordering.

Your city or county building office

Kansas statute lets each city adopt model codes by reference: K.S.A. 12-3009 authorizes any city "to incorporate in an ordinance by reference" any "standard or model code." Whether your town has done so, and whether it wants an electrical or building permit for a stair lift, varies from place to place. We could not find a single statewide rule for home stair lifts beyond the elevator act, so a short email or visit to the local building office is the honest next step.

Storm season, cold snaps and outdoor steps

NOAA's Kansas climate summary puts the statewide average at 33.0°F in winter and 76.8°F in summer, and notes that severe thunderstorms are common, with some producing "large hail, high winds, and tornadoes." From 1991 to 2010 the state averaged just under 100 tornadoes a year. Rainfall ranges from more than 45 inches a year in the southeast to less than 20 inches in the west.

Two practical points follow. First, an outdoor stair needs a lift built for weather, not an indoor model under a tarp. Second, storms can knock out power, so a battery-backed lift that keeps working through an outage is worth weighing for any household that cannot wait for the lights to come back.

Matching a lift to a Kansas home

  • A straight indoor stair, plenty of capacity. The Bruno Elite SRE-2010 lifts up to 400 lb, and its product page notes that Bruno stairlifts run on batteries and are designed to make several trips during a power outage. Its narrow rail sits close to the wall.
  • Porch or deck steps. The Bruno Outdoor Elite SRE-2010E carries 400 lb, is designed for 0°F to 125°F, and uses an anodized aluminum rail, a covered gear rack and a light-weight cover.
  • A staircase with a turn or landing. Harmar custom-makes the Helix curved stairlift for one staircase, rated at 350 lb on inclines up to 58°, folding to 16 in from the wall.
  • A rider who needs more capacity. The Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD is a heavy-duty straight model that lifts up to 600 lb, with a seat 18 3/4 in wide. It is not for outdoor use.

If you are not sure which family fits, the stair shape usually decides it: straight stairs open the widest choice, while any bend means a custom rail measured to your steps.

Free help from Assistive Technology for Kansans

The state's assistive technology program is Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK), based at the KU Life Span Institute, according to the AT3 Center's program directory. ATK describes a statewide device loan program, hands-on demonstrations, and the Kansas Equipment Exchange (KEE) reuse program for refurbished devices, and it says it helps "people of all ages with disabilities or health conditions." The AT3 directory also lists a financial loan contact for ATK. These services can be a good way to try related equipment before you commit.

Ordering and delivery to Kansas

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, shipping is free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Read shipping to Kansas, or start with the stairlift fit check.

Questions about stairlifts in Kansas

Does Kansas require a state permit for a stairlift in my house?

Not under the Elevator Safety Act. K.S.A. 44-1802 says the term elevator does not mean a "stairway chair lift," and K.S.A. 44-1803 says the act does not apply to elevators in a single family residence. Your city or county may still have local building rules, so check with the local building office before work begins.

Will the Kansas State Fire Marshal inspect my home stairlift?

The Fire Marshal's elevator page says conveyances in owner-occupied private residences are exempt from the act. K.S.A. 44-1803(c) does allow an exempt elevator to be inspected by a licensed elevator inspector if the owner asks and pays the fee. A stair chair lift is outside the elevator definition altogether, so ask the Fire Marshal directly if you want one inspected.

Does a Kansas church or apartment building follow the same rules?

Not necessarily. The single family exemption in K.S.A. 44-1803 covers a single family residence, and the Fire Marshal's page does not say how it treats vertical platform lifts. For a shared or public building, contact the Fire Marshal's elevator unit and the local building office before choosing equipment.

Which stairlift handles Kansas power outages?

Storms are common in Kansas, according to NOAA's state summary, so backup power matters. The Bruno Elite SRE-2010's product page says Bruno stairlifts run on batteries and are designed to make several trips during an outage. Ask us to confirm the battery details for any model you are considering.

Can I borrow equipment in Kansas before buying?

Assistive Technology for Kansans runs a statewide device loan program, hands-on demonstrations and the KEE reuse program, according to its website. Stairlifts are installed to a specific stair, so loans are more likely for other daily living devices, but ATK can point you toward what is available.

Compare models in our stairlift collection, answer a few questions in the stairlift fit check, or take the full assessment if you are weighing several kinds of equipment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

Email sign-up

Get our email-only discounts

We offer special discounts through email only.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
By signing up you agree to receive marketing emails from Faith Mobility. Unsubscribe any time. See our Privacy Policy. Follow us too: