Building Access Ramps: Guide to Ramp Codes, Standards, Construction & Inspection

RAMPS, ACCESS - Basic Building Access Ramp Specifications & Safety Defects - Building access ramp safety hazards, photos of defects
Questions & answers aboutbuilding access ramp construction codes, specifications, hazards, & safety improvements
References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Building access ramp specifications & codes: this document provides building code specifications, sketches, photographs, and examples of defects used in inspecting indoor or outdoor building access ramps and related conditions for slip and fall hazards, general safety and proper construction. Also see BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS.

Basic Building Access Ramp Specifications & Safety Defects

Our page top photo shows a new entry ramp added to a building. The step at the ramp entry reduced the ramp slope to less than 1:12 but it created an obstruction for wheelchair users.

At left our photo illustrates a large access ramp crossing a busy highway in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Below we also discuss the best methods to improve the safety at an improperly sloped or slippery building access ramp.

Also see Kitchen Design, Accessible and Bathroom Design, Accessible. For a complete list of articles on stairs, railings, and ramps, their inspection, trip hazards, and good design, see STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS - INSPECTIONS, CODES. Also see Building Safety Hazards Guide. Here we include references to key documents on building codes and stair and railing safety.

This article explains and illustrate the requirements for safe, useable interior and exterior access ramps in buildings. Readers should note that the design specifications for permitted slope and other specifications for ramps that are not used for building entry or exit, such as curb cuts, are different from those used at building entrances.

For example a steeper slope may be permitted on non-access ramps. For complete details about building access ramp construction: slope, width, railings, non-slip surfaces, steps, landings at ramps, etc. See the standards, code, and ADA references at the end of this document.

Building Access Ramp Slope or Pitch Requirements

The combination of a sloped surface with conditions that can make that walking surface slippery, especially at outdoor building access ramps, forms a falling hazard at both ramp ascent, and ramp descent for nearly everyone. These hazards are particularly increased if the ramp pitch is too steep. The desirable ramp slope standard, one inch of rise in 12 inches of run (about 8.3 percent slope), has been adopted by most building codes regardless of whether or not the access ramp is specifically for people with disabilities.

Our illustrations below describe the recommended slope range for ramps, fixed stairs, and other structures.

If a building access ramp (also called an egress ramp) is located within an accessible route of travel and is used as a means of egress (exiting from a building), the ramp slope should be 1:12 (4.8 degrees, 8.3 percent) or less in the direction of travel. This standard is reflected in at least four building standards: UBC 1003.3.4.3, BOCA 1016.3, ADA 4.8.2, IBC 1010.2, and is elaborated in an excellent book that we recommend on stairs and ramps, Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, by Bakken et als.

If the ramp is NOT located within an accessible route of egress (say a ramp giving access between the street and an elevated sidewalk), the slope of the ramp may be a little steeper (1:8 rather than 1:12, or 7.1 degrees, or 12.5 percent) in the direction of travel.

Incidentally, depending on terrain, a ramp may slope upwards towards a building entry/exit door, or it may slope downwards towards the entry door. In either case, the ramp slope rules and standards are the same and the trip/fall hazards are essentially the same.

How to measure the slope of an access ramp

Project a horizontal line (use a string, level, and stake if it helps) outwards from the uppermost end of the ramp - say the building entry platform - and the end of the ramp. Keep this line dead level.
Measure the Ramp's Rise: Measure the height (the vertical distance) from the horizontal line to the ground surface at the end of the ramp or its landing platform. This is the total rise of the ramp.
Measure the Ramp's Run: Measure the ramp's total horizontal distance from one end of the ramp to the other - say from the point at which the ramp reaches a level building entry platform or entry door to the opposite end of the ramp.
State the Resulting Ramp Slope: Simply write the total rise divided by the total run to express the slope as a percent (1 inch of rise / 12 inches of run = 8.3% slope), or write the slope as a ratio such as 1:12, also expressed as "one in twelve".

