Building Design and Construction Systems
2010 ADA STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
State and local government facilities must follow the requirements of the 2010 Standards, including both the Title II regulations at 28 CFR 35.151; and the 2004 ADAAG at 36 CFR part 1191, appendices B and D.
Braille
Ramps
Handrails must have sections being longer than the flight of stairs or the sloping part on each side of the wheelchair ramps (Figure 1). They have to be at least 305 mm downstairs and 305 mm upstairs. Above mentioned sections must be horizontal.
Figure 1. Handrails of the wheelchair ramp
The most difficult things for the disabled person are to move across the top part of the wheelchair ramp when moving upstairs and the lower part of the ramp when moving downstairs. It happens, because when moving upstairs the disabled person has to hold on to the handrails located on each side of the ramp and push the wheelchair upstairs with help of abrupt movements. When moving downstairs the disabled person slows down the wheelchair holding on to the handrails just in front of him or her.
The surface of the handrails must be strictly parallel the surface of the wheelchair ramp including adjacent horizontal sections. Handrails must have a round shape, smooth edges and bends. The shape and size should provide maximum facilities to take the handrail in arms. Both too large handrails and too small ones are unsuitable. The distance between the handrail and the wall must be no less than 38 mm (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Handrail clearance and horizontal projections below gripping surface
Hand-rails must be effectively and firmly fastened. They must not turn or be displaced in relation to the mounting. Design of handrails must rule out the possibility of traumatizing people. There must not be overhangs able to injure or engage when touching them. Ends of the handrails must be rounded or fast to the floor, the wall or supports. In case of twin handrails installation, they must be joined together. Workers engaged in provision of amenities do not like handrails fasten to the ground. Mud and snow stay long on asphalt because of supports. They also make difficult to clean the territory adjacent to the staircase. Mechanical cleaning of the territory is impossible. In order to avoid these difficulties the end of the handrail can be fixed under the first support of the staircase (in the form of the curve) or close to the top part of the support (in the form of the horizontal loop).
Height of the involved handrail surface must be:
- for the upper handrail – 900 mm (the handrail used by adults);
- for the lower handrail – 700 – 750 mm(the handrail used by teenagers and children).
Height of the handrails for children of preschool age is 500 mm.
The surface of the railing on the inside of the stairs accessible for disabled people and the handrails surface of the wheelchair ramps must be solid throughout the length.
The grasping surface of the handrail must be interlaped with vertical rods and other structural element or barriers.
Rigid fixation of the hand must be provided for any specific situation in the process of use.
The figure 3 shows an ideal way of handrails installation which meets all requirements of established standards (verify requirements for your country) and can be used both for stair and wheelchair ramps railing. I point out that these handrails must have protruding horizontal sections (305 mm on each side), the ends of separate handrails must be rounded, and the ends of twin handrails must be joined together. A recommendable diameter of handrails is 40 mm.
Figure 3. A sample of handrails fastening
Wheelchair ramp specifications
In order to promote safety of handicapped people the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) issued specifications for wheelchair ramp building and maintenance by owners of buildings and constructions. Let us consider basic wheelchair ramp specifications:- It is necessary to build wheelchair ramps in places with level differences, between level sections of pavements or floor inside the buildings. In accordance with international practice the maximum allowable height of level difference is no more than 1.3-1.5 cm.
- It is necessary to build horizontal platforms at the beginning and at the end of each rise of the wheelchair ramp. The platforms should be as wide as the wheelchair ramp and minimum length should be 1.4-1.5 m. (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Here are samples of the horizontal platforms for the wheelchair ramp
- The wheelchair ramp slope must be no steeper than 1:12 and the maximum ramp height must be 30 inches.
- Skirting boards should be designed on face (not bordering the walls) lateral edges of the wheelchair ramp and horizontal platforms. Their height must be no more than 0.05 m in order to keep the wheelchair from slipping (Figure 2). The safety skirting board is the most important part of the wheelchair ramp. You must on no condition forget about it! If the skirting was not fixed to the edge of the ramp, the situation can be changed to the better. Weld an angle bar to the bottom of the handrails or a thin pipe at a height of 10-15 cm as an additional lower guard rail. It will serve as the skirting board. I like the second alternative less, because metal parts of the front wheels can engage the pipe. Both the pipe and the wheels will be scratched.
Figure 2. Damage-prevent skirting of the wheelchair ramp
- If length of the wheelchair ramp reaches 30 feet, a landing must be provided. The landing must be at least 47 inches long and as wide as the ramp. If the ramp has a direction change, a landing is required there too, and such landing should be a minimum of 60 inches by 60 inches (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Wheelchair ramp specifications
- If the wheelchair ramp rises to more than 6 inches in height or its width is 6 feet, handrails on either side of the ramp must be provided. The handrails must be 34-38 inches high and minimum space between a wall and a handrail must be 1.5 inches. Handrails must have round shape, smooth edges and bends.
- Hand-rails must be 0.35 m longer (or more) than the wheelchair ramp on each side.
- The handrails surface of the wheelchair ramps must be solid throughout the length and strictly parallel the surface of the ramp including adjacent horizontal sections.
- Width of the wheelchair ramp must meet key parameters of passways.
- If the direction of the wheelchair ramp is changed, width of the horizontal platform should make it possible to turn the wheelchair.
- The wheelchair ramp must be made of any slip-resistant material.
We recommend you to have a look at all ADA regulations before buying or building the wheelchair ramp.
Wheelchair Ramp Plans
Having studied ADA specifications and our articles, let us choose the wheelchair ramp plan meeting all our requirements. Let us ask ourselves where it is possible to find wheelchair ramp plans.We offer you main sources of information:
- Wheelchair manufactures: most manufactures offer wheelchair ramp plans with the purchase of the wheelchair.
- Hardware stores: in the hardware stores you will be able to find not only wheelchair ramp plans, but materials for their building.
- Internet: using Internet you will always find plenty of wheelchair ramp plans and most of them will be free. We offer 2 wheelchair ramp plans found in Internet.
Figure 1. Wheelchair ramp plans
