Schools in Broward County have to follow ADA guidelines when preparing ramps for accessibility purposes. Ramps are critical for students and others who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Your school will require ramps at entry points and any space where there’s a sizeable elevation shift. REDD Team is here to help your Broward County school get new ADA-compliant building access ramps.
Our experts at REDD Team can design ramps that fit your school while meeting ADA standards. We can produce ramps that comply with the 2020 Florida Building Code. Chapter 4 of the code lists the ADA rules that properties in the state must follow when producing ramps.
Slope Rules
Section 405.2 of the 2020 Florida Building Code says that the running slope on a ramp cannot be any steeper than 1:12 or one 12 feet in length for every foot of rise.
A steeper slope can appear in areas where the maximum rise is smaller. The slope can be from 1:12 to 1:10 if the maximum rise is 6 inches or from 1:8 to 1:10 if the rise is 3 inches.
The cross slope must also be measured well. The cross slope is the slope of the wide part of the ramp or the segment perpendicular to the travel direction. The maximum cross slope for your ramp should be 1:48.
Top and Bottom Landing Points
The top and bottom landings for a Broward County school ramp should be flat and feature an even and smooth surface, complying with Sections 302 and 303 of the Florida Building Code.
The highest possible change in level between the floor and the ramp can be about a quarter of an inch in height. A rise between a quarter and half an inch can be beveled with a slope of up to 1:2.
General Accessibility Clearance
The Florida Building Code has some additional accessibility clearance rules:
- The width of the ramp should be at least 36 inches.
- The width can be 32 inches for up to 24 inches in length. Any reduced-width spaces should be at least 48 inches in length apart from one another. Those 48-inch spaces should also be at least 36 inches wide.
- In cases where a ramp entails a 180-degree turn, the ramp should have a landing at least 60 inches long on each side.
- All landings must be at least 60 inches long and as wide as the widest part of the ramp run.
Rise Limits
The highest permissible rise for a ramp run can be 30 inches. If you need a ramp for a rise over 30 inches, you’ll require a landing. The landing can appear in the middle of the ramp and should be flat to provide a suitable space for recovery in cases where a person might not have the stamina to go over the entire ramp in one move.
Remember that the rules for your ADA-compliant building access ramps for your Broward County schools ensure anyone who needs a ramp can safely access it. The ramp should be built with a suitable slope while also being easy to get on and off. REDD Team is available to serve your needs at your school, so call us at (800) 648-3696 or visit our website to reach us for further details on how we can serve you.
