Wheelchair Ramps Key Terms

Learn the key words and phrases commonly used with wheelchair ramps

As a business owner, it's your responsibility to make sure your building is accessible to customers of all types of abilities. Not only does federal law require certain accessibility standards be met, providing wheelchair ramps sends a clear message to your customers that you value their patronage and want them to be safe on your premises.

Installing a wheelchair ramp is not always a simple endeavor. To make sure you're installing the right type of ramp, it's important to review the key terms relating to federal law compliance and the various types of ramps on the market.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets accessibility standards for businesses. When installing a wheelchair ramp, business owners must ensure the ramp is ADA compliant.
Try: Review the ADA accessibility guidelines for wheelchair ramps at the United States Access Board website. The U.S. Department of Justice offers a file containing the standards for accessible design that can be downloaded and saved to your computer for easy reference.

Degree of incline

The degree of incline, also referred to as rise or slope, refers to how steep the ramp is. ADA compliant ramps must have a maximum slope of 1:12. This ratio means for every foot in height, the ramp must have 12 feet of length.
Try: Read more about degrees of incline and how to select the proper height and length for a wheelchair ramp at Wheelchair. DiscountRamps.com offers a chart with various degrees of incline relevant to height and length.

Ramp weight capacity

When installing a wheelchair ramp, it's critical to make sure it has an adequate ramp weight capacity. To calculate the necessary ramp weight capacity, the weight of the wheelchair must be added to the weight of its user. Because this figure can change drastically depending on who is using the ramp, business owners are advised to purchase a ramp with the greatest ramp weight capacity available.
Try: Get an idea of different ramp weight capacities and the types of ramps that offer the greatest ramp weight capacity by browsing through the descriptions at Disability Systems.

Telescopic ramps

Telescopic ramps extend when they are needed and retract for storage. Considered a portable wheelchair ramp, this type of ramp is frequently used on vehicles and provides a less expensive alternative to a wheelchair lift.
Try: To see a photograph of a telescopic ramp, visit uCan Health.

Threshold ramps

Threshold ramps are a must for any business that has entryways that could pose a problem to those with mobility limitations. A threshold ramp provides an easy slope in place of a step.
Try: View various types of threshold ramps at Handi-Ramp. To see a threshold ramp commonly used in commercial applications, visit Homecare Products.

Modular ramps

Modular ramps fill the niche between permanent and portable ramps. For many business owners, a modular ramp is a simple way to conform their building to ADA standards. Modular ramps offer easy installation without major construction and are just as easily disassembled.
Try: For examples of installed modular ramps, visit Express Ramps. The website includes a video of a modular ramp installation.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---