Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), buildings need to be accessible for everyone, including those in wheelchairs. This means that many businesses and public buildings need to install wheelchair ramps to be compliant with the law. Not doing so could lead to lawsuits and accusations of ADA violations.
Business owners need to be aware that simply installing a ramp doesn’t mean that the building is suddenly ADA-compliant. There are very specific regulations that have to be followed. Violating these regulations could still cause legal problems, even when a wheelchair ramp technically does exist at that location.
Key measurements
One thing to keep in mind is that there are strict measurements that need to be made for things like the width of the wheelchair ramp or the slope from top to bottom. Too steep of a slope could make it very dangerous, so these regulations have to be followed. Here are a few examples of key measurements to keep in mind:
- The handrails need to be 36 inches apart.
- If the rise is greater than 6 inches, the ramp must have handrails on each side.
- The maximum running slope is a 1:12 ratio, meaning that the ramp goes up 1 foot for every 12 horizontal feet.
- The maximum rise is 30 inches per run.
There are some exceptions to these rules. For example, in limited spaces, business owners may be able to use a slope ratio of 1:10 or even 1:8. But they still need to be aware of the requirements and when these exceptions can be used.
Defending against accusations
As a business owner, you may work hard to ensure that your space is accessible, but you could still face legal action. Be sure you know what legal options you have.