2″ tall ramp transition for wheelchair
handydadtom
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hi Everyone,
I’ve been asked to do an 8 foot wide by 2 inch tall transition ramp for a person in a wheel chair. The new bedroom was taken from garage space and has a cement floor that is 2 1/4″ lower than the main house slab. I attached a drawing of how I plan to build it.
I live near Sacramento,Ca and the owner says the slab stays dry so I’m thinking the wood right on the cement is ok but would love to see if anybody has a better idea. Thanks.
Tom
Replies
I'd be tempter to use a premade ramp, like these.
http://allrampsneeds.com/alumi_tro6w.html
Looks OK, except your math is wrong. The slope should be 1:12, meaning your OAL is 27"
I think your plan is fine, but I would use PT lumber for the sleepers and a moisture barrier anyway. Concrete is porous so the ramp may be exposed to high moisture even if it never gets wet.
Thanks for the quick input guys.
Dam...didn't see anything pre-made that was 8' wide that would work under a rug.
McMark....not sure about your math comment...didn't do any.
DonCanDo...I was going to use construction adhesive to attach the last oak section so I wouldn't be able to use a vapor barrier. PT for the sleepers is a good idea.
Works for me, though I'd use treated.As was pointed out, the "official" number for WC ramp slope is 1/12, which would make your ramp a little longer than two feet. But for such a short segment you can probably fudge that a little, especially if space is constrained somehow. (Be sure there's sufficient clearance -- ideally 5 feet -- at either end of the ramp before any walls or other obstructions that would require turning the chair.)
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. --Lewis H. Lapham
I understand the comment now about my math being wrong in that it should be 27" long for the 12:1 guidelines.
Good point about calling the ramp to the attention of those on foot but going from carpet to wood and back to carpet with all the transition strips could be a pain for the wheelchair. I think a mock up would help resolve what needs to be done.
Different colored carpet is a good way to draw attention to the ramp.
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. --Lewis H. Lapham
Tom, I've done a couple of openings for folks in wheelchairs. You can use this idea as you see fit.
While the ramp guidelines ask for 1'' of rise for every foot of travel (in your case-1' of run for every inch rise), that is for a ramp. A transition from one floor surface to another (or from conc. to floor in diff. room) might not need to be as gradual as a ramp. To get the wheelchair comfortably up for the rider might not need 2+ feet.
Of course, you've got a wide opening, so for someone walking you might want that slope over the long distance.
If not, mock up something 8-10'' wide and see how it works for them. Probably need to leave it uncarpeted so as to call attention to it for those on foot.
Best of luck.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
While the ramp guidelines ask for 1'' of rise for every foot of travel (in your case-1' of run for every inch rise), that is for a ramp. A transition from one floor surface to another (or from conc. to floor in diff. room) might not need to be as gradual as a ramp. To get the wheelchair comfortably up for the rider might not need 2+ feet.
ANSI A117 ( Accessible and usable buildings and facitities)
303.2 Changes in level of (up to) 1/4" shall be permitted to be vertical
303.3 Changes in level greater than 1/4" and not more than 1/2" .... shall be beveled with a slope not greater than 1:2
Changes greater than 1/2" shall comply with sections 405 or 406
Of course, one needs to remember that those rules are what's needed to meet the legal definition of "wheelchair accessible". Though there may be some local regulations, there are no general rules for what can be done within a private residence, so long as it's not then sold with a claim of "wheelchair accessible".
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. --Lewis H. Lapham
Of course, one needs to remember that those rules are what's needed to meet the legal definition of "wheelchair accessible". Though there may be some local regulations, there are no general rules for what can be done within a private residence, so long as it's not then sold with a claim of "wheelchair accessible".
Of course, one needs to remember that professionals will recommend commonly accepted standard practices, which is represnted by ANSI 117 for accessibility. There are millions of other alternatives, but the above cited standard are well thought out. There are still areas in the US that do not require building inspections, should following building codes not be recommended in those locations
But often with residential situations the choice is between "bending" the rules a little or simply not providing accessibility. Do you tell someone "Sorry, we're 3" short on having enough room for the ramp, so you'll have to sell this house and buy another one"?
A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. --Lewis H. Lapham
Does it mention in there anything about not using pad under the carpet? My limited experience with wheelchair bound folks is that they have more problem with carpet/pad than carpet w/o pad.
Something for the orig. poster to think about.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Does it mention in there anything about not using pad under the carpet? My limited experience with wheelchair bound folks is that they have more problem with carpet/pad than carpet w/o pad.
Good point. In commercial work, direct glue-down predominates, so this is something often not thought about.
302.2 Carpet shall...and have a firm cushion, pad, or backing, or no cushion or pad. Carpet shall have a level loop, textured loop, level cut pile ..... 1/2" maximum. (shortened and clarified for the sake of my typing)
Edited 12/7/2009 8:53 pm ET by McMark
ADA standards call for a maximum pitch of 12:1. 20:1 is preferred, and I'd guess it may be the standard some day.
PANIC CHAOS DISORDER.........my work is done here.
How about selling them a new bedroom floor, insulated and level?
I thought about raising the whole floor as well but then there's a transition problem with the door that connects to the garage.
Still not sure if there's a better wood to use for the last 8" where I'm planning on having a 1x8" piece of oak cut into a wedge by the mill shop. I don't think PT plywood would be able to be cut to a fine edge for this last part of the ramp.
My input for what it's worth: my first thought was to run the sleepers the other direction (90 degrees from the way you have them) and rip PT 2x2's (from 1-1/4" at high end to nothing at low end) and place them so at least two are right under the wheels of the wheelchair.
Not sure how to make the initial trasition tapered enough--maybe start with 1/4 " plywood over the whole ramp, then about two feet up, cover from there on up with half inch. Then go back and butt a one foot strip of 1/4" plywood, so the wheels have a quarter inch to make it over at the bottom, and another quarter inch transition a foot up and a third quarter inch transition two feet up. Maybe too much fooling around. You could make the transitions even less abrupt by using 1/8" masonite in several layers. Just thinking "out loud." Quarter inch transitions may be a trip hazzard to a "pusher" or to others walking up the ramp.
Have you considered a poured concrete ramp?
The carpet is very short..almost like indoor/outdoor stuff and we were not going to use a pad.
I've done some small concrete jobs but not tried any of the floor leveling products which I'm guessing I'd need. I'm more comfortable working with wood but I think I'll check into it.
Actually, you don't need a self-leveling product at all. What you need is ordinary concrete with the proper slump (thickness or water-to-concrete ratio or viscosity). I don't know what the slump needs to be for a given slope, but if you ask, I'm sure someone (like Brownbag) would know.