For older people, wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility, stairs can turn a familiar home into a daily obstacle. A home lift gives direct access between floors and can reduce the need to rely on the staircase.
That can matter in Cambodia, where parents, children and grandparents often share a multi-storey home. Better access helps family members keep using shared rooms and routines as mobility changes.
Why do stairs become a barrier at home?
Stairs place repeated load on the knees, hips and back. For an older person, or someone recovering from illness, injury or surgery, that effort can become painful or tiring. Falls are also a real safety concern.
When stairs become difficult, people may stop using rooms on other floors or wait for help before moving between levels. In a shophouse, borey home or villa, that can gradually reduce how much of the home a person can use independently.
How does a home lift help you move between floors?
A home lift carries people and everyday items between floors without using the stairs. It can be useful for:
- Older people who find stairs painful or unsafe
- Wheelchair users and people using a walking frame
- People recovering from illness, injury or surgery
- Parents carrying young children or a pram
- Families preparing a house for needs that may change over time
What should you check before fitting a home lift in a Cambodian house?
Many Cambodian homes were not planned around a lift. Screw-driven home lifts can work well in retrofit projects because the drive system and shaft can fit within a compact footprint.
For the Cibes V90 range sold in Cibes Lift Cambodia, the smallest published cut-out is 1,060 x 960 mm, with a 0 – 120 mm pit and up to 20 m travel. Final dimensions depend on the model, cabin, door configuration and site conditions.
A site survey should confirm the available footprint, floor structure, opening position, door clearances and power supply before the model is selected. For a new borey house or villa, planning the lift opening during design usually gives more freedom over position and finish.
Where can a home lift go?
Depending on the structure and available space, a home lift may be installed:
- Beside the staircase
- Within the stairwell
- In a corner of the house
- Through a floor opening
- Outdoors, beside or in front of the property
Installing a home lift near the stairs can make good use of existing space, but the best position depends on the staircase layout, floor structure and available clearances.
Which safety standards should you check for a home lift?
For machinery placed on the European market, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027. EN 81-41:2024 covers vertical lifting platforms intended for people with impaired mobility, including platforms used by people with or without wheelchairs.
The standard or declaration that applies to a specific Cibes lift depends on the exact product, configuration, date and market. Buyers should ask for the conformity documents for the lift being supplied rather than rely on a general product-family statement.
How does the lift sit in the house?
A home lift also becomes part of the room around it. A glass shaft can allow daylight to pass through a stair void, while door positions, lighting and finishes can be selected to suit the project. The practical question comes first: the lift still needs safe access, suitable clearances and a position that works with the structure.
What should you do next?
Start with a site survey. It confirms suitable lift positions, slab opening requirements, power supply, door clearances and the lift size that can fit the house. For a new build, involve the lift supplier before the structural openings are fixed.
About Cibes Lift Cambodia
Cibes Lift Cambodia is a direct subsidiary of Cibes Lift Group AB. It has operated in Cambodia since 2021 and opened its Phnom Penh showroom with working demonstration lifts in 2023. The company is listed in the EuroCham Cambodia members directory.
Showroom: House 261, Commercial Street, near Chip Mong 271 Mega Mall, Phnom Penh
Hotline: 011 837 183 or 093 837 183
Website: cibescambodia.com
About the author
Kahna Pov – Country Manager, Cibes Lift Cambodia
Since joining Cibes Lift Cambodia in 2022, Kahna Pov has advised on residential lift solutions and projects in Cambodia.
