Savaria Multilift Vertical Platform Lift: Planning Guide

What is the Savaria Multilift, and where does it fit?

The Savaria Multilift is a screw-drive, two-stop vertical platform lift for homes and, where code permits, basic commercial applications.

The Multilift is Savaria's screw-drive vertical platform lift (VPL). A 1 hp motor drives an ACME screw inside the tower. Savaria states that a back-up nut with a safety switch stops the lift if the drive malfunctions. The motor, drive and relay logic controller are all in the tower, so there is no machine room.

Savaria designs the Multilift for home use, often as a porch or deck lift or inside a garage, and for basic commercial needs where code permits: raised areas, short mezzanines and changes in level. Savaria marks commercial Multilift use "not available in all markets" and refers that question to the local dealer.

Where it does not fit:

• Through a floor. Savaria states that vertical platform lifts cannot penetrate a floor.
• More than two levels or 72 in of rise. Some commercial applications have lower limits (section 02).
• Heavy traffic. Savaria sets daily cycle and hourly start limits (section 03) and asks you to consult its sales representative if use may exceed them.
• Standing riders without a platform gate. The owner's manual says that on a unit with a fold-up ramp and no platform gate, the user must be seated.
• An accessible route from the Mobile model. The U.S. Access Board's guide says portable lifts do not satisfy the ADA Standards, even when they comply with ASME A18.1.

Savaria's hydraulic V-1504 is the product most often confused with the Multilift; both carry 750 lb. Savaria's commercial tables compare them:

For more rise or more levels, review the V-1504. Other platform lifts are on the wheelchair lift category page.

Which Multilift model fits the project?

The Standard, the Standard in a hoistway, the Enclosure and the Mobile share one specification but differ in construction, entry type and pit needs.

The planning guides give one Multilift specification (drive, controller, 750 lb load, 8 ft/min); Savaria publishes no separate capacity or power rating for the Mobile.

Notes for the specifier:

• Platform types. Type 2 has entry and exit at both ends (standard). Types 3 and 4 have them at one end and one side (90 degree, optional). The single same-side entry on the Enclosure has no published planning dimensions.
• Gates. A Savaria top landing gate is required above 30 in of travel in the USA and on all commercial lifts. The owner's manual calls the platform gate optional for residential use and required for public applications, but the residential guide's commercial list reads "platform gate or hoistway" and the public guide includes layouts without one; confirm with Savaria and the AHJ. The planning guides require a platform gate on the 36 x 60 in model. Both gates lock electro-mechanically unless the lift is at that landing.
• Commercial use. The brochure says the Multilift is approved for certain public accessibility projects with the optional commercial package. Both 2020 planning guides list a hoistway among commercial requirements. The public guide reads: "For hoistway applications, please see Figure 8 below. Also required are the following: Grab bar (hand rail); Emergency light on platform; Controller redundancy; Emergency stop/alarm; Hoistway; Top landing gate or door; Disconnect (provided by others); Door locks." The residential guide states "ASME A17.1: An enclosure or hoistway is required", and its ASME A17.1/A18.1 list includes "Platform gate or hoistway". Yet Savaria also lists an open commercial deck lift with 60 in maximum travel. Whether an open Multilift is acceptable in a public building is the AHJ's decision; settle it before design development.
• Commercial travel. Savaria's product page also shows a 12 to 14 ft hoistway line; its newer commercial comparison table and both planning guides limit the Multilift to 72 in. Plan to 72 in and confirm with Savaria.
• Features and options. The product page lists a full depth platform handrail and an emergency stop/alarm button as standard; the brochure lists a grab rail and an emergency light and alarm as options. Confirm both on a public lift's order. Other options: keyless operation, joystick or pendant control, power operators, battery back-up and Savaria Link remote monitoring.

What size is the Multilift, and how far can it travel?

The Multilift travels up to 48 in standard, or 72 in as an option, over 2 stops, in platforms from 34 x 48 to 42 x 60 in.

