Follow Wheelchair Ramp Construction Specifications

By Essie Osborn


Increased medical expertise in modern times has also led to large numbers of people who might have died but instead are confined to wheelchairs. This has seen the advent of legislation to provide ramps in buildings to make wheelchair access easier. Private homes might also need such a facility, and details of wheelchair ramp construction would be very useful to many people.

Your choice of site would depend the design of the building and the dimensions necessary to fulfil your requirements. It must also be remembered that ramps because they are less steeply inclined. You will need to take all these factors into consideration and also bear in mind that that in many cases it might prove best to provide plenty of room as an extra safety precaution.

Perhaps the easiest way to handle the situation is to employ an expert to do the work. However, most homeowners would probably not be happy with the cost of this alternative, especially if they can undertake construction themselves much more cheaply. Whatever path you choose, you want to be sure that you cannot be accused of negligence by sticking strictly to any applicable rule regarding construction and inspection.

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.

An important aspect to consider is what planning permission will be needed. While the ADA website gives excellent specifications, you want to be sure that your design will be acceptable to your local authorities. You should be particularly careful to use the right materials and provide enough landing space, if need be. If you are in any doubt, your local authorities will probably be able to assist.

While wheelchair ramps are mandatory in buildings open to the public, it might also be a good idea to fit them in a home. Stairs are notoriously unsafe, and are responsible for many severe injuries. Installing ramps can be an excellent way of reducing the number of hazards in your home.




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