All schools in Broward County, Florida require wheelchair access ramps for students and others who need assistance going up and down different vertical levels. The 2020 Florida Building Code applies to all properties in Broward County, with Section 405 including specific requirements for new ramps. You’ll need to follow the rules when getting a new ADA-compliant building access ramp ready for your Broward County school, and REDD Team will be there to help you produce a new ramp that fits your needs.
Proper Slope Measurements
The Florida Building Code requires that schools produce access ramps with the lowest possible running slope. The lowest possible slope is needed to ensure people can go up and down a ramp without losing control or struggling to climb it. A ramp should also be adjacent to or near the stairs in a building.
The running slope should be 1:12 or flatter. The 1:12 measurement means the ramp can be 12 feet long for every foot of rise.
The running slope can also vary in situations where there are height limits. For example, if the ramp cannot rise higher than 3 inches, the slope can be from 1:8 to 1:10. When the rise can be 6 inches at the most, the ramp can be from 1:10 to 1:12.
Regardless of what your school requires, the Florida Building Code prohibits slopes steeper than 1:8.
What About the Cross Slope?
The cross slope is perpendicular to the rest of the running slope. The slope should not be any steeper than 1:48. The slope standard is necessary for keeping a sensible level while allowing enough space to keep rain and other items from pooling on the ramp. Additional vents should also appear on the sides to let that rain seep out from the sides.
How Much of a Rise?
Schools in Broward County can only use ramps with a rise of up to 30 inches. Landings can appear in the middle of any ramp that might require that much of a climb.
How Do Landings Work?
The landings for a ramp should be at least 60 inches long and as wide as the ramp run itself. For cases where the landing is in a spot where the ramp changes direction, the landing should be at least 60 inches on each side. The length is enough to support any turns the user might require.
Using Handrails
Handrails are necessary when your ramp is next to a building or is long or steep enough. Any ramp in Broward County where the rise is at least 6 inches will require handrails.
The handrails should be from 34 to 38 feet high based on ADA standards. The rails can protrude from a wall or another surface, but they should not interfere with the overall width of the ramp. The ramp must still be at least 36 inches wide in order to meet ADA standards.
These rules for producing ADA-compliant building access ramps for Broward County schools are essential to ensuring a building remains accessible. You can consult our experts at REDD Team for further help producing ramps that fit your space. Contact us at (800) 648-3696 or visit our website to learn how we can help you with your ramp needs at your Broward County, Florida, school.