Platform sizes

Clear inside sizes, width x length, from the residential planning guide:

• Public lifts. The public planning guide lists Types 2, 3 and 4 in 36 x 48, 36 x 54, 36 x 60, 42 x 48, 42 x 54 and 42 x 60 in only.
• 42 in wide sizes. The 2024 owner's manual lists 42 x 60 in as its only 42 in size; confirm the size with Savaria.
• 90 degree entry on a public lift. Savaria's commercial page says accessibility code requires a 36 x 60 or 42 x 60 in platform for entrances at 90 degrees, with long-side doors giving 42 in clearance and power-operated landing doors. The residential guide's 36 in Type 3 and 4 sizes stop at 59 in, so use a public-guide size. Savaria does not publish the clear width of the Enclosure's 45 in opening.

Runway footprints

Finished runway width (A) and length (B) for Type 2 (straight-through) layouts, from the residential guide unless marked. The public guide shows the same values for both 42 in open lifts and the 36 in Enclosure.

• Tolerance. Running clearances are as small as 1/2 in (13 mm). The hoistway and pit must be level, plumb within 1/8 in (3 mm) either way, and square.
• 36 in lift with a platform gate. The residential guide draws it with a 53 1/4 in (1353 mm) runway width, no runway length and 88 in (2235 mm) minimum overhead; the public guide gives the table's values and 80 in (2032 mm). Use the site-specific drawing.
• Door frames. The drawings dimension the door frame at 44 in for the open 34 in lift (1118 mm) and the 36 in platform-gate lift (1117 mm), and 44 1/2 in (1130 mm) for the 34 in hoistway lift. Confirm rough openings on the site-specific drawing.
• Other layouts. Types 3 and 4, the 45 in openings and three-gate platforms are drawn in the planning guides, and most on Savaria's CAD drawings page. Get site-specific installation drawings from Savaria or an authorized Savaria dealer before construction.
• Mobile Multilift. The drawing shows a 72 1/4 in (1835 mm, reference) by 86 in (2184.3 mm) footprint and 80 in (2032 mm) minimum overhead.

What slab, pit, overhead and structure does the Multilift need?

The Multilift needs a floor rated for at least 3000 lb, a 3 in pit in a hoistway, and 80 in of overhead on most drawings (88 in on one).

• Outdoor slab. Savaria's sample detail shows 1/2 in (13 mm) rods at 12 in (305 mm) centers both ways, over 15 in of compaction rock, 22.5 in (572 mm) deep overall. The drawing marks the 1.5 in (38.1 mm) insulation optional; the text calls it essential wherever the temperature can drop below freezing.
• Outdoor slab, size. The plan size is 72 in (1829 mm) by 52 in minimum as printed, but the metric value beside the 52 in, 1524 mm, equals 60 in; confirm the width on the site-specific drawing. The slab must be 8 in wider with the tower support bracket and, per Savaria's commercial page, hold the lift and the deployed ramp.
• Tower support. Savaria states that 42 in wide units are not self-supporting and need wall mounting. Its load table shows wall anchoring for 60 in and 72 in travel with an enclosure, and the mast must be fastened to a structural wall where required; confirm support on the site-specific drawing.
• Tower support bracket. Commercial units without a support wall need the public guide's tower support bracket behind the tower; in Savaria's 36 x 48 in example it is 37 3/4 in wide and extends 8 in behind the tower.
• Loads. The structural engineer must confirm that the building and shaft safely carry all lift loads. Savaria's worst-case tables are for a 36 x 60 in platform in a hoistway application and assume the unit is self-supported:

The tables list maximum weights: tower 500 lb (48 in model) or 650 lb (60 and 72 in models), car 400 lb, enclosure 625, 675 or 725 lb. The average standard cab weighs 350 lb. With base legs, the pit load from cab weight and capacity spreads over the footprint.

The tables include no safety factor (Savaria recommends at least 4; check local code) and exclude wind, seismic, environmental and acceleration forces. Wall loads assume brackets at 36 in spacing; double the per-mounting-point value for the load per bracket.

• Overhead. On a public lift in new construction, the advisory to ADA 410.1 says a lift without 80 in vertical clearance cannot be part of an accessible route.
• Landing edge. Notch the landing 1/4 in (6.35 mm) so the gate angle bracket sits flush, or install a 1/4 in fascia panel below the bracket and add 1/4 in to any hoistway or pit dimension. A fascia panel below the upper landing is required to eliminate pinch points. Savaria's installation guide is not public; gate and door installation details are available from the manufacturer or a dealer on request.
• Work by others. Door frames are not designed to carry overhead wall loads, so where doors are required the owner or agent provides lintels. Where required, smooth solid barriers at least 42 in (1067 mm) high go on both sides of the upper entrance.

