Can anyone tell me what the maximum slope for a wheelchair ramp to a front porch would be to fulfill ADA requirements?
Thanks for any help.
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1/12 pitch
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Yes , it gets a little better daily. Thanks for your thoughts.
1 / 12 max.... 1/20 preferred
Thanks for the answer.
You also need a level area every so often. Sort of like a landing in a stairwell. I'm not sure what the max distance between "landings" is. Maybe someone else will know.
I believe you need a landing (or flat spot) every (or at a distance of no more than) 30'. The spec. is max. 30" drop/rise. At 1/12, then it's 30' max. per run (if you're planning the real magic mountain kinda ramp.) Guess the driver needs a stop-gap in case someone goes for mister toad's wild ride to nowhere in particular.
you'd think i'd be more sure about this since i do these for the state. guess they tend to be the same and after awhile you just do it without thinking about it.
Here are some ADA guidelines that provide additional detail to what the others have said.
http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm#4.8
Of course, if the installation is intended for a specific person it can and ought to be customized for specific needs, and adapted to the site and climate.
In addition to the 1/12 slope, there are restrictions on the longest run of slope without a level rest area -- something on the order of ten feet, I believe.
Though in some areas the ADA requirements are excessive, and probably need not be followed to the letter when retrofitting a residence for accessibility, the ramp requirements are probably pretty good. They specify several other things like railings and curbs that are simply good sense for a ramp.
Thanks to everyone for their help.