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I have noticed an interest from subscribers to our website about the specifications of building a ramp for a disabled person entering their home. Most Building Codes are very specific about the requirements for ramps. In the United States, there is The Americans with Disabilities Act, which outlines the dimensions for ramps. Let's go over the key points for building a ramp to gain access to the interior of your house, in simple terms. It is always a good idea to checkout your local building codes, as well.
Ramps are necessary for individuals in wheelchairs, as well as those pushing strollers, grocery carts and the elderly or infirm to access the entrance to a home. A ramp should have a level area at the bottom as well as the top and at changes of direction. Some long ramps over 20 feet should have a level spot in the middle. These level areas or landings should be the width of the ramp and at least 5' long. This allows the wheelchair driver to negotiate a turn and the chance to slow down or just to stop and rest. The ideal width of a ramp is 36" between handrails. Handrails are installed on both sides of the ramp. This allows the wheelchair driver to grab the handrails and pull himself or herself along. The preferred height of the top of a handrail is also 36", another rail at 18" is helpful for those unable to reach the higher rail, children, for example. The handrail should be continuous and returned into the wall, floor or post or the end rounded to avoid someone running into it.
The slope of the ramp should be not less than 1' in 12', except for very short ramps. This means that if the vertical rise in the ramp is 1' high the horizontal distance should be at least 12' long. Curved ramps should be avoided due to difficulties negotiating curves in a wheelchair; better to have a landing instead.
The ramp should have a 3" high curb to prevent the front wheel of the wheelchair from going off the edge. This curb can be incorporated with the handrail, having a bottom rail not more than 3" above the deck. Any difference in height or projection on the ramp should not be more than ½", for example where the plywood sits on the sidewalk at the start of the slope.
Ramps can be constructed of wood, concrete or steel. Make sure the surface is slip resistant and that level areas cannot hold puddles of water and will not build up ice during the winter. In many areas, the cost of building a ramp for the disabled can be deducted from your income tax.
Hope this helps.
