Ramps allow persons with reduced mobility to move from one level to another. However, many ambulant persons with disabilities negotiate steps more easily and safely. Hence it is preferable to provide accessibility by both steps and ramps.
Ramps shall meet the following general requirements:
a) Wherever the rise of a ramp exceeds 300 mm, an additional flight of steps shall also be provided as described in B-6.3, shall be provided for ambulant persons. An isolated single step is not acceptable hence; a ramp is preferred to a single step.
b) Where there is a large change in elevation that requires multiple ramps and landing combination, other solutions such as lifts should be considered.
c) Ramps should not ideally connect straight to
doors as wheelchair users need a levelled platform at the end of the ramp to manoeuvre and negotiate opening the door.
d) A curved ramp is not a preferred design solution. Similarly, a cross fall may put a wheelchair user at risk and may adversely affect steering, particularly on manually propelled chair.
e) Shiny, polished surface materials that cause glare shall not be used for ramps.
f) Single row of tactile warning blocks (TGSI) shall be placed as per B-2.5 at the beginning and end of each ramp. This shall be placed 300 mm before the beginning and end of each ramp run to indicate the level change to visually impaired persons.
B-6.2.2 Gradient
The gradient shall be constant between landings. The minimum specifications for ramp gradients addressing different level differences are given in Table 10 (see also Fig. 55).
B-6.2.3 Width
The minimum clear width of a ramp (exclusive of handrails) shall be 1 200 mm and shall increase correspondingly as the level difference addressed by the ramp increases as per Table 10.