What electrical work does the Multilift need?

The Multilift needs a dedicated 120 VAC, 20 A, single-phase circuit through a fuse disconnect, plus lighting, a GFCI outlet and phone service in a hoistway.

• Controls. Platform controls and call stations use continuous-pressure buttons with keyed access as standard; keyless operation is an option. The platform panel has an emergency stop/alarm button. The lift will not move if a door or gate is open.
• Emergency operation. A manual hand crank lowers or raises the platform. The optional 24 VDC battery back-up gives up to 5 up/down trips during a power failure, and Savaria's commercial page says it is required if the lift is part of an accessible path.
• Communication. One Touch Alert needs a prepaid nano SIM card from the owner. The owner's manual says to shut down a hoistway or Enclosure lift until an inactive phone line is restored.

Can the Multilift go outdoors?

Yes; Savaria rates the Multilift for -20 °F to +122 °F outdoors, with weather-resistant finishes and more frequent maintenance in harsh environments.

Yes. Savaria lists it for indoor and outdoor use, in homes and, where code permits, commercial buildings.

• Temperature: -20 °F to +122 °F (-29 °C to +50 °C).
• Weather protection: powder-coated steel, a zinc-coated platform and a drive contained in the tower. The brochure lists a weather resistant lock for outdoor use as an option. The Enclosure adds protection; its optional ventilation needs its own 15 A circuit.
• Harsh sites: Savaria's warranty requires additional maintenance in harsh environments, such as salt water or temperature extremes, and the owner's manual calls for more frequent maintenance outdoors.
• Fire rating: Savaria publishes none for the Multilift or its enclosure; its commercial page describes indoor enclosure use for short travel in non-fire-rated applications. Decide any hoistway rating with the building official.
• Finish: beige powder coat standard; gloss, semi-gloss and Velvacoat textures optional; over 200 RAL colors optional.

Which codes apply in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?

New Jersey treats the Multilift as an elevator device needing a construction permit; Pennsylvania exempts single-dwelling lifts but permits others through the Department of Labor & Industry.

Full detail: NJ and PA code requirements.

What Savaria states

The residential guide lists ASME A18.1, 2003 through 2017 editions, Section 5 (private), and A17.1-1996 Section 21 (private); the public guide lists the same A18.1 editions, Section 2 (public). No Multilift document lists a later edition or an electrical listing. The design professional locates the lift; the AHJ decides whether a platform lift is permitted there, which edition applies and whether an open Multilift is acceptable in a public building.

New Jersey

• A Multilift is an "elevator device" under N.J.A.C. 5:23-12 and needs a construction permit (5:23-12.1(e); 5:23-2.14).
• The 2024 codes (IBC/2024 and IRC/2024 NJ editions, NEC 2023) took effect August 17, 2026, with a six-month grace period for permit applications under the prior code (5:23-1.6(a)). They reference ASME A18.1-2023 (IBC/2024 Chapter 35), later than any edition Savaria lists; confirm compliance with Savaria and the elevator subcode official.
• Where the State has elevator subcode jurisdiction, DCA reviews the plans, and a New Jersey licensed architect or engineer signs and seals the layouts.
• In Groups R-3, R-4 and R-5, a lift not accessible to the public is exempt from periodic inspection and registration (5:23-12.3(a)5; 12.4(b)). Where DCA is the elevator subcode official, acceptance is by a sealed report from a New Jersey licensed engineer or registered architect (SLCI-Admin 001-2020). Other wheelchair lifts are inspected and tested at least yearly.
• Commercial: DCA's process calls for a Platform Lift Certification letter from the municipal building subcode official before elevator plan review.
• Installers: a licensed elevator mechanic or a person under one's supervision (N.J.S.A. 45:14H-5a).

Pennsylvania

• A lift used only by the occupants of one dwelling unit in a solely residential building is outside the UCC's elevator chapter (34 Pa. Code § 405.1(b)(3)); ask the municipal building code official about the related work.
• Other lifts need a Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) permit, acceptance inspection and certificate of operation (§§ 405.3, 405.5, 405.6). A18.1-1999 with addenda applies to permit applications before December 20, 2026, and A18.1-2017 from that date (§ 405.2). Savaria lists A18.1-2017 but not A18.1-1999; for an earlier application, confirm compliance with Savaria and DLI.

