Bruno Elan SRE-5000 Straight Indoor Stairlift: Planning Guide

What is the Bruno Elan SRE-5000, and where does it fit?

The Elan SRE-5000 is Bruno's battery-powered stairlift for one straight indoor staircase, rated 300 lb, installed only by an authorized Bruno dealer.

The Elan is Bruno's straight indoor stairlift: a motorized chair that travels along a rail mounted to the treads of a staircase. The rider sits on a folding swivel seat with a seat belt, back to the stairway wall, and holds the armrest paddle for the whole trip (constant pressure). Two wireless remotes call or send the empty chair. The current model is the SRE-5000, covered by Bruno's owner's manual P/N 5000-O, dated 03-11-2026.

Where it fits. One straight indoor staircase in a home, for a rider who meets Bruno's user requirements: bend the knees to travel seated, sit safely with the seat belt, push the armrest paddle, and get on and off at the top and bottom independently or with minimum assistance.

Where it does not fit.

• A stair with a landing, curve or turn. Bruno says these need a curved stairlift; see the Bruno Elite curved guide.
• A rider over 300 lb, or a rider Bruno does not recommend for the Elan (section 02).
• A person who must stay in a wheelchair. Plan a platform lift or an elevator (section 02).
• An accessible route where the ADA Standards apply. Plan a ramp, an elevator or, where ADA 206.7 permits one, a platform lift (sections 02 and 06).
• Exterior stairs. The Elan is an indoor product.

What it is confused with. Existing homes may have the earlier SRE-3050 Elan. Its published specifications differ from the SRE-5000 (the charger rating, for example) and must not be used on an SRE-5000 project. Bruno's Elite straight is a separate, heavier-duty model.

Bruno's dealer locator lists Mobility123 as an authorized Bruno stair lift dealer. Other models are on the stairlift category page.

Can the rider use an Elan, or is an Elite or a platform lift needed?

Bruno does not recommend the Elan for scoot-pivot transfers or buckling knees; those riders, riders over 300 lb or wheelchair users need the Elite or a platform lift.

Start with the rider. The owner's manual says the SRE-5000 Elan is not recommended for:

• "Those who use a scoot-pivot transfer from a wheelchair without weight bearing through their legs, whose full body weight is placed on a single stair lift armrest."
• "Those with leg weakness, during stand to sit transfer, whose knees buckle with uncontrolled lowering to the stair lift seat."

For those riders, Bruno recommends the SRE-2010 Elite. Bruno also recommends that a non-ambulatory rider who is alone in the house carry a cellular or cordless phone or an emergency communication device while riding.

Choose the Elite straight when the rider is over 300 lb and within the Elite's 400 lb rating, transfers by scoot-pivot with full weight on one armrest, has knees that buckle during the stand-to-sit transfer, or needs adjustable armrest spacing or a larger seat or footrest.

Plan a platform lift instead when the rider cannot transfer from a wheelchair to the seat safely. The U.S. Access Board says chairlifts "require transfer to a fixed seat from wheeled mobility aids and thus are not independently usable." Options include an inclined platform lift on the stair (Savaria Delta) or a vertical platform lift (Bruno VPL).

Where the project needs an accessible route and the ADA Standards apply, a stairlift cannot serve it. In new construction, the ADA Standards allow a platform lift on an accessible route only in the locations listed in 206.7. Elsewhere, plan a ramp or an elevator.

What are the Elan's published dimensions, and what must the survey measure?

Bruno publishes the Elan's capacity, incline, seat and rail-to-wall values, but not rail length, minimum stair width or several clearances, so the survey measures them.

Bruno's public SRE-5000 values:

Not in Bruno's public documents. Standard rail lengths, the minimum incline, the folded depth from the wall, the chair's projection with the seat down, the rail and chair extension past the bottom step, the seat clearance when swiveled at the top, the power swivel angle and the rail position with a folding rail are all available from the manufacturer or a dealer on request. Bruno does not publish a minimum stair width, tread loads or an operating temperature range.

