Monday, April 21, 2014

Good Wheelchair Ramp Construction Ensures Safety

By Essie Osborn


The improvement in medical technology has resulted in many lives being saved which might otherwise have been lost. It has also resulted in an increase in the number of people confined to wheelchairs, and the authorities have recognized this. The result is that many people have had to learn the details of wheelchair ramp construction to provide suitable facilities in their homes or business premises.

Your choice of site would depend the design of the building and the dimensions necessary to fulfil your requirements. It must also be remembered that ramps because they are less steeply inclined. You will need to take all these factors into consideration and also bear in mind that that in many cases it might prove best to provide plenty of room as an extra safety precaution.

One option is to have the ramp constructed professionally and leave it in expert hands. You can then be certain that it meets the various standards for safe wheelchair access and that construction is to the required standard. Meeting safety standards is important, as you may well be regarded as negligent if the specification is inadequate and someone is injured as a result.

For those who choose to construct these ramps themselves, full details can be found on the Internet. Plans showing the how to build a ramp from various permitted materials which meet the published criteria are accompanied by step-by-step instructions, so that you can be sure to do a perfect job. Remember to follow the plans closely, and you can lower the gradient but not increase it, otherwise the construction will not be permitted or will not pass inspection.

Modular ramps for wheelchairs are also available and are very cost-effective. These are very quick and easy to install and are more than strong enough for the purpose, while adjustable legs allow them to be adapted to any site. They could also be dismantled and moved to a new site if required, making them more suitable for families as they can be installed in rented homes as well.

Should you decide to do the work yourself, you must be sure your design is completely satisfactory. While you should be able to adapt the designs available on the Internet to meet your needs, you might have certain difficulties due to the placement of the ramp which may be difficult to resolve. At this stage you might like to consider adding handrails for children as well as adults for increased safety.

While the ADA website has excellent standard specifications, it would be wise to discover if there are special regulations which apply locally. Factors which are most important are the materials to be used and the width and slope of the ramp. If there are no additional requirements, the ADA provides an excellent set of practical specifications.

While wheelchair ramps are mandatory in buildings open to the public, it might also be a good idea to fit them in a home. Stairs are notoriously unsafe, and are responsible for many severe injuries. Installing ramps can be an excellent way of reducing the number of hazards in your home.




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