You certainly may want to take a look at your local code, as a ramp is something which can be seen by any passerby. It would be such a shame to have to rebuild it.
There are all kinds of published standards for ramp building, most specifically mentioned that one in 12 rise over run is the minimum, and that if you can find room, anything you can do to increase the run and decrease the rise is useful for the party who will have to climb the ramp afterwards. Most codes have turned to a 5 1/2 foot turning radius for wheelchairs, but many are going toward six or 6 1/2 feet as scooters use the same path, and many cannot turn in 5 1/2 feet. Width is another consideration, and 36 or more inches is usually deemed desirable. You may also wish to consider a second hand rail placed at about 24 inches as this may assist the wheelchair user in maneuvering up and down the ramp. You may find that the material they sell for the top rail of chain-link fences, inch and 0.25 x 7 .5 feet makes excellent rail material. Be sure, however, when installing the rail, to clear it of any knuckle crushers, as there is nothing that hurts like or heals more slowly than Gray's knuckles. Build for drainage, especially if you're in an area were ice can be a problem. There are lots of nonslip solutions for traction, the cheapest of which is sand sprinkled on fresh paint. Take note of the height of the wheelchair from the ground between the front and rear wheels, and take that into consideration when transitioning from ramp to flat surface ensuring that there is no chance of the chair bottoming. Occasionally I have seen outdoor quality hydraulic lifts for sale in the used market. Frankly, they're often installed for older parents etc. who move on and have no further use for the device. Some of them stand up remarkably well in weather. Very best of luck with this project. Geoff ----- Original Message ----- From: Victor Gouveia To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:48 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] wheelchair ramp Hi Robert, The required length is one foot for every inch of rise. So, if the height you have to rise is 39 inches, then your ramp has to be 39 feet long. I would assume that you would cut that in half, and create a 20 foot ramp, then place a landing half way down, and turn the ramp 180 degrees to come down the other 19 or so feet. Alternatively, you could ramp it down for 13 feet, turn it around for another 13 feet, and finish it off at the final 13 feet. Just keep in mind that the landings have to be wide enough that the wheelchair will be able to manoeuvre freely without getting caught, and that, at least, one hand rail follow the entire length of the ramp, save for the landings, although this may be different for your building codes down there. In any case, here are a few options for you. Victor Co-moderator Blind Movie Buffs List Guidedogs List [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
