Hello Everyone,
I have a question regarding handicap access. I am building a new home and the ground level is (and must be) 4ft from the bottom of the door. I have an area that is 15 X13 (approx) and I need to build a handicap access ramp. It seems almost mathematically impossible to build because the ramp would be so steep if it were to be built as a straight ramp. Does anyone out here have any suggestions? ANY thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Fredd
Replies
yeah, you've got a problem. You need 48 feet of ramp if you use the ADA standard of one inch of rise per foot of run.
Is the person in the wheelchair propelling themself? If they are in a motorized wheelchair you maybe able to modify the formula a 'little'.
good luck,
Eric
Don't mean to butt in, but...don't be tempted to shorten the ramp and increase the slope. The 1:12 minimum is really a minimum, and it is a bit steep. Use a switchback ramp. With four sections, you can get plenty of run for that amount of rise. Since it will be a new house, you have an opportunity to design the ramp to blend in...use planter boxes to hide the railings, or use similar material on the sides or whatever.
Do it right, or do it twice.
yup, you should be able to do it with switchbacks.. but even the swithchbacks will be rising.. i got something like 49' of continuous ramp ...Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
thanks..it is a nightmare
Even using a switchback ramp as suggested, I don't think you have enough space to the required 48' of ramp, since you would eat up too much space with the landings at the turns. You may want to look into using a wheelchair lift instead. They're costly (somewhere in the $6-10,000 range, depending on the model), but they take up far less space, and can be tucked in next to the stairs more inconspicuously than a 48' ramp.
Bob
that's exactly what I told the customer...Thanks so much!!
See if you can design outside of the box you have imposed on yourself (15x13).
I'm visualizing the 15x13 rectangle as an area directly in front of the entrance. The house most likely extends a bit further left and right of the entrance area and possibly the driveway is over to one side. Start the ramp near the driveway, including a transition area next to the driveway, and by the time you get to the 15x13 "box" you will be substantially off the grade and then the switchbacks will be a piece of cake. This length of rise can easily be disguised with creative landscaping, even if you use the age-old boxwood border hedge.
Post back the results.
Talk with City or Village or whatever, they may let you use parkway land if that is an issue.
If building isn't an option insurance(Medi-care,or what ever) will pay for lift or part of the cost.
You and or the home owner must do some digging into options.
Zoning laws may allow exceptions for building handicap-accessible structures, so you might have more room than you imagine. It might be worth checking out.
Also, you might want to consider using another door to the house. I once ran a ramp from the driveway to a BACK door to get the needed 48" of rise plus a landing half way up.
Good luck. We may all be seeing more of these projects as we age.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA