Safety And Wheelchair Ramps
When you're choosing a wheelchair ramp you have to consider safety. If you're installing a permanent ramp then its construction will fall under Part M of the current UK building regulations and the British Standards Institution's BS 8300:2001.
The main points in these regulations are that the maximum gradient for wheelchair ramps should be 1 in 12. They should be at least a metre wide and if over 2 metres in length they should have a handrail on each side. There should also be a top landing area. As these are liable to change from time to time you should always check before proceeding further.
If you're planning to make use of portable wheelchair ramps for non domestic buildings then you are expected to adhere as close as possible to the recommendations laid out in the two documents above. Clearly in most case the ideal scenario isn't entirely possible and often the gradient will be greater than 1 in 12. However this need not be a problem as long as the wheelchair user is assisted up and down the temporary slope. In this case you can expect wheelchair ramps to be safe to a 1 in 6 gradient.
For domestic situations such as for use with thresholds, steps and getting a wheelchair user in and out of vehicle then using portable wheelchair ramps is often down to common sense.
Again the gradient is the most import thing to bear in mind. Remember in many cases the wheelchair user will need to be assisted up the ramp so you will need to bear in mind who is going to push the user. The steeper the slope the more effort will be needed. Don't buy a ramp that is too small in length, an extra foot or more can make a big difference to the comfort and safety of the user.
The weight of the wheelchair user plus the weight of their wheelchair also needs to be taken into account before you make a purchase. Portable wheelchair ramps have weight limits which are usually very generous but you should always check before buying.
Apart from the smallest of ramps such as threshold wedges you should opt for side ridges to avoid the wheelchair slipping off the side of the ramp if there is a sudden loss of control.
Portable wheelchair ramps come in variety of different materials. Which you go for is often down to personal choice, however you should choose one that has a non-slip surface. This is particularly important when a wheelchair is used in wet conditions both for the wheelchair user and anyone who may be pushing them.
Another point to consider is that they should be stable when put in place. In particular, pairs of narrow channel wheelchair ramps must be places carefully at the correct distance apart to be used safely.