Wheelchair Ramp Buyers Guide

Welcome to your wheelchair ramp buyers guide. Please keep your hands and feet inside the handrails at all times. My name is Tyler, and I will be your guide while we explore your wheelchair ramp options.

Wheelchair ramps aren’t a “one size fits all” solution. Your ramp should be as unique as the area in which you’re installing it.

When looking to buy a wheelchair ramp, there are a few questions you’ll need to consider before throwing your money around. There are also dimension requirements you’ll need to be aware of before making your purchase.

My goal here is to guide you (see what I did there?) through your various wheelchair ramp options. I will discuss some questions to ask before designing or purchasing your wheelchair ramp, then walk you through ADA and IBC requirements for your ramp as they pertain to businesses and homes.

Wheelchair Ramp Options

Our first stop on this tour is going over your different wheelchair ramp options. As your guide, my goal is to show different wheelchair ramp solutions and then discuss later which ramps would best fit your specific situation.

Permanent ADA Ramp System

If you look to your left, you will see our Kee Access wheelchair ramps.

These wheelchair ramps are designed using pipes and fittings. Meaning there’s no welding and it is completely modular. You can have these wheelchair ramps installed in (most) places to provide safe and easy access to your home or business.

Our wheelchair ramps are also free-standing. They don’t require any mounting to a structure and are easily moved or adjusted as needed. 

Kee Access ramps are also made from galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is rust resistant and will hold its structural integrity for years and years to come. 

Portable Curb Ramp

Now if you look out to your right, you will see a pack of small curb ramps.

These wheelchair ramps are the ideal ramp when you are looking for a small portable solution. If you are limited in space or don’t need a large-scale wheelchair ramp, this curb ramp is going to get the job done. 

This ramp is made from aluminum, which will never corrode and is lighter than galvanized steel. While it isn’t as strong as galvanized steel, these aluminum ramps make up for it by being a lighter material, making it easily portable.

Rubber Threshold Ramp

Alongside that pack of small curb ramps, you’ll see a herd of rubber threshold ramps.

These ramps are small, portable, and blend in almost like a welcome mat. This type of ramp is designed for when you just need that extra inch or two to enter the door to your home or business.

This ramp is a temporary solution but is easily moved as needed to provide safe and easy access to all entrances.

Planning and Designing a Wheelchair Ramp

We have now arrived at the interactive part of our tour. 

We’re now going to run through some questions to consider before designing, building, or buying a wheelchair ramp. These questions are here to help you think about budget, location, use, material, and maintenance. We’ll also discuss which wheelchair ramps provide the best solution to each question.

What is your budget?

This is probably the first question on everyone’s mind when it comes to a wheelchair ramp.

There are a lot of factors that go into the price you may be willing to pay for a wheelchair ramp. Making the best choice that is both financially smart and ensures the safety of users on the wheelchair ramp is crucial. I’m not telling you to break the bank on a new wheelchair ramp, but I’m also not suggesting you cut corners on it either.

A DIY wheelchair ramp is going to cost less up front compared to a metal wheelchair ramp. And a smaller temporary wheelchair ramp is going to cost less than a large permanent one. Whatever your budget may be, the right answer is going to be which solution will make sure that users can safely access your home or business. 

Are you installing the ramp in a home or business?

The answer to this question is important because it is going to determine which regulations you need to follow when building and installing your wheelchair ramp.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is going to apply to businesses, and International Building Code (IBC) and other local/state codes deal with homes. We’ll get into their requirements later in this guide.

Is this a new build, renovation, or going over existing stairs?

Whether you are building or buying, you’ll need to plan out the space needed for a wheelchair ramp. For a new build or renovation, you’ll need to factor in the width and slope needed for a wheelchair ramp before you start breaking ground.

For building or renovating a wheelchair ramp, our wheelchair ramp handrails are the perfect solution to ensure that you have handrails that are safe, sturdy, and up to code.

If you are planning to build or install a ramp over existing stairs, our Kee Access ADA ramp system is a perfect solution. They can be custom designed to fit perfectly over your stairs and don’t need to be mounted into any existing steps.

Is this ramp permanent or temporary?

