Built for testing at height.

The National Lift Tower is an independent research and development facility in Northampton. Originally designed and built to test lifts for the Express Lift Company, it now supports a broader programme of engineering research, product development and safety testing.

Today, Aliaxis UK operates its Training and Research Centre within the tower, supporting innovation in high-rise drainage, waste and ventilation systems alongside practical training for the wider industry.

At 127 metres (418 feet), the tower's scale and specialist infrastructure make it a distinctive resource for organisations developing, evaluating and training with equipment for use at height.

The tower contains four lift shafts across 18 floors, providing an unusual vertical environment for research, testing and training projects that cannot be replicated in a conventional facility.

At the heart of the drainage research facility is a 75-metre soil stack, the world's tallest drainage testing installation. It can recreate high-rise drainage conditions, including up to 40 flushes in a single test.

The tower also supports drop testing and sharp-edge testing for safety devices such as descenders. A 40-metre wind turbine ladder, with IBEX 1000 and Limpet climbing-assist systems, is available for working-at-height training.