What the site survey measures instead.

• Stair length, total rise and angle. Over 45 degrees is a special order.
• Clear width from the rail side to the opposite handrail, newel post or wall, and the walking path left beside the folded chair.
• Bottom landing: doorways, corners, hallways and traffic paths near the rail end, and the floor finish if a folding rail is considered.
• Top landing: depth, and any doors, walls or railings in the seat's swivel and exit path.
• Treads: material, condition, nosings and carpet.
• The nearest outlet, and whether a wall switch controls it.
• The rider: weight against 300 lb, and the transfer checks in section 02.

How does the rail mount, and what clearance do the stair and landings need?

The rail fixes to supports screwed into the treads, within 5 in of the wall, and Bruno publishes no tread loads or folded-depth figures.

Mounting to treads. Bruno says a stairlift is always installed on the top of the treads, and each foot takes a few screws. After removal, holes in carpet are rarely noticed; on exposed wood, concrete or metal, small screw holes will show. Bruno does not publish tread loads, so the survey checks the tread construction and the fastening surface.

Folding rail rules. Fold the manual rail only with the chair at or above the mid-park position; folding it with the chair lower damages the lift. The folding section must be fully down before the chair can reach the bottom. The power folding rail moves as the chair passes mid-park, beeps while it moves, and stops and briefly reverses at an obstruction. Both versions carry a pinch-point warning: keep the areas above and below the folding section clear.

What power and controls does the Elan need?

The Elan charges from any point on the rail through a live, non-switched outlet, and Bruno publishes no dedicated-circuit or run-time figures.

The Elan runs on batteries. The carriage charges through charge strips whenever it is parked anywhere on the rail.

• Charger: 100 to 240 VAC, 1.0 A input; 24 VDC, 1 A output, with continuous monitoring.
• Outlet: Bruno's stairlift guide says the indoor straight charger "plugs into a standard 110v household outlet" and "may be plugged in at top or bottom of the staircase." The owner's manual says not to use a switch-controlled outlet and to keep the charger plugged into a live outlet at all times.
• Circuit: Bruno's public documents do not specify a dedicated circuit, GFCI protection, receptacle height or circuit size; confirm with the dealer. The electrician sizes and protects the circuit under the National Electrical Code edition enforced by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), usually the local construction office.
• Power outage: "Your stair lift is battery powered and will operate for some time during a power outage, depending on the battery condition, length of stairs and weight of rider." For an outage of more than one hour, Bruno says to turn off the carriage circuit breaker and unplug the charger. Bruno's stairlift guide gives "typically, for 10-15 round trips" for its indoor straight stairlifts as a group; it is not an SRE-5000 specification.
• Low batteries: the lift slows or stops. Partially charged batteries let it go down the rail but not up.
• Remotes: two infrared remotes, for an empty chair only, with receivers on both sides of the carriage. Do not mount a remote behind an obstacle such as a rail post or around a corner, and keep direct sunlight off the receivers.

What codes apply in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?

Permit and inspection requirements for stairlifts vary by state and code office, and the authority having jurisdiction confirms them.

What Bruno states. The owner's manual says the lift "is intended to be installed in compliance with the current edition of" ASME A18.1 (platform lifts and stairway chairlifts), ASME A17.5/CSA B44.1, NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) and CSA C22.1 (Canadian Electrical Code), and says to verify local codes with the authorities. It shows a cETLus listing mark, control number 4004689, without stating the listing's scope.

Bruno's public SRE-5000 documents name no A18.1 edition or part. New Jersey's elevator subcode uses A18.1-2023 (IBC/2024 Chapter 35). Confirm with the dealer or Bruno that the SRE-5000 meets the edition the AHJ enforces.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Permit and inspection requirements for stairlifts vary by state, building type and local code office. Confirm them with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before installation. Stairlifts in commercial buildings and in the common areas of apartment buildings need a permit and yearly inspection.