Ramp Slope Example 1: if your ramp is twelve feet long (144 inches) and the rise is twelve inches (12 inches) then the slope of the ramp is 12:144, or simplifying, dividing both sides of the equation by 12, the slope can be written as 1:12 - which meets the desired ADA standard.

Ramp Slope Example 2: If the ramp is twelve feet long (144 inches) and the total rise is four feet (48 inches) then the slope of the ramp is 48:144, or simplifying by dividing both sides of the equation by 12, the slope of this ramp is written as 4:12 (and the ramp is too steep, likely to result in a fall).

An Explanation of Building Access Ramp Slip and Fall Hazards

Ramp & ramp guardrails (C) Daniel Friedman 2013

Our ramp and guardrail photo (left, Poughkeepsie, NY) illustrates that ramps are used as crossways or footbridges as well as direct building access ramps. This ramp is placed level and crosses a small creek on a college campus.

The guidelines for guardrailings and slip protection apply to these structures as well.

With its open steel grid walkway this ramp is quite slip resistant under most weather conditions. Notice that the guardrailings include the required extensions at the entry to the ramp.

Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, by Bakken et als. provides clear and well-thought out explanations of how and why people slip and fall on stairs, walks, and ramps.

Section 20.2 in Bakken et als. discusses ramp design specs and falls on ramps. The following quotes are from that text:

Principal Causes of Ramp Falls:

snow covered access ramp (C) DanieL Friedman

Most ramp falls are related to the ramp being too steep or slippery. Such conditions are often exacerbated when the ramp is wet or accumulated debris is present. -- op cit p. 199:

People sometimes tend to move faster when walking downward on ramps due to the increased forward momentum created by the slope.

Our photo (left) shows a snow and ice-covered access ramp at the entry to a private home.

Ramps should have even greater slip-resistant surfaces than level walking surfaces, such as sidewalks, which are typically in the range of 0.65 SCOF.

While a pedestrian can more easily judge her or his slower and more deliberate speed on a staircase, it is sometimes more difficult to realize that one is increasing speed when descending an unfamiliar ramp, hence a propensity to forward-moving falls while descending ramps. -- op cit.

Static Coefficient of Friction - How Slippery is the Slope of Your Ramp?

In the cited text and other engineering references, SCOF is the static coefficient of friction. Page 23 in the above text gives the SCOF requirements for slopes of various inclines. A 1 in 12 slope, which is an 8.3 percent slope (the recommended pitch by most sources) is bracketed by SCOFs for two slopes: a 0.93 SCOF for a 9.3 percent slope, and SCOF of 0.625 for a 6.25 percent slope.

Visual Clues Affect the Chances of Falling on a Ramp

Access ramp walking assistance (C) DanieL Friedman

A pedestrian's perception of the walking surface is critical in the causality of slip incidents. If a person perceives a "reasonably safe" walking surface, one which provides a reasonable level of slip resistance, he or she will adjust her gait accordingly on the basis of this contemporaneous tactile and/or visual input.

If a person's perception is not augmented by other internal or external warning stimuli, and if the person encounters a portion of the walking surface at heel strike that provides a SCOF below the traction demand, a slip will most probably occur.-- op cit.

In other words, using an improper and ineffective "anti slip" coating (such as ordinary paint) might actually increase the risk of falling not only for being a potentially surprise slip surface itself, but also because the presence of such a coating provides a visual clue that would be expected to lead a pedestrian to think that the surface had *extra* slip resistance when in fact it does not. Be certain that any anti-slip paints or add-on non-slip tread materials used on a ramp are intended for that use.

The text also includes material on ramp railings (that can be a visual clue about ramp height, slope, and dangers), and on other ramp markings as they also affect ramp safety.

How Do We Make A Slippery, Dangerous Access Ramp Safer?

