Often times, there are many cases where it becomes necessary to add seats to a wheelchair accessible vehicle in order to accommodate a greater number of ambulatory passengers. In most cases this is a straightforward modification and can be done at a reasonable cost.
Flexibility
In most of the cases where we receive the request to add a seat, the van or bus is already equipped with a certain number of wheelchair positions and ambulatory seats but, the organization finds themselves with a changing need, such as outings where more ambulatory capacity is required intermittently. The cause and frequency of the need for more seating will dictate the type of seating required.
In general, there are two types of seat to choose from: Rigid/Permanently Mounted Seats and Flip or Folding Seats.
In the event that the organization is re-purposing a wheelchair van, or there is a permanent need for more ambulatory seating and no longer a need for the wheelchair positions, a permanently installed, rigid seat can be used. Just as the name implies, these seats permanently occupy the space in which they are installed and cannot be removed or folded out of the way. Rigid seats are among the least expensive seats available so this is often the most cost effective option to add seats to your wheelchair van or bus.
More often, however, the wheelchair positions are still required but an organization needs to add more seating for ambulatory passengers. In this case, they desire a flexible floor plan and this requires that flip or folding seats are used. While flip and folding seats operate differently from each other, the function of both is to allow seats to be moved out of the way when the wheelchair station is in use and then be un-folded to revert to ambulatory seating.
The original design and use of the wheelchair van, ambulette or bus will typically dictate the type of seat required. Flip and folding seats are more complicated devices and are therefore more expensive than rigid seats. However, the benefit of flexibility is generally well worth the price!
Appearance
Most organizations are concerned about the appearance of the interior of the wheelchair van or accessible bus and want to match as closely as possible the seating style and fabric. As there are just a handful of manufacturers that account for the majority of van and bus seats and as their products don’t change that frequently, this is usually not a problem. Seats can be ordered with closely or exact matching fabrics as well as items like grab bars and armrests that may be on the other seats in the vehicle. In the end, even if it is not exact, your new seats will be pleasing to the eye and blend in with the original seats.
For those who are not concerned about appearance, there is an opportunity to save money as dealers like ourselves will typically have extra or used seats that are available at a very low price.
Structure and Standards
All of the seats in use must meet certain safety standards and are required by the manufacturer to be installed in such a way that ensures adherence to these standards. When evaluating your wheelchair van or wheelchair bus to determine the time and materials — and therefore cost — required for installation, things like special reinforcements, removal and repair of flooring, floor tracks, etc, will enter into the calculation. In addition, if a seat needs to be added above a gas tank, exhaust system etc., there will be additional costs to remove and reinstall these items in order to install the additional seats.
In some cases, the floor will not have the proper structure and steel plating must be added to ensure a compliant installation.
Adding seats to your wheelchair van or wheelchair bus is generally not a problem and usually a cost-effective way to get more seating capacity in your vehicle. As long as special care is taken to ensure that the installation will meet manufacturer’s installation guidelines and industry standards, the added seat will provide you with the seating you need to run your business effectively.