Accessibility. The U.S. Access Board says stairway chairlifts cannot be used where the ADA Standards permit platform lifts (206.7), because riders must transfer to a fixed seat. The design professional decides whether the building needs an accessible route; section 02 lists the alternatives.

Who decides. The AHJ decides which code requirements apply. Details are on the NJ and PA code requirements page.

Who does what on an Elan project?

An Elan project moves from assessing the rider and stair, to choosing the model and options, to preparing the outlet, to the dealer's installation.

1. Step 01

   Assess the rider and the stair

   Check the rider against Bruno's user requirements and 300 lb. Confirm the stair is straight and indoors.

2. Step 02

   Choose the model and options

   Elan or Elite straight, the side of the stair, and any folding rail, power swivel or power footrest.

3. Step 03

   Prepare the stair and outlet

   Finish the treads and flooring, provide a live outlet that no wall switch controls where the dealer directs (Bruno allows the top or bottom of the stair), and agree remote locations.

4. Step 04

   Install and hand over

   An authorized Bruno dealer installs the lift, cuts the rail to fit and sets the options.

What mistakes should planners avoid?

Common mistakes include using older SRE-3050 figures, switched outlets, bottom-landing swivel plans, and treating the Elan as an accessible route.

• Using SRE-3050 figures. Older Elan documents carry different values, so a layout based on them may not match the SRE-5000.
• Putting the charger on a switched outlet. The batteries stop charging when the switch is off; the lift slows, then goes down but not up.
• Ignoring the rail end at the bottom. Next to a doorway, corner or hallway it can become a tripping hazard. Plan a folding rail or move the traffic path.
• Planning a swivel exit at the bottom. The seat swivels only at the top landing.
• Specifying the Elan for a rider it does not suit. Over 300 lb: the Elan is rated 300 lb; the Elite straight is rated 400 lb. Scoot-pivot onto one armrest or buckling knees: Bruno recommends the SRE-2010 Elite.
• Counting a stairlift as an accessible route. The ADA Standards do not permit it.
• Mounting a remote behind a rail post or around a corner. The remote may not reach the carriage receivers.

Checklists

Separate checklists cover the architect or designer, the general contractor and the electrician.

What warranty and maintenance does Bruno publish?

Bruno's Limited Lifetime Warranty covers major components for the stairlift's lifetime, other parts for two years, and requires yearly dealer service.

Bruno's "Limited Lifetime Warranty" for the Bruno Elan Indoor Stair Lift, Model SRE-5000, covers the original purchaser:

• Major components: the motor, gearbox, drivetrain and static rail system, free of defects in material and workmanship for the lifetime of the stairlift as long as the original purchaser owns it. Optional equipment is not a major component.
• Parts: all other parts, for two (2) years after installation by a Bruno Authorized Dealer.
• Labor: labor by a Bruno Authorized Dealer to address any defect, for the first thirty (30) days after installation.
• Start date: the date of installation by a Bruno Authorized Dealer, which should be no later than 14 months after the lift shipped from the factory.
• Exclusions: misuse, abuse, accidents, neglect or modifications not made by a Bruno Authorized Dealer; consumables such as remote batteries; dealer labor after the first 30 days; reasonable wear and tear.
• Conditions: claims go through a Bruno Authorized Dealer, and all maintenance and repair other than the owner's own must be done by one. Bruno does not cover indirect, incidental or consequential damages.

The owner's manual adds: "Bruno stair lifts must be installed and maintained by an authorized Bruno dealer or the warranty will be null and void." The owner cleans the rail surfaces monthly (not the gear rack) and keeps the charger plugged in. "At least once a year, have the stair lift examined, cleaned and lubricated by a qualified, authorized Bruno dealer."

Frequently asked questions

Sources and revision history