As the name implies, a permanent wheelchair ramp is one which is constructed in place and meant to be left in place for a considerable time. It can be constructed of cement or wood and be used at a residential or public building.
Because it is a permanent installation local building codes will apply. While the following information is common to many local building codes it should be used only as a guideline and local building inspectors should be consulted for local variations.
Most jurisdictions require a minimum of 12" of ramp for every 1" of rise. This ratio is referred to 12:1. Usually, any length longer than 12" for every inch of rise is acceptable. A 16:1 (16" length per 1" rise) ramp, for example will have a lower slope than a 12:1. the lower the slope the easier it will be for the wheelchair user to traverse the wheelchair ramp.
For information on ramp degree of slope and percent of grade please click here.Permanent wheelchair ramps should have a minimum width or 36" but in some areas or in public applications the requirement may exceeed 36" of width. Check your local building codes for width requirements.
The longest any one span can be, without a landing, for a permanent ramp is 30 feet. Applications that require a wheelchair ramp longer than 30 feet must have a level landing along its length so that no single span of the ramp exceeds 30 feet.
Permanent wheelchair ramps must also have a level landing at both the top and bottom of the ramp and at any point the ramp changes direction in addition to the intermediate landings.
Where a change in direction of the ramp is 90 degrees the landing should be 60" x 60" and where the change in direction is 180 degrees the ramp landing should be 72" x 60".
Ramps with a rise of 6" or more require a railing on both sides of permanent wheelchair ramps which will act as a barrier to prevent the wheelchair or scooter from rolling off the side and as a handrail when ambulatory people are using the ramp. Even for ramps with less than a 6" rise it is recommended that some type of barrier is created along the edges to prevent rolling off.
While it seems obvious that a wheelchair ramp is less expensive than a porch lift, that may not be true if the ramp has to accommodate a rise of over 36" in residential applications.
For those who live in regions with accumulations of snow or ice, keeping a wheelchair ramp cleared and safe for use can be a difficult task.
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