How To Calculate ADA Compliant Slope For A Ramp?

Wheelchair ramps are needed by some people, often due to old age, sickness, or disability.

There are many types of wheelchair ramps, and they can be installed at home or in public spaces. Ramps allow people with disabilities to get access to buildings.

When installing a wheelchair ramp, you should always keep in mind that it must be ADA-compliant. The ADA lists some guidelines for building the ramp.

What are these guidelines and how to calculate ADA recommended slope for a wheelchair ramp, you will come to know as you read this blog.

Use of wheelchair ramp

If you are installing a wheelchair ramp, it is important that you follow the guidelines recommended by the Americans with Disabilities Act so that you can make a durable and safe wheelchair ramp for the user.

The wheelchair ramp can be used in many circumstances. It is not only useful for the movement of wheelchairs, but also for people using a mobility scooter or walker in the household or in public places.

People might use them because of injury, illness, or just old age. Whatever the need is, the wheelchair ramp has to be ergonomic and useful for the user.

It should be built of materials that are durable and allow it to function as per the expectations of the user.

Setting the right kind of elevation and using building materials are thus very critical to building a wheelchair ramp.

Types of wheelchair ramp

The design of wheelchair ramps can be simple to complex. They allow people with disabilities or illnesses to access the areas, and thus there are many types of the wheelchair ramp that come in use.

• Threshold Ramps

These are the most common type, and they are designed to connect the different levels of the building.

They are also used to connect one building to another, for example in malls. Threshold ramps are mostly made of metal, and they can be bought in various sizes.

• Lego Style Threshold Ramps

They are built in such a manner that they fit well with the architecture of the building. Lego style ramps are designed in a way to prevent users or children from falling when entering or leaving the building.

They are usually made of polypropylene, which is durable.

• Folding Ramps

These are made of lightweight aluminum and can be assembled or dissembled without using tools. They can be stored when not in use and are new in the category of wheelchair ramps.

• Suitcase Ramps

These folding ramps are light in weight, and they have additional use as they are portable too. They fit the use where larger ramps are not possible or practical.

• Telescoping Ramps

These are the most common type and are made of aluminum. They can be moved easily as they have wheels on the sides of the ramp. They have handrails for support and a lip at the end for safely holding the wheelchairs.

• Rollable Ramps

These are cheap and can be used at homes by people who cannot afford to spend much on wheelchair ramps.

• Modular Ramps

They are easy to store and transport. They are made up of straight sections and have a landing.

• Permanent Ramps

As the name suggests, they are permanent and made especially in consideration of the needs of the user.

ADA guidelines for ramp installation

• As per the ADA guidelines, wheelchair ramps for commercial buildings should have a slope of 1:12, which is approximately a 5-degree incline. For example, in the case of a 30-inch rise, the ramp must be 30 feet long.
• There should also be a 5-foot by 5-foot area that is flat at the top without any obstacles in the path.
• Residential ramps are allowed to have steeper slope. The maximum allowed slope for home use must be in a ratio of 3:12, which basically means around 15 degrees.
• Coming to the width of a wheelchair ramp, for both portable and permanent ramps, the ADA suggested width is 36 inches, which is the width between the ramp’s handrails. The entire space must be clear of any obstacles.
• The maximum ramp rise should be of 36 inches and a platform has to be provided as well.
• The landings of the ramp should be provided on both sides of the ramp, which is at the top of the ramp and at the bottom of the ramp. The landings must be at least 5 feet by 5 feet in size.
• Edge protection should be provided on both sides of the ramp. Handrails must be fixed and run the entire length of the ramp.

ADA compliant ramp slope calculation

To calculate the ramp slope, divide the wheelchair ramp’s length by its height. This gives you the second number in the ratio, the first being always one.

So, if the ramp measures around 12 feet long, and you have the rise of 2 feet, this means you divide 12 by 2, which gives you 6.

Hence, the ratio, in this case, will be 1:6. This simply means that for every foot, you need 6 feet of ramp.

If you get overwhelmed by the numbers, you can use an ADA slope calculator.

Also, it has to be understood that two completely different ramps may have the same slope.

How to install ramp for wheelchair?

To install a ramp for a wheelchair, you first begin with the location and placement of the ramp.

If you have a large area in front of the door then there are fewer issues, but if you have space issues then in that case you need to install an L-shaped ramp to the entryway from the yard.

At first, you measure the entire rise between the ground right from where the ramp will begin and the elevation at which it will end. Most wheelchair ramp vendors will provide you with measurement charts for ease.

Go for the ramp installation set that is as per the length and angles as per your measurements. Now lay out the modular parts using the tools.

The tools that you may require for the installation are a hammer, metal file, screwdriver, wrench, power drill, measuring tape, level, and socket wrench.

Follow the installation guidelines as mentioned by ADA, and then test your ramp before use.