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Threshold Ramps -- Making Life More Accessible

Simply put, threshold ramps make little barriers essentially disappear. Typically varying in heights from one to six inches these durable ramps are best suited for doorways, sliding glass doors and raised landings. Common configurations include a single ramp or two ramps for entering and leaving.
Thanks to their existence, people who use wheelchairs or scooters now have an easier time getting in and out of places once to problematic to navigate. For places without these ramps, accessibility becomes extremely difficult and in some cases completely restrictive.  Luckily for the millions of disabled Americans the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) enacted in 1990 established minimum standards for commercial and non-profit enterprises to help ensure accessibility when designing and constructing a new facility or altering an existing facility. (U.S. Department of Labor, The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990)

One Step to the Abled is a Mountain to the Disabled

For most wheelchair and scooter users, what most of us take for granted as a simple step up is nothing short of impossible for many people in those situations. And for thresholds here are just a few problems they cause:

• They may increase the risk of tripping for pedestrians
• Can make for a very uncomfortable ride for wheelchair users

 

Modern innovation though has created a clever solution as an alternative to structural modifications -- threshold ramps that can be fitted to provide the appropriate slope for a more comfortable—and safer—transition through the doorway.

Making the right fit

            Simply putting down a ramp over a threshold though isn’t going to fix the problem of accommodating an entrance or exit for disabled use. If they aren’t installed properly they can be just as dangerous as not having a ramp at all.
According to the ADA Guidelines (ADAG) of the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ATBCB) there are particular regulations that require public facilities and grounds to comply with design, construction, and installation standards. These guidelines echo most of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards regarding ramps. Although not binding to private residences, both sets of standards are nonetheless be taken into consideration when purchasing or building a ramp to accommodate a loved one or guest at your home. Safety hazards include

• Too steep an incline
• An uneven platform which may cause tipping of a wheelchair
• Unsupported planks which may buckle under a user’s weight
• And unanchored planks, platforms or tracks which may "fall off" the step

                                                  (Fact Sheet on Ramps and Accessible Thresholds)

According to regulations ramps are “any part of an accessible route with a slope greater than 1:20...,” and apply to curb ramps as well as alternatives to steps. The least possible slope shall be used for any ramp. The maximum slope of a ramp in new construction shall be 1:12 [one inch of rise to 12 inches in slope]. The maximum rise for any run shall be 30 inches (760 millimeters).
Threshold ramps make an entry or exit convenient and safe. Proper installation is simple if rules and followed and the rewards are immeasurable for those who will gains access to those pathways.