Handicap ramps are an essential part of any building where access by people with disabilities or those who need the use of a wheelchair is needed. This includes homes, public buildings, public walkways where there are steps up or down to a higher or lower level, specialized motor vehicles, public transportation access points, train stations and indeed anywhere else that wheelchair access may otherwise be limited or even made impossible by the lack thereof.

So while, for those of us who don't need them, this may seem a subject hardly worth the research and writing, for those who do need them its a big deal and information about accessibility aids such as handicap ramps should be provided. So the aim of this hub page is to provide information on the different types, placements and uses that these specialized accessibility accessories can be put to.

Handicap Ramps for Homes

Probably the most used type of accessibility ramps are the handicap ramps for homes. This is where the occupant needs a wheelchair to get around and the house has steps and thresholds that would otherwise make it difficult to gain access whilst in a wheelchair.

Of course, this is by no means the only place that specialized access ramps are useful but a person's home is usually where they spend most time and for people with disabilities, this is no different.

So where are the places around the home most often in need of either portable of fixed handicap ramps?

The number one place and obstacle of most annoyance is actually the threshold of the house's front door. Its the one door that you need to go through on your way in and out of your house that always manages to snag a wheelchair. Most often, a person with disabilities will be living in a single story house, so there are generally no steps inside to have to navigate, so an external door's threshold is often the only barrier to the smooth glide of the wheelchair in such a home. A low ramp placed at that point transforms a house into a welcoming home for a wheelchair user.

After the front door's threshold, is the same thing on the back door, or door leading out to the back yard. Again, a simple low handicap ramp placed at this point cures any problems getting in and out of the rear garden and any pathways are usually made smooth, flat and wide for ease of access by a wheelchair.

Another place that wheelchair access handicap ramps are needed is in the bathroom if a handicap shower is fitted that has a threshold to keep the water from flooding all over the floor. In this case, low aluminum ramps can be purchased to make it easy for a person to run straight over them in a wheelchair.

What Types of Handicap Ramps are Available?

There are several types of handicap ramps available for wheelchair access into and out of certain places. They generally fall into the following categories.

Permanent handicap ramps are those built in situ and are usually made from reinforced concrete, steel or wood. These are found at building access points, on public footpaths to accompany steps, at railway and bus stations for access to the buildings and to boarding points, such as on train platforms. Its worth noting here that not all transportation depots will be suitably equipped and are either due for upgrading or haven't been complained about enough to make anyone listen!

Semi-permanent handicap ramps are those used by buildings that have not yet been fitted with the permanent variety, or where it is not possible to retro-fit a permanent ramp. These can be made from modular steel or aluminum sections or from wood.

Portable handicap ramps are those which can be carried by the person in the wheelchair themselves, or people who accompany them and are usually made from aluminum for lightness and portability, although there are also larger and more heavy duty ramps made from steel with rubber matting for extra grip by wheelchair tires.

Vehicle access ramps for wheelchairs are exactly that. They allow wheelchair access to mobility vans, buses, coaches or trains and are usually made from aluminum with rubber matting.

Additional constructional information

When permanent ramps are built to provide an accessible entrance, it is important that the ramp's slope be as small as possible. Therefore the maximum slope allowed in a new construction is set at 1:12, which means that every inch of rise requires one foot of run.

If a handicap ramp has a rise that is greater than 6 inches, or a horizontal run that is greater than 72 inches, it will require handrails fitted on both sides.

Handicap ramps with a drop off also require some edge protection in order to prevent people and wheelchairs from accidentally slipping off. This can be done with curbs, and they must be a minimum of 2 inches in height. The lower rail of a handrail can also double as this added protection.

Slippery surfaces can become a major problem, especially for elderly people. Concrete ramps are usually no problem if they have a rough broom finish. Wooden ramps can become very slippery when they get wet. This creates a serious hazard for wheelchairs, which is why wood ramps should always be fitted with sand grit strips as well as additives to paint or asphalt rolled roofing as a base. Rubber mating is the favorite answer to making steel and aluminum ramps non-slip.