Glossary of Terms Used

We have included this page on our website to assist first time buyers with the terms that are used within our very small niche industry and which you may be unfamiliar with.  We hope it helps.

WAV

The industry abbreviation for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Lowered Floor

This conversion requires the removal of the original floor at the rear saloon area of the vehicle and a replacement suitable for wheelchair access installed.  The principle benefit is that the headroom for the wheelchair user is significantly increased and as the floor is lower to the ground the angle of ascent into the vehicle is greatly reduced making the task of pushing the wheelchair and user relatively easier. The conversion will have a permanently fixed manual ramp which pivots on a hinge to raise and lower when access is required. In most circumstances the lowered floor conversion is sufficient for most able bodied carers to safely manoeuvre the wheelchair and wheelchair user into the ride position.  If the carer is less able or perhaps slightly incapacitated in someway themselves then consideration should be given to selecting a vehicle fitted with a power winch (see below).

High Roof

A cheaper alternative to the lowered floor conversion is the ‘high roof’ WAV (sometimes referred to as a ‘Pope mobile’!).  This is generally a commercial vehicle which has had a semi high or high roof fitted during the manufacturing process when new.  The wheelchair will sit on the original factory floor and has a similar permanently fixed ramp installed to the rear of the vehicle.  As the floor is at standard height from the ground, the ramp is very much longer than a lowered floor conversion and will usually be a two piece arrangement.  Due to the height from the floor, the wheelchair user may feel vulnerable when entering or exiting the vehicle.  High roof vehicles will very often necessitate the installation of a powered winch (see below) as the effort to push a wheelchair and the wheelchair user up the ramp can be considerable.

Ramps

Essentially there three types of ramp: two of which are permanently fitted to the vehicle more often than not at the rear but sometimes at the side of the vehicle, the other is very much a rarity nowadays and not often seen within the wheelchair accessible vehicle industry – the portable telescopic ramp.

The most popular manual ramps are of either single or two piece construction and are immensely strong (the maximum loading weight is 300kg or 660lb) but light in handling weight.  They are fitted to the vehicle by a pivotal hinge bracket and sit upright at the door/tailgate area when travelling.  The widths of the ramps are generally between 29-33 inches (74-84cm).

Occasionally we come across powered ramps which lower and rise at the touch of a button but these are something of a rarity due to the cost when new.  It is possible to convert a conventional ramp but the cost is considered more often than not, prohibitive.

The telescopic ramps mentioned above are usually to be found with older adapted vehicles or within the taxi industry.  Whilst highly portable and of robust construction, they are very much seen as a temporary ‘quick fix’ solution for wheelchair accessibility and require travelling storage space, conscientious alignment prior to the wheelchair manoeuvring on them.  The wheelchair user will definitely feel anxious when riding on them!

Powered Winch

Powered winches are designed to assist the carer in manoeuvring the wheelchair into and out of the WAV. Whilst the winch will pull the wheelchair and its user in, the carer must guide it into position.  Similarly, when exiting the winch will reel out under command but the carer must provide the initial and usually minimal effort to roll out the wheelchair when on a flat surface.  Again, when exiting the WAV, guidance must be offered to the wheelchair when moving down the ramp.  Powered winches can be fitted to most vehicles at extra cost.

The winches are usually cable controlled although some now have wireless technology.

It is important that due consideration is given to the terrain on which the vehicle is parked upon – if there is a significant slope a risk may exist for the wheelchair and user to move under its own weight when entering the vehicle once the ramp has been negotiated.

Lifts

Lifts are found only in larger WAVs and are fitted to standard floors and cannot be fitted to lowered floor conversions.  Sometimes seen as cumbersome, the main benefit is the ease in which the wheelchair and user is transferred from the ground into the rear of the vehicle. The lifts are fitted with a manual over-ride system should the vehicle electrics fail. Lift widths are generally 30 inches (76cm).

As with most hydro-electric equipment we recommend that a service and weight test is carried out annually by a competent tail lift engineer.

Please note – these lifts should only ever be used for the purpose for which it was designed and the load weight must never be exceeded.

Lowering Suspension

Some lowered floor WAVs are fitted with a lowering rear suspension system which allows the rear of the vehicle to drop closer to the ground thereby further reducing the angle of assent.  This enables the conversion engineers to fit shorter ramps and so there is less encroachment into the rear cargo space behind the wheelchair when travelling.

There are two types of lowering suspension:

Hydraulic – this is the most reliable type and is therefore the most common.  Hydraulic rams effectively squeeze the rear suspension springs together thereby reducing the length of spring travel lowering the floor closer to the ground.

Air – the vehicle’s height is determined by the amount of air pumped into an air bag on either side of the vehicle’s suspension mounting brackets.  When wheelchair access is required air is driven out of the bags allowing the suspension to sink down and when required to rise a compressor activates and pumps air back into the system.  This system has reliability issues with scope for breakdown due to air bag punctures or airbag misalignment, air line splits and compressor failures.  In our experience, this usually occurs on a Sunday and has influenced our decision not to sell this type of lowering suspension.

Seating

On our website we refer to the number of seats as those available for able bodied persons not including the wheelchair.  Some WAVs have custom made rear seats and are three quarter sized.  Smaller WAVs usually only have a single seat in the rear, this is to enable the wheelchair user to sit closer to the front of the vehicle.  It is possible to have a second rear seat manufactured and installed at an additional cost, however the space for the wheelchair is restricted to around 18–22 inches (46-55cm) approximately.  Additionally there may be limitations as to fabric match depending on the age of the vehicle.

Headroom

When we refer to headroom we estimate where the average wheelchair user would be stationed in the vehicle and measure the height floor to ceiling at that point.  We recommend that the wheelchair user has a minimum of 2 inches (5cm) clearance from the top of the head to the roof of the vehicle.

Wheelchair Tie – Downs

This is the system employed to restrain the wheelchair inside the vehicle.  The system is normally made up of four webbed straps that are secured to the floor of the vehicle with a method of attachment to the wheelchair.  The straps are adjustable to ensure the wheelchair is secured in position.  There are many variations to this theme dependent on the original conversion engineers preference or their clients original specification but they are all practical and easy to use.

Wheelchair Users Restraint System

The wheelchair user normally has a three anchor point system – two floor mounted and one mounted in the roof.  In some larger WAVs the restraint system is mounted on tracking and usually has a two point system only.