Alternative Vertical Mobility Solutions for Direct Access to Lifts at Multistorey Apartments

Singapore’s ageing population has increased the need for direct lift access in public housing. While the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) launched in 2001 has enabled this for most blocks, about 140 older blocks still cannot support lift installation due to high costs or technical constraints on-site.

To bridge this gap, HDB continues to explore cost-effective alternative mobility solutions beyond conventional lift installations. Trials involving vertical platform lifts, pneumatic vacuum elevators, and motorised stairclimbers have been conducted. However, these options face significant limitations, including:

• Tight staircase landings that make manoeuvring difficult
• Requirement for a physically fit and cognitively alert operator, which typically excludes elderly individuals without caregivers
• Storage challenges in small flats
• Complex and time-consuming setup steps
• Limited wheelchair compatibility by dimensions
• Heavy to operate equipment weight
• High upfront cost the average HDB household
• Low user confidence and potential safety concerns
• Need for extensive operator training

• The proposed solution must be user-friendly, feasible for daily use in older HDB blocks, and comply with the following key SCDF and BCA requirements:
  • No encroachment into the escape path during operation (minimum 1m staircase width must remain clear)
  • Minimum 2m headroom from landing floor
  • No pipes or ducts installed within protected staircases
  • Note: This list is not exhaustive. Participants must refer to SCDF, BCA and other relevant agencies’ codes and standards for full compliance.
• Proposed solution must be near-ready with minimum TRL 6, and can be piloted within 2 years.
• The entire project duration should not take more than 2 years.

HDB aims to identify a safe, inclusive and cost-effective vertical mobility solution that can be deployed in existing non–lift-access blocks. The proposed solution should:

• Be cost effective
• Fully meet regulatory requirements
• Support a wide range of users, including wheelchair users, seniors, frail individuals, caregivers, and residents with prams or grocery carts