Good Wheelchair Ramp Construction Ensures Safety

By Essie Osborn


The improvement in medical technology has resulted in many lives being saved which might otherwise have been lost. It has also resulted in an increase in the number of people confined to wheelchairs, and the authorities have recognized this. The result is that many people have had to learn the details of wheelchair ramp construction to provide suitable facilities in their homes or business premises.

The size of a ramp would depend on your particular requirements and the site where any ramps are to be installed. These ramps take up more floor space than stairs of an equivalent width, as they have a more gradual slope. Before you decide on a site, you would need to take these factors into consideration, remembering that it is better to provide more than the absolute minimum space.

One option is to have the ramp constructed professionally and leave it in expert hands. You can then be certain that it meets the various standards for safe wheelchair access and that construction is to the required standard. Meeting safety standards is important, as you may well be regarded as negligent if the specification is inadequate and someone is injured as a result.

If you wish to undertake construction yourself, there are plans with full construction details available online. These plans are designed to provide the necessary safety measures and a sufficiently gradual slope. If you follow this route, do not increase the slope as this will make it much more difficult and dangerous for wheelchairs to ascend, and you will probably not receive planning permission nor pass inspections..

An alternative which will have especial appeal for private homes is to install a modular unit. These are professionally designed and constructed to satisfy all the requirements and can be erected easily. Should you subsequently need to relocate for any reason, then they can easily be disassembled and taken to your new home.

It is essential to make sure the ramp design is safe and meets the specifications, whether you have it built or choose to build it yourself. The online instructions provide sufficient detail to make this a snap, but you want to be sure that any ramp meets your needs as to width and space to turn on landings. Another point is whether you might need handrails for children or only for adults.

While the ADA website has excellent standard specifications, it would be wise to discover if there are special regulations which apply locally. Factors which are most important are the materials to be used and the width and slope of the ramp. If there are no additional requirements, the ADA provides an excellent set of practical specifications.

Wheelchair ramps are becoming mandatory in buildings open to public access, but is also a good idea to fit them in homes, even if only for ground-floor access. They are much safer than stairs as they have fewer edges to cause serious injuries and descent is more controlled. Stairs are frequently the cause of very serious injuries at home, and replacing some of them will help make your home less hazardous.




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