The following is a simplified guide to designing a ramp and platform system that conforms to the Part M `Access for all` advisory requirements. Part M is an advisory extension of BS8300 ` approaches to buildings` and is to be used at the discretion of the buildings owners or advisors.

1. Ramped Access should be provided when the approach to a building is 1:20 or steeper or where steps are present.
2. The gradient should be as shallow as possible. Detailed below is a table showing heights and maximum runs. Where the occasion happens that the disability ramp requires to be steeper, this is OK providing the run is as short as possible. This should be documented in an access statement.

 

Length Of Ramp Flight(m)	Maximum Gradient	Maximum Rise(cm)
10	1:20	50
5	1:15	33.3
2	1:12	16.6

 

3. It is beneficial to have steps on a ramp for able bodied access
4. At the intermediate end of the ramp rises a platform should be sited for resting and should be a minimum of 1.5 metres wide and 1.2 metres long. When the user cannot see the end of the ramp or when there is 3 flight, then these landings should be a minimum of 1.8 metres x 1.8 metres. All sizes are quoted clear of doors and any obstruction.
5. There should be a platform at the top and bottom of the ramp that should have an area 1.2 metres clear of door swings etc
6. The ramp itself should have a minimum of 1.5 metres clear width.
7. Ramps should have handrail both sides and should be a minimum of 40 mm diameter, and the top rail colour contrasting to the background and warm to the touch,
8. The Ramp should be clearly sign posted.
9. If the rise is greater than 2 metres a Wheelchair lift should be provided.
10. The ramp surface should be anti slip and colour contrasted between slopes and platforms. The frictional surface surface charactoristics on the ramp and platform should be similar.
11. There should be a kerb up each open side of the ramp that is a minimum of 100 mm high and colour contrasting to the ramp surface, platform, handrails and the general site.
12. Steps should be installed and clearly signposted when the ramp rise is greater than 30 cm

Stair Access

1. A level landing should be at the top and bottom of the stair flight
2. A change of surface is used to warn of danger and should be a minimum of 400 mm from the top and botton steps and be a least 800 mm long.
3. Side access onto a landing should also be warned as detailed in 2 where there is handrail on the opposite side.
4. No doors should swing acoross the landings
5. Clear tread width should be not less than 120 cm
6. No single steps are used
7. Flights should not contain more than 12 treads in a going up to 35 cm and not more than 18 treads in a going over 35 cm
8. All tread nosings are made apparent with a different coloured nosing that is 55 mm front and top
9. The rise of treads should be constant throughout and the tread nosings ideally should not protrude over the lower the tread and if they do, should not be more than 25 mm. Also the treads should be solid at the back.
10. The rise of the treads should be between 15 cm and 17 cm, variation is OK were constraints are evident, however this should be argued in your access statement.
11. The going of each step should be between 28 cm and 42.5 cm
12. Ramps and Landings should have handrails both sides and where platforms are over 1.8 metres should be split into walk channels.

NOTE - Where a school is concerned a rise of 15 cm and going of 28 cm is preferred

Handrails

1. Top handrail should be between 900 mm high and 1000 mm high up the pitch line on ramp sections and 900 and 1100 mm high on landings and should be continuous across landings and platforms
2. The ends of the handrail should extend out 300 mm from the end of a platform or ramp where possible
3. It contrasts visibly with the background while not luminous and is not cold to the touch
4. The ends of the rail is not a clothing catch hazard
5. Minimum dimension of round tube is 4 cm
6. There should be a minimum of 60 mm between handrail and wall
7. As a company we always advise to use vertical baustrade type handrail where children are concerned particularly schools. as a safety feature they also prevent climbing

These are the general important points picked that should be considered in the design of part M disability access ramps and platforms, you can see full details by clicking here
We hope this has been useful and should you require further information please contact us here