Nowadays, access for the handicapped is a legislated part of architectural design. One thing that people who use wheelchairs struggle with is a staircase or other stepped entrance. Older buildings may not have wheelchair-friendly features. Some homes are not equipped with them either. If you are facing this issue, there are wheelchair ramp installers in Greenville SC who can assist.
Buildings which do, in fact, have accessibility features usually have a cement ramp adjacent to their entrance steps. Alternatively, there might be a metal ramp secured to the building, fulfilling the same role. Those buildings which are on the same plane as the outside sidewalk or ground may simply have no curb at their entrance. These are all illustrations of how the disabled can be accommodated.
However, if a building is still on the drawing board, or it needs to be upgraded to be accessible, the law lays down regulations for doing so. It is illegal for new public buildings not to comply with these requirements. The regulations are not complicated in their application, and they provide precise guidelines to follow in the installation of ramps.
Obviously, a ramp should not be too steep for the user to comfortably ascend it. This is an essential principle in its design. Private residences are allowed to use slopes with a gradient of up to 2:12, or a two inch increase in height per foot of length. Public buildings, on the other hand, are only allowed a ratio of 1:12, or one inch per foot. This ensures that the slope is not too steep to be easily passable.
The ramp's entire length is another issue that the law covers. It may be any length, but it may not have a single section that is longer than 30 feet. After 30 feet, it must either end or have a level landing. Once again, tired arms might experience anything longer than that as too much of a challenge.
The landing itself must not be narrower than 60 inches. If it is situated at a turn in the structure's direction, it must be a minimum of 60 by 60 square. A design principle for the handicapped that should always be taken note of is that wheelchairs need more space than people who do not use them. This is especially so when the chair has to turn or stand still somewhere.
The traction of the ramp is also important. The ramp's surface has to have a non-slip surface. The wheelchair and its user may have a high total mass. If the surface is too slippery, the wheels may spin helplessly on it. This is frustrating for the user and is also dangerous. The ramp should provide traction in both winter and summer weather.
As a safety feature, handrails are a common item in design. Some users will only use them if they start to slide backwards, but others might choose to ascend the ramp by maneuvering themselves using the rails. If there are rails, they may not be more than 28 inches in height. Their form should be safe to grab hold of, without injuring the user's hand. They should also not be so smooth that an effective, firm grip is impossible.
The independence of disabled people is a human right enshrined in the constitution. They too have employment and social lives. Ramps are one way of saying that they are equal members of society.
Buildings which do, in fact, have accessibility features usually have a cement ramp adjacent to their entrance steps. Alternatively, there might be a metal ramp secured to the building, fulfilling the same role. Those buildings which are on the same plane as the outside sidewalk or ground may simply have no curb at their entrance. These are all illustrations of how the disabled can be accommodated.
However, if a building is still on the drawing board, or it needs to be upgraded to be accessible, the law lays down regulations for doing so. It is illegal for new public buildings not to comply with these requirements. The regulations are not complicated in their application, and they provide precise guidelines to follow in the installation of ramps.
Obviously, a ramp should not be too steep for the user to comfortably ascend it. This is an essential principle in its design. Private residences are allowed to use slopes with a gradient of up to 2:12, or a two inch increase in height per foot of length. Public buildings, on the other hand, are only allowed a ratio of 1:12, or one inch per foot. This ensures that the slope is not too steep to be easily passable.
The ramp's entire length is another issue that the law covers. It may be any length, but it may not have a single section that is longer than 30 feet. After 30 feet, it must either end or have a level landing. Once again, tired arms might experience anything longer than that as too much of a challenge.
The landing itself must not be narrower than 60 inches. If it is situated at a turn in the structure's direction, it must be a minimum of 60 by 60 square. A design principle for the handicapped that should always be taken note of is that wheelchairs need more space than people who do not use them. This is especially so when the chair has to turn or stand still somewhere.
The traction of the ramp is also important. The ramp's surface has to have a non-slip surface. The wheelchair and its user may have a high total mass. If the surface is too slippery, the wheels may spin helplessly on it. This is frustrating for the user and is also dangerous. The ramp should provide traction in both winter and summer weather.
As a safety feature, handrails are a common item in design. Some users will only use them if they start to slide backwards, but others might choose to ascend the ramp by maneuvering themselves using the rails. If there are rails, they may not be more than 28 inches in height. Their form should be safe to grab hold of, without injuring the user's hand. They should also not be so smooth that an effective, firm grip is impossible.
The independence of disabled people is a human right enshrined in the constitution. They too have employment and social lives. Ramps are one way of saying that they are equal members of society.
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