This question is crucial because it determines what kind of wheelchair ramp is needed for your specific application. If you only need a temporary wheelchair ramp, then our smaller threshold ramps are a perfect fit.

These types of ramps are used as needed and not something that gets installed as a long-term solution.

If you need a permanent wheelchair ramp for your home or business, there’s two options. DIY or hiring a contractor to build a ramp or purchasing a wheelchair ramp.

When it comes to building your own wheelchair ramp, the typical materials used are concrete or wood. For both wood and concrete ramps, we offer pipe and fittings handrails. These easily mount to your ramp and are completely modular to match the size and shape of your ramp.

Looking to purchase a permanent system? Our fully modular Kee Access wheelchair ramps are made from galvanized steel and include ADA/IBC compliant handrails. As I’ve mentioned, they are corrosion resistant and will last you for years and years with only minimal maintenance.

What material do you want your ramp made from?

As we just discussed, wheelchair ramps are made from either wood, concrete, or metal. Wood and concrete require a lot more planning and work than a metal wheelchair ramp.

Things to consider though are that wood can rot, and concrete can crack. While these may be cheaper on the front end, continued maintenance throughout the ramp’s lifecycle can add up.

Galvanized steel versus aluminum is another material to consider. Galvanized steel is heavier than aluminum and is stronger to support more weight and use. Galvanized steel has a zinc coating to protect the integrity of the steel. Aluminum is light weight, making it more portable. Aluminum will also not rust over time.

How much maintenance are you willing to do?

Building off the materials question (pun intended). Wheelchair ramp maintenance is an important part of the longevity of your wheelchair ramp. There’s routine maintenance and general upkeep of a wheelchair ramp that you’ll need to consider.

Wood and concrete ramps are going to require more maintenance when it comes to weather damage and consistent use. Our galvanized steel ramps require little to no maintenance. And when you do need to perform maintenance, the modular system allows for easy cleaning or replacement of components.

ADA Wheelchair Ramp Requirements

We’ve now come to the most exciting part of the tour, the government regulations!

Whether you are building or buying a wheelchair ramp for your business. The wheelchair ramp requirements are laid out by the ADA.

ADA regulations encompass any public facing business. Meaning, if your business is open to the public, you must follow ADA rules. Now the ADA is not some big brother organization that is going to come to your business and fine you for wheelchair ramp violations. 

The ADA is, as I said, a list of codes and regulations that you must follow to keep people safe and to prevent any lawsuit.

• The maximum slope for a ramp is 1:12 (minimum is 1:20 to be considered a ramp).
• The maximum rise is no greater than 30 inches.
• If the rise is above 6 inches, then the ramp needs handrails.
• Handrails need to be between 34 and 38 inches above the walking surface.
• Ramp surfaces need 36 inches of clear width between railings.
• Handrails must be 12 inches from the edge of the ramp to the inside of the handrail.
• Handrails must extend 12 inches beyond the top and bottom of the ramp.
• A curb or barrier must be built so that a 4-inch sphere can’t pass through the bottom of the handrail.
• Landings need to be 60 inches in length and 60 inches in width if they change directions.

IBC Wheelchair Ramp Requirements

The International Building Code (IBC) will be what you’ll need to reference for any wheelchair ramp in your home. Like the ADA, the IBC isn’t going to come to your home and fine you for a non-compliant wheelchair ramp. 

Having a wheelchair ramp that is up to IBC standards are what home inspectors, insurance agents, and potential buyers of your house will be looking for. This adds value to your home for potential buyers and makes insurance agents very happy.

Now for IBC regulations, they are essentially the same as ADA requirements. The only thing you’ll want to make sure of is that while this is an “international” building code, your local or state level building code is what applies directly to wheelchair ramp regulations in your home.

In Review

As we come to the end of this journey, I want to thank you for exploring the vast world of wheelchair ramp options with me.

There’s a lot that goes into planning, designing, and installing your new wheelchair ramp. I hope this guide helped guide you (see what I did there again) toward finding the right solution for your home or business.

If you have any additional questions that weren’t answered here, please contact our experts. Our team of project experts would love to answer any wheelchair ramp related questions you have, along with helping you get the right wheelchair ramp solution to meet your needs.