Prior to the Americans with disability act or ADA for short, the wheelchair users had to make their own arrangements to getting inside any place of work or building.
The ADA has set out guidelines for the commercial and public building plans.
They must be accessible to the physically disabled.
Hence the ramps must be included in the structure of the buildings.
These help the wheelchair users to get into the building very easily.
Architects and planners now take greater importance in the design of their building relating to handicapped access and now almost all public building and many private will include such items as handicapped ramps and other access points.
Simply building a ramp is not sufficient.
There are certain rules to be followed for helping out the disabled.
The guidelines help in standardising the plans for ramp construction.
These guidelines are framed keeping in mind the use of different types of wheelchairs.
It also takes into consideration the age group of the wheelchair users.
It is important that the commercial structures to follow and abide by the guidelines given by the ADA.
The builders must ensure proper safe entry and exit for the wheelchair users.
The Federal has set out the basic minimum requirements to be followed during the ramp construction for easing out the climbing troubles related to the wheelchair users.
It is better to check with the Federal authorities for any additions to the said requirements.
The basic measurements to be followed can be listed as under: 1.
As the elderly people cannot go on high sloped ramps, in order to help them use the ramp comfortably, the slope should not be more than one inch for a linear distance of 18 inches.
The linear length covered for the horizontal rise of 1 inch should not be less than 12 inches.
2.
The clearance between the railings is recommended to be 42 inches.
It should not be less than 36 inches.
3.
The maximum ramp length must not exceed 30 inches.
After the said length there must be at least 60 inches of flat rest platform.
The rest platform must be of same width as the ramp.
4.
There must be flat landing at the top and bottom of the ramp.
5.
The guardrails or the handrails must be constructed on either sides of the ramp.
These must be at least 30 inches in height.
The height must not exceed 38 inches.