Typical building code specifications for access ramp non-slip surface requirements & surface maintenance conditions

The surface of ramps shall be of slip-resistant materials that are securely attached. - Florida building code, 1010.7.1 Ramp Surface

Outdoor ramps and outdoor approaches to ramps shall be designed so that water will not accumulate on walking surfaces. - Florida building code, 1010.7.2 Outdoor Conditions. Note that in freezing climates similar concern for accumulation of ice or snow must be addressed as must be algae or other slippery materials. Curiously, since it's common for people to drill holes in wooden walks, steps, decks, ramps to try to improve drainage (especially where a cupped board may retain water), the same Florida building code specifies

The ramp floor and landings shall be solid and without perforations. - Florida building code, 1010.7.4 Take a look at BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS for details.

How to make access ramps less slippery

Remove slippery materials: clean algae or other slippery materials from the surface - if necessary using deck cleaner and a power washer. Where possible, correct the underlying conditions that cause algae or other debris collection on a ramp surface - sometimes simply by cutting back overhanging tree branches, the added sunlight will reduce algae growth as well as frost or ice formation.

Improve ramp surface traction: for a ramp that will be used for both wheelchairs and walking pedestrians, install anti-slip tread materials or use an anti-slip paint; be sure that you select outdoor-rated materials if the ramp is outside.

For a ramp that is used only by walkers (no wheelchairs) some builders install cleats, typically 16" o.c. across the ramp but in our opinion, the cleats can themselves form a trip hazard and may violate building codes. Instead, if the ramp is so steep that you are considering cleats, fix the ramp slope, as we discuss below.

Correct a slippery, too-steep building access ramp by extending its length and thus reducing the pitch or slope, OR by lifting the low-end of the ramp up, building a step up at its entry end so that the ramp slope itself is reduced to a safe degree, in both cases combined with the steps above. I.e. change the ramp length or lift its low end and add a step up, so as to keep the ramp slope to no more than 1 in 12. But adding a step at the lower end of the ramp, reducing its slope, only works for ramps that do not need to be wheelchair accessible.

Place ramp boards right-side up: as we explain at Wood Floor Damage, it's a bit more subtle, but during ramp construction, if the ramp surface is constructed of 2x lumber (such as pressure treated 2x6 boards, a common choice for outside building ramps), look at the ends of each board before it is nailed in place, and flip the board so that the "bark side" will be facing upwards to better drain and to avoid upwards-facing cups in ramp boards - a source of wear, algae and ice formation. .

See BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS for details about this topic.

Which way is right side up? We want any board concave cups to face "down" and arches to face with the convex or arched side "up" as the board cures.

If you click to enlarge the photo at left you might notice that the two most-rotted deck boards (photo center) were installed "upside down" with boards cupped upwards or "concave"; you can also plainly see the end grain in the two 3x12's forming the deck girder (photo lower center). You'll see by the wood end grain pattern that the girder right-hand board has it's "bark side" facing right, and the left hand board has its "bark side" facing left.

Cupped ramp boards (or deck and platform boards) hold water and form algae or ice more quickly than boards that drain properly. They sometimes rot faster too, as we show in our photograph. Look at the end-grain of any deck, ramp, or wooden walkway board and notice the curved lines that mark the winter wood layers of the tree from which the board was cut. If these lines arch "upwards" when the board is placed, most boards will also be curved upwards (convex) and will drain better. But before nailing a deck or ramp board in place, look at the board surface itself - sometimes the boards don't follow these "cupping rules".

Building Access Ramp Standards and Codes

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
Access Ramp building codes:
- UBC 1003.3.4.3
- BOCA 1016.3
- ADA 4.8.2
- IBC 1010.2

Requirements for Guardrailings & Handrailings at Access Ramps

Add railings on your ramp: if the ramp crosses above a ditch, ravine, or is more than three feet from the ground at its highest point, a railing is likely to be required by local and national building codes.

Even for ramps that are just a few inches above the ground, railings improve ramp safety by providing additional visual clues about the ramp's slope as well as providing a grasping surface in case of a fall.

Our photo (left) shows the author's daughter (at left, ca. 1979) with a friend, demonstrating that this building access ramp was unsafe: a railing was provided only on one side despite the drop off, and the railing that the carpenters installed was both open (a child hazard), and used a horizontal mid-height member, easily climbed-on by a child (another child hazard).

