Occupational Therapy Advice and Information
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Advice on ramps/sloped pathway access to property:
- Where the change in level between the accessible entrance to your property and the entry point to your property from the public pavement is less than 300mm then a ramp should be considered because this will avoid the need for a single step.
- A ramp may have a gradient of 1:12 for a distance of up to 2 metres
- A ramp may have a gradient of 1:20 for a distance of 10 metres; with no slope being greater than 10 metres long or having a rise of more than 500 mm.
- Gradients for intermediate distances can be adapted between these values such as 1:15 for a distance of 5 metres or 1:19 for a distance of 9 metres.
- Where the rise from the ground level to the property level is in excess of 2 metres then ramping should not be provided and external wheelchair lift installations need to be considered.
- No series of ramps to a property should rise in total more than 2 metres.
- The surface width of a ramp should be no less than 1200mm
- The unobstructed width of a ramp should be no less than 1000mm
- The landing platform length at the top and the bottom of a ramp should be no less than 1200mm, excluding the swing of doors and gates, and between ramps ideally no less than 1500mm, excluding the swing of doors and gates.
- The kerb edge height on the open side of a ramp should be no less than 100 mm and should contrast visually with the surface of the ramp. This is to prevent a wheelchair user falling over the edge of the ramp. It also provides for cane detection when being used by a visually impaired and/or blind person and provides a clear demarcation for them to identify where the ramp edges are.
- Handrails should extend 300 mm beyond the finish of the ramp and finish in a closed end and not project into circulation space.
- To enable use by disabled and elderly people who can walk handrails should be mounted between 0.85 m and 0.95 m above the finished floor level of the ramp. (900mm to 1000mm as per Part M)
- For the benefit of wheelchair users, a second handrail can be mounted between 0.70 m and 0.75 m from the floor.
- When building a ramp the surface materials should be chosen to be durable and easy to maintain, and should be slip-resistant when wet, to allow for rain and other environmental factors.
- The surface of the ramp should contrast visually with that of a landing and of the edge protection so that its presence is distinguishable by blind and partially sighted people.
- Consider lighting where you are building a ramp to avoid, where possible, any glare or cross shadows, especially if you have some problems with your sight.
- Artificial lighting to a ramp should be evenly distributed, with illuminance at ramp and landing level of at least 100 lux.
- At the top landing, where this adjoins the main access door to the property, consider the access into the property and, where necessary and where the two levels differ, replace the entrance door with a new door that is level with the external areas. There is no point in providing ramp or sloping path access and then finding that You cannot manage the door threshold into the property appropriately.
If you are no longer able to negotiate the steps to your property because You need to use a walking frame/ wheeled walking frame/ wheelchair for all your mobility needs then alternatives to steps need to be carefully considered
In these situations it will probably be necessary to consider suitable ramping/sloping from the public pavement level to your most appropriate access point to your home.
When considering ramping to your home the following general principles should be adhered to so that you ensure safe and suitable provision:
In some circumstances where space is confined it may not be possible to build ramping and therefore other alternatives need to be considered.
Do you need additional information on providing access to your property because space is very tight or the difference in levels is too great for a ramp/slope? Click ‘Yes’ link below