Things to Keep in Mind while Building Handicap Ramps

The Slope

The slope is one of the most important aspects of a ramp. If it is too steep, it defeats the purpose. The wheelchair should be able to move up the incline without causing too much strain or trouble to the handicapped person.  Even people who don’t need ramps would find it difficult to scale a steep incline. That can lead to accidents like slipping or tipping backwards.

The minimum slope recommended for public places is 1:12.  It means that for every unit of high, the slope should be 12 units long. As we face wet and icy weather, handicap ramps in Boston need a 1:18 to 1:24 slope.

Landings

Landings are a designated area that are wide enough for a person to have room to open doors, change directions, or turn. Without a proper landing, the person in a wheelchair would have to struggle not to slip back down the slope. You also need to place landings at the bottom of the slope, which allows people to stop, make turns, and change directions according to their needs. Landings are an absolutely essential part of a handicap ramp in Boston.

Handrails

Handrails are also essential in permanent ramps. They have several different purposes:

• They allow a person to pull themselves up the slope, instead of pushing. This reduces the strain on them and the amount of energy they have to expend.
• They allow people to stop and take a break. A person can grab onto them and keep steady while they take a small breather.
• They offer support to injured people who might need support and can’t navigate the stairs.

The height of the handrail on a handicap ramp in Boston should be taken into consideration as well. It should be accessible to a person in the wheelchair as well as people who walk. A double railing can solve this problem. For questions and enquires, you can call Boston Ironworks at 617 657 3117. You can also fill in this contact us form. We’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.