Also see GUARDRAILS on BALCONIES, DECKS, LANDINGS and see HANDRAILS & HANDRAILINGS.

A Comparison of Building Codes Specifying Hand Railing Requirementsfor Access Ramps

Railings in stair codes and specifications refer to the safety barrier along ramps as well as at steps or stairs, landings, and balconies. Also see Guards for details about safety railings on landings and open hallways, porches, screened porches, balconies - horizontal walking surfaces.

Sample excerpts of sources which a building code compliance inspector would be expected to cite in support of requiring a properly-designed, properly-secured guard rail include but are not limited to the citations below.

International Building Code 2000 (BOCA, ICBO, SBCCI)

1003.3.3.11.3 Handrail grasp ability. Handrails with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of at least 1.25 inches (32 mm) and not greater than 2 inches (51 mm) or shall provide equivalent grasp ability. If the handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter dimension of at least 4 inches (102 mm) and not greater than 6.25 inches (159 mm) with a maximum cross-section dimension of 2.25 inches (57 mm). Edges shall have a minimum radius of 0.125 inch (3.2 mm).

100333.11.4 Continuity. Handrail-gripping surfaces shall be continuous, without interruption by newel posts or other obstructions.

Open guardrail Guadlajara (C) Daniel Friedmasn 2012

Our photo (left) illustrates a high ramp crossing over a busy highway in Guadalajara, Mexico. The guardrail is continuous, probably has adequate strength, but lacks child-safe enclosing balusters.

1607.7 Loads on Handrails, guards, grab bars and vehicle barriers

1607.7.1.1 Concentrated Load. Handrail assemblies and guards shall be able to resist a single concentrated load of 200 pounds (0.89kN), applied in any direction at any point along the top, and have attachment devices and supporting structure to transfer this loading to appropriate structural elements of the building.

1607.7.1.2 Components. Intermediate rails (all those except the handrail), balusters and panel fillers shall be designed to withstand a horizontally applied normal load of 50 pounds (0.22 kN) on an area not to exceed one square foot (305mm2) including openings and space between rails.

Hard to grasp handrail along an access ramp (C) Daniel Friedman 2013

Is this access ramp handrailing (photo at left) actually graspable? Not very. All of the model building codes contain descriptions of graspable and non-graspable handrailings by dimension, shape, profile, suport, obstructions and other parameters. Details are at GRASPABILITY of HANDRAILINGS.

BOCA National Property Maintenance Code 1993:

PM-305.5 Stairs and railings: all interior stairs and railings shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair.

Commentary: Handrails, treads and risers must be structurally sound, firmly attached to the structure, and properly maintained to perform their intended function safely. During an inspection the code official should inspect all stringers, risers, treads, and handrails.

PM-305.6 Handrails and guards: Every handrail and guard shall be firmly fastened and capable of supporting normally imposed loads and shall be maintained in good condition.

Commentary: This section provides for the safety and maintenance of handrails and guards. See Section PM-702.9 for additional requirements.

PM-702.9 Stairways, handrails and guards: Every exterior and interior flight of stairs having more than four risers, and every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony which is more than 30 inches (762mm) high, nor more than 42 inches (1067mm) high, measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. Guards shall be not less than 30 inches (762mm) high above the floor of the landing or balcony.

Commentary: Handrails are required on all stairs more than four risers in height. Handrails cannot be less than 30 inches nor more than 42 inches above the nosing of the treads (see Figure PM-702.9).

Guards are required on the open side of stairs and on landings and balconies which are more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below. The guard must be at least 30 inches above the floor of the landing or balcony. Guards are to contain intermediate rails, balusters or other construction to reduce the chance of an adult or child from falling through the guard. If the guard is missing some intermediate rails or balustrades, it is recommended that the guard be repaired to its original condition if it will provide protection equivalent to the protection it provided when originally constructed.