Accessibility (public buildings only)

• Under the 2010 ADA Standards, platform lifts comply with ASME A18.1 (1999 or 2003) and 410; in new construction they may serve an accessible route only in the 206.7 locations.
• Lifts may not be attendant-operated, and the Access Board says a lift users must request a key to operate fails independent operation. The Multilift is keyed as standard; specify the keyless option.
• New Jersey enforces Chapter 11 of IBC/2024 with ICC A117.1-2017; Pennsylvania still enforces the 2018 IBC accessibility provisions, which reference ICC A117.1-2009 (confirm the edition with the building code official).

Who does what on a Multilift project?

The owner or agent, architect, structural engineer, general contractor, electrician, Savaria's dealer and the AHJ each own a step from code path through acceptance.

1. Step 01

   Confirm the code path

   Settle with the AHJ whether a platform lift is permitted, the A18.1 edition, and whether an open lift is acceptable.

2. Step 02

   Choose model, platform and entrances

   Pick the model, platform type and size, gates or doors, and options.

3. Step 03

   Get site-specific drawings

   Order Savaria's site-specific installation drawings before construction.

4. Step 04

   Engineer and permit

   Confirm the loads and slab design, then file for the permit where one applies.

5. Step 05

   Build, wire, install, accept

   Build, wire and install, then complete the acceptance the code path requires before use.

What planning mistakes cause rework?

Common mistakes include using a residential-size platform for a public lift, treating a 42 in platform as freestanding, and skipping frost insulation under the slab.

• Designing a 34 in wide platform for a public lift. The public guide lists 36 in and 42 in widths only. The platform, runway and slab must be resized.
• Treating a 42 in wide platform as freestanding. Savaria says it is not self-supporting. Without a support wall, the layout must be redesigned.
• Skipping the frost insulation or undersizing the slab. Savaria calls the insulation essential below freezing, and the tower support bracket needs a slab 8 in wider. A slab that moves or is too narrow must be replaced.
• Leaving out the fascia panel. Savaria requires it below the upper landing to eliminate pinch points; the gap must be closed before use.
• Planning a 90 degree public lift on a 59 in platform. Savaria's commercial page says a 90 degree layout needs 36 x 60 or 42 x 60 in. The platform and runway would have to change.

Planning checklists by trade

These checklists let the architect, general contractor and electrician confirm the model, slab, structure and power before the Multilift is ordered.

What does Savaria's warranty cover?

Savaria's 36-month parts warranty covers defective material or workmanship, excludes labor, and requires purchase, installation and maintenance by an authorized Savaria dealer.

Savaria's product page includes a 36-month warranty against defective parts through the local dealer. The full terms are in the Manufacturer's Limited Product Warranty for North America (Part No. 000599, Rev February 2025).

• Start: the date the product ships from a Savaria factory or distribution center, not the installation date.
• Coverage: parts that fail from defective material or workmanship, repaired or replaced at the manufacturer's option, possibly with factory reconditioned parts; facilitated by the authorized Savaria dealer; not transferable.
• Labor: not covered, including troubleshooting, removal, repair or replacement of warranty parts.
• Conditions: the product must be purchased, installed, serviced and maintained by an authorized Savaria dealer, in conformance with applicable codes. The warranty is void without regular inspection and maintenance by an authorized Savaria dealer as the owner's manual recommends. The owner keeps the maintenance records; Savaria may ask for them before releasing warranty parts, and parts go to the dealer only after on-site troubleshooting with Savaria Technical Support.
• Exclusions: consumables such as batteries and light bulbs; wear parts such as panels, glass, acrylic, gates, doors and buttons; paint, caulking and weather seals; and damage from misuse, improper installation, neglect, building or hoistway condition, overloading or acts of God.
• Later parts: parts bought after the warranty period carry a 90-day warranty.

The owner's manual (Part No. 000609, January 30, 2024) sets every listed check every 6 months for commercial or exterior lifts; for residential lifts, yearly at normal and heavy use and every 6 months at excessive use. Checks include the phone, underpan sensors, emergency stop, locks, safety switches and acme screw lubrication.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and revision history