In
this month’s article I’d like to address another very common
request that we receive here at Frangeli Consulting & Remodeling
and that is for the installation of a ramp. Like most projects that
are designed around someone that is dealing with the effects of a
stroke or some other type of special need, there is a bit more
planning and extras that go into designing and building a ramp for it
to be safe for the person in the wheelchair and the caregiver. It
has been our experience that almost 100% of the time our client’s
severely underestimate the size, shape and scope work associated with
the proper installation of a ramp. This month we’ll deal with the
preliminary planning phase of designing a safe and effective ramp
that will ensure a well functioning ramp.
The
average contractor and almost all healthcare professionals, such as
your P.T., O.T. or R.N., will tell you that a 1:12 ratio is the
proper length for any ramp. In simple terms this means that for
every 1” of rise you will need approximately 12” of ramp length,
i.e. a 28” rise; that is the distance from the ground to the
entrance of the home, would equate to a 28’ ramp. However, this is
not always practical nor is it always necessary and sometimes this
1:12 ratio is too short for a person to self propel a wheelchair.
This 1:12 ratio comes from the national ADA guidelines and is used as
the rule of thumb. However the ADA guidelines are only used in
commercial settings and it tries to create a one size fits all
solution to any person in a wheelchair, which doesn’t really fly
with the individual in a residential setting. Never the less, it
states that the 1:12 ratio is the maximum pitch that a
ramp should be for a person in a wheelchair. This is geared for
either a person being pushed or the very strong self propelling
manual wheelchair user and that is for a distance under 30’. The
proper pitch for a self propelling manual wheelchair user is closer
to a 1:20 ratio, or almost twice the ramp distance to the overall
height of the rise and that makes for a monster of a ramp.
Therefore
the design of the ramp is as unique as the person with the special
need. When it comes down to the brass tax of designing the size and
shape of a ramp there are 6 considerations that must be taken into
account in order to tailor fit the ramp to the person and the home:
Is
the person in the wheelchair self propelling it or does the person
have a care giver to assist?
Is
the wheelchair a manual chair or a power chair?
How
heavy is the person in the wheelchair (if a caregiver is pushing)?
How
often will the person in the wheelchair be leaving the home?
How
much space does the property have to place the ramp?
How
high is the vertical rise from the ground to the entrance of the
home?
Once these questions are
answered you can begin to map out the length, pitch, and shape of the
ramp. It will also give you a starting point in choosing the type of
material that you will want to use when building your ramp. In next
month’s issue we’ll start to address all of these points.
Frank is a licensed Physical Therapist and has a company for independent living, if you need him call him. (631) 872 9363
