aluminum handicap access ramps are becoming more of a standard requirement now in any building construction. While it has been a long practice to incorporate ramps in building designs to meet certain laws on accessibility, ramps by itself has evolved to become more responsive to particular needs of the handicap.
Ramps for the handicap are more than mere ramps. Certain requirements need to be considered to make it appropriate and safe especially the handicap on wheelchairs. The following requirements need to be considered:
1. Slope - The slope or degree of incline needs to be carefully considered in any ramp project. Steep ramps become more of a danger than a help to wheelchair users. The minimum recommended slope for a wheelchair ramp in a public place is 1:12. That means for every unit of height, the ramp will be 12 units long. So if the ramp is designed to rise 1 foot in height, it should be at least 12 feet long at a minimum. If the area has icy or wet weather, it's important to consider an even lower degree of incline like 1:18 or 1:24.
2. Landing - It doesn't do any good to have a ramp if the person on wheelchair using the ramp is unable to open a door at the top of the ramp. There must be adequate landing space to maneuver, change direction, or open a door at the top end of the ramp. Without a proper landing at the top of a ramp that leads to a door, a person in a wheelchair will likely have much difficulty in trying not to roll back down. Landing at the bottom of a wheelchair ramp is equally important to allow the wheelchair user adequate space to stop or make a safe turn when necessary. For significantly long ramps, landing space at the middle part of the slope is needed to allow the wheelchair user to rest or make a turn when necessary.
3. Transition - Having appropriate landings means having corresponding transitions to those landings. A change in the degree of slope, a transition in the incline, is necessary for safety especially for long ramps.
4. Weight Tolerance – Any ramp must be sturdy and strong enough to hold the maximum weight possible. A ramp can be custom-made to particular user and his type of wheelchair. But this limits the use of the ramp which may end-up more of a danger than a help for others who will use the ramp. It is most sensible to have a ramp that can accommodate any load at any weight.
5. Handrails - Handrails serve a number of purposes. It allows the users on wheelchair the option to pull themselves up the ramp instead of pushing, or to stop and hold onto them if they need a break from pushing themselves, or simply help them steady themselves if they feel insecure in going up or down the ramp.
6. Edges - For safety reasons, it's important that a ramp has some sort of edge protection. This keeps the wheelchair from rolling off the side and throwing the wheelchair users out of their chair. The edge must be of adequate height to keep any chair from going over the edge in a dangerous situation.
7. Aluminum material - Material is a very important consideration and aluminum is the best option. It offers highest coefficient of friction for maximum traction. It can hold a weight capacity of up to 800lb. It does not corrode, does not get splinters, and never rots. Its code compliant mesh design allows natural drainage for rain and melting snow to pass through yet small enough to prevent small objects from falling through. It can come in various powder-coated colors that do not easily fade. Its multi-weld fabrication process ensures less deflection of ramp surface. Its unique welded cone-mounted hand rail design is more rigid and sturdy than standard side-bolted handrails. It only takes hours to install a ramp.
aluminum handicap access ramps are 100% maintenance free and 100% environmentally responsive because aluminum is recyclable. A lifetime warranty usually comes in any aluminum ramp series.