Florida Handrail & Guardrail Requirements & Codes for Access Ramps

Handrails shall be provided along both sides of a ramp run with a rise greater than 6 inches (152 mm) and shall conform to the requirements in Sections 1012. If handrails are not continuous, they shall extend at least 18 inches (305 mm) beyond the top and bottom of the ramp segment and shall be parallel with the floor or ground surface. Ends of handrails shall be either rounded or returned smoothly to floor, wall or post. Handrails shall not rotate within their fittings. Top of the handrail gripping surface shall be not less than 34 inches (864 mm) nor more than 38 inches (965 mm) above the ramp surface. - Florida Building Code 1010.8 Handrails

Exceptions:
1. Handrails are not required when the total ramp run rise is 6 inches (152 mm) or less and the horizontal projection is 72 inches or less, except where required to be accessible.
2. Aisles in Group A occupancies (see Section 1025).
3. NA
4. Handrails are not required on curb ramps. - Florida Building Code 1010.8 Handrails

Guards shall be provided where required by Section 1013 and shall be constructed in accordance with Section 1013. - Florida Building Code 1010.10 Guards

505.10.1 Top and Bottom Extension at Ramps. Ramp handrails shall extend horizontally above the landing for 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beyond the top and bottom of ramp runs. Extensions shall return to a wall, guard, or the landing surface, or shall be continuous to the handrail of an adjacent ramp run. - Florida Building Code 505.10.1

Requirements & Building Code Citations for Landing Platforms at Access Ramps

New building access ramp (C) Daniel Friedman

Landing platforms for ramps: Make sure the ramp is properly designed in width, structural support, and that it includes a landing both at the upper end at a building entry/exit door, and where required by local code or ground surface conditions, also provide a landing platform at the ramp's lower end.

As we mentioned at our page to photo, the step at this building access ramp entry reduced the ramp slope to less than 1:12 but it created an obstruction for wheelchair users.

While the landing platform assists the users of this access ramp, what we had specified was that the ramp bottom end terminate at grade, without a step. And this platform is probably too short in the direction of travel.

The "railings" along this ramp are not readily graspable, but as the ramp is nearly level, we considered them as a balcony railing not a handrail.

Ramp Landing requirement: Ramps shall have landings at the bottom and top of each ramp, points of turning, entrance, exits and at doors and in accordance with Section 11-4.8.4. Landings shall comply with Sections 1010.6.1 through 1010.6.5. - Florida Building Code 1010.6 Landings.

Ramp Landing slope: Landings shall have a slope not steeper than one unit vertical in 50 units horizontal (2-percent slope) in any direction. Changes in level are not permitted. - Florida Building Code 1010.6.1 Landings.

Ramp Landing width: The landing shall be at least as wide as the widest ramp run adjoining the landing. - Florida Building Code 1010.6.2 Landings.

See PLATFORMS & LANDINGS, ENTRY & STAIR for details about platform & landing location & size requirements.

...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about access ramp building codes, construction, safetey requirements

...

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about access ramp building codes, construction, safetey requirements.

Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.

Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

"The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report," Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
"Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
Access Ramp building codes:
- UBC 1003.3.4.3
- BOCA 1016.3
- ADA 4.8.2
- IBC 1010.2
Access Ramp Standards:
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
- ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
- ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com and also from the InspectAPedia Bookstore (Amazon.com)
The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
The following stair books and other books on stair history, design, and architecture can be purchased at our Amazon-Supported InspectAPedia Bookstore
Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438
"Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. "
Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; 2 edition (April 2006), ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
The Staircase, Ann Rinaldi
Common Sense Stairbuilding and Handrailing, Fred T. Hodgson
The Art of Staircases, Pilar Chueca
Building Stairs, by pros for pros, Andy Engel
A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding, George R. Christina
Basic Stairbuilding, Scott Schuttner
The Staircase (two volumes), John Templar, Cambridge: the MIT Press, 1992
The Staircase: History and Theories, John Templar, MIT Press 1995
Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
"The Dimensions of Stairs", J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American, October 1974

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd


	InspectAPedia^®	InspectAPedia
	Